building--or rebuilding--a star ship? That we can discover the metals, mine them, refine them, machine them, and build the necessary machinery?"
The Captain said quietly, "With the full co-operation of every person here, this can be done. I
estimate that it will take between three and five years."
Moray said flatly, "You're insane. You're asking us to evolve a whole technology!"
"What man has done, man can do again,"
Page 53
68
Captain Leicester said imperturbably. "After all, Mr. Moray, I remind you that we have no alternative."
"The hell we don't!"
"You are out of order," the Captain said sternly. "Please take your seat."
"No, damn it! If you really believe all this can be done," Moray said, "I can only assume that you're stark raving mad. Or that the mind of an engineer or spaceman works so differently from any sane man's that there's no way to communicate. You say this will take three to five years. May I respectfully remind you that we have about a year to eighteen months' supply of food and medical supplies? May I also remind you that even now--moving toward summer--the climate is harsh and rigorous and our shelters are insufficient? The winter on this world, with its exaggerated tilt on the axis, is likely to be more brutal than anything any Earthman has ever experienced."
"Doesn't that prove the necessity of getting off this world as soon as possible?"
"No, it proves the need of finding reliable sources of food and shelter," Moray said. " That's where we need our total push! Forget your ship, Captain. It isn't going anywhere. Come to your senses. We're colonists, not scientists. We have everything we need to survive here--to settle down here. But we can't do it if half our energies are devoted to some senseless plan of diverting all our resources to repair a hopelessly crashed ship!"
There was a small uproar in the hall, a flood of cries, questions, outrage. The Captain repeatedlycalled for order, and finally the cries died down to dull mutterings. Moray demanded, "I call for a vote,"and the uproar rose again.
The Captain said, "I refuse to consider your proposal, Mr. Moray. The matter will not come to a
vote. May I remind you that I am currently in supreme command of this ship? Must I order your arrest?"
"Arrest, hell," Moray said scornfully. "You're not in space now, Captain. You're not on the bridge of your ship. You have no authority over any of us, Captain--except maybe your own crew, if they want to obey you."
Leicester stood on the rostrum, as white as his shirt, his eyes gleaming with fury. He said, "I remind
all of you that MacAran's party, sent out to explore, has discovered
69
traces of intelligent life on this planet. Earth Expeditionary has a standard policy of not placing colonies
on inhabited planets. If we settle here we are likely to bring cultural shock to the stone age culture."
Page 54
Another uproar. Moray shouted angrily, "Do you think your attempts to evolve a technology here foryour repairs wouldn't do that? In God's name, sir, we have everything we need to establish a colonyhere. If we divert all our resources to your insane effort to repair the ship, it's doubtful if we can evensurvive!"
Captain Leicester made a distinct effort to master himself, but his fury was obvious. He said harshly,
"You are suggesting that we abandon the effort--and relapse into barbarism?"
Moray was suddenly very grave. He came forward to the rostrum and stood beside the Captain. His
voice was level and calm.
"I hope not, Captain. It is man's mind that makes him a barbarian, not his technology. We may have to do without top-level technology, at least for a few generations, but that doesn't mean we can't establish a good world here for ourselves and our children, a civilized world. There have been civilizations which have existed for centuries almost without technology. The illusion that man's culture is only the history of his technostructures is propaganda from
The Captain said quietly, "With the full co-operation of every person here, this can be done. I
estimate that it will take between three and five years."
Moray said flatly, "You're insane. You're asking us to evolve a whole technology!"
"What man has done, man can do again,"
Page 53
68
Captain Leicester said imperturbably. "After all, Mr. Moray, I remind you that we have no alternative."
"The hell we don't!"
"You are out of order," the Captain said sternly. "Please take your seat."
"No, damn it! If you really believe all this can be done," Moray said, "I can only assume that you're stark raving mad. Or that the mind of an engineer or spaceman works so differently from any sane man's that there's no way to communicate. You say this will take three to five years. May I respectfully remind you that we have about a year to eighteen months' supply of food and medical supplies? May I also remind you that even now--moving toward summer--the climate is harsh and rigorous and our shelters are insufficient? The winter on this world, with its exaggerated tilt on the axis, is likely to be more brutal than anything any Earthman has ever experienced."
"Doesn't that prove the necessity of getting off this world as soon as possible?"
"No, it proves the need of finding reliable sources of food and shelter," Moray said. " That's where we need our total push! Forget your ship, Captain. It isn't going anywhere. Come to your senses. We're colonists, not scientists. We have everything we need to survive here--to settle down here. But we can't do it if half our energies are devoted to some senseless plan of diverting all our resources to repair a hopelessly crashed ship!"
There was a small uproar in the hall, a flood of cries, questions, outrage. The Captain repeatedlycalled for order, and finally the cries died down to dull mutterings. Moray demanded, "I call for a vote,"and the uproar rose again.
The Captain said, "I refuse to consider your proposal, Mr. Moray. The matter will not come to a
vote. May I remind you that I am currently in supreme command of this ship? Must I order your arrest?"
"Arrest, hell," Moray said scornfully. "You're not in space now, Captain. You're not on the bridge of your ship. You have no authority over any of us, Captain--except maybe your own crew, if they want to obey you."
Leicester stood on the rostrum, as white as his shirt, his eyes gleaming with fury. He said, "I remind
all of you that MacAran's party, sent out to explore, has discovered
69
traces of intelligent life on this planet. Earth Expeditionary has a standard policy of not placing colonies
on inhabited planets. If we settle here we are likely to bring cultural shock to the stone age culture."
Page 54
Another uproar. Moray shouted angrily, "Do you think your attempts to evolve a technology here foryour repairs wouldn't do that? In God's name, sir, we have everything we need to establish a colonyhere. If we divert all our resources to your insane effort to repair the ship, it's doubtful if we can evensurvive!"
Captain Leicester made a distinct effort to master himself, but his fury was obvious. He said harshly,
"You are suggesting that we abandon the effort--and relapse into barbarism?"
Moray was suddenly very grave. He came forward to the rostrum and stood beside the Captain. His
voice was level and calm.
"I hope not, Captain. It is man's mind that makes him a barbarian, not his technology. We may have to do without top-level technology, at least for a few generations, but that doesn't mean we can't establish a good world here for ourselves and our children, a civilized world. There have been civilizations which have existed for centuries almost without technology. The illusion that man's culture is only the history of his technostructures is propaganda from
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