can't demand that two hundred adult men and women take avow of chastity!"
"Obviously not. That would be worse for mental health than the other dangers," Di Asturien said, "but we must warn everyone that we're no longer sure about the effectiveness of our contraceptive program."
"I can see that. And as soon as possible."
Di Asturien said, "The Captain has called a mass meeting tonight--crew and colonists. Maybe I canannounce it there." He made a wry face. "I'm not looking forward to it. It's going to be an awfullydamned unpopular announcement. As if we didn't have enough troubles already!"
The mass meeting was held in the hospital tent, the only place big enough to hold the crew andpassengers all at once. It had begun to cloud over by midafternoon and when the meeting was called, athin fine cold rain was falling and distant lightning could be seen over the peaks of the hills. The membersof the exploring party, sat together at the front, in case they were called on for a report, but Camilla wasnot among them. She came in with Captain Leicester and the rest of the crew officers, and MacArannoticed that they had all put on formal uniform. Somehow that struck him as a bad sign. Why should theytry to emphasize their solidarity and authority that way?
The electricians on the crew had put up a rostrum and rigged an elementary public address system,
so that the Captain's voice, low and rather hoarse, could be heard throughout the big room.
"I have asked you all to come here tonight," he said, "instead of reporting only to your leaders, because in spite of every precaution, in a group this size rumors can get started, and can also get out of hand. First, I will give you what good news there is to give. To the best of our knowledge and belief, the air and water on this planet will support life indefinitely without damage to health, and the soil will
Page 52
probably grow Earth crops to supplement our food supply during the period of time while we are forced to remain here. Now I must give you the news which is not so good. The damage to the ship's drive units and computers is far more extensive
67
than originally believed, and there is no possibility of immediate or rapid repairs. Although eventually it may be possible to become spaceborne, with our current personnel and materials, we cannot make repairs at all."
He paused, and a stir of voices, appalled, apprehensive, rose in the room. Captain Leicester raised
his hand.
"I am not saying that we should lose hope," he said. "But in our current state we cannot make
repairs. To get this ship off the surface of the planet is going to demand extensive changes in our present
setup and will be a very long-range project demanding the total co-operation of every man and woman in
this room."
Silence, and MacAran wondered what he meant by that. What exactly was the Captain saying?
Could repairs be made or couldn't they?
"This may sound like a contradictory statement," the Captain went on. "We have not the material to make repairs. However, we do have, among all of us, the knowledge to make repairs; and we have an unexplored planet at our disposal, where we can certainly find the raw materials and build the material to make repairs."
MacAran frowned, wondering exactly how that was meant Captain Leicester proceeded to explain.
"Many of you people bound for the colonies have skills which will be useful there but which are of no use to us here," he said. "Within a day or two we will set up a personnel department to inventory all known skills. Some of you who have registered as farmers or artisans will be placed under the direction of our scientists or engineers to be trained. I demand a total push."
At the back of the room, Moray rose. He said, "May I ask a question, Captain?"
"You may."
"Are you saying that the two hundred of us in this room can, within five or ten years, develop a technological culture capable of
"Obviously not. That would be worse for mental health than the other dangers," Di Asturien said, "but we must warn everyone that we're no longer sure about the effectiveness of our contraceptive program."
"I can see that. And as soon as possible."
Di Asturien said, "The Captain has called a mass meeting tonight--crew and colonists. Maybe I canannounce it there." He made a wry face. "I'm not looking forward to it. It's going to be an awfullydamned unpopular announcement. As if we didn't have enough troubles already!"
The mass meeting was held in the hospital tent, the only place big enough to hold the crew andpassengers all at once. It had begun to cloud over by midafternoon and when the meeting was called, athin fine cold rain was falling and distant lightning could be seen over the peaks of the hills. The membersof the exploring party, sat together at the front, in case they were called on for a report, but Camilla wasnot among them. She came in with Captain Leicester and the rest of the crew officers, and MacArannoticed that they had all put on formal uniform. Somehow that struck him as a bad sign. Why should theytry to emphasize their solidarity and authority that way?
The electricians on the crew had put up a rostrum and rigged an elementary public address system,
so that the Captain's voice, low and rather hoarse, could be heard throughout the big room.
"I have asked you all to come here tonight," he said, "instead of reporting only to your leaders, because in spite of every precaution, in a group this size rumors can get started, and can also get out of hand. First, I will give you what good news there is to give. To the best of our knowledge and belief, the air and water on this planet will support life indefinitely without damage to health, and the soil will
Page 52
probably grow Earth crops to supplement our food supply during the period of time while we are forced to remain here. Now I must give you the news which is not so good. The damage to the ship's drive units and computers is far more extensive
67
than originally believed, and there is no possibility of immediate or rapid repairs. Although eventually it may be possible to become spaceborne, with our current personnel and materials, we cannot make repairs at all."
He paused, and a stir of voices, appalled, apprehensive, rose in the room. Captain Leicester raised
his hand.
"I am not saying that we should lose hope," he said. "But in our current state we cannot make
repairs. To get this ship off the surface of the planet is going to demand extensive changes in our present
setup and will be a very long-range project demanding the total co-operation of every man and woman in
this room."
Silence, and MacAran wondered what he meant by that. What exactly was the Captain saying?
Could repairs be made or couldn't they?
"This may sound like a contradictory statement," the Captain went on. "We have not the material to make repairs. However, we do have, among all of us, the knowledge to make repairs; and we have an unexplored planet at our disposal, where we can certainly find the raw materials and build the material to make repairs."
MacAran frowned, wondering exactly how that was meant Captain Leicester proceeded to explain.
"Many of you people bound for the colonies have skills which will be useful there but which are of no use to us here," he said. "Within a day or two we will set up a personnel department to inventory all known skills. Some of you who have registered as farmers or artisans will be placed under the direction of our scientists or engineers to be trained. I demand a total push."
At the back of the room, Moray rose. He said, "May I ask a question, Captain?"
"You may."
"Are you saying that the two hundred of us in this room can, within five or ten years, develop a technological culture capable of
Similar Books
