“Or soft-headed.” J.J. sighed. “Sure, it’s humane to feel pity for the unfortunate and to help when it is possible. It is damned well not possible to give to every individual in the world the luxuries which, in the past, were the rewards for achievers. Take one absurd example. There just isn’t enough gold in existence to give every person on earth a gold ring. There isn’t enough of several commodities to give every woman a washing machine, a dishwasher, a toaster, a television set. The world was not meant to support so many people. And I think there is an overall design in the basic reality that the world alone cannot provide the ideal life for eight billion people.”
“The old argument for space,” Ellen said. “It is man’s destiny to go into space, since his small world can’t satisfy his needs.”
“I think man’s place is in space,” Neil said, “but I don’t believe in some predestined force. I think the stars are just there and it’s immaterial to the universe whether man reaches them or not.”
“There are still those who think we’re going to come face to face with God out there in space and be blinded,” Art said.
“Let’s get back to Paul’s suggestion of a man on horseback,” Neil said. “Suppose a leader did arise. Suppose he built an organization which could take over the United States. If he had one goal and one goal only, and that was to restore law and order, what actions would he take, and how far would people like us back him?”
“I’d want to know that sooner or later we’d return to a form of democracy,” Doris said.
“I’d grab a weapon and enlist in his force,” Paul said.
“I’d try to become an intimate of his and have a say in things.” J.J. laughed. “But then I’ve always thought that a benevolent dictatorship was the finest and most efficient form of government.”
“As long as I’m the benevolent dictator,” Dom said. “But I’d back the right man, I guess. I know that things look bad, but we’re not finished, not yet. Like Doris, I’d want to return to being a republic, not a democracy. No heirs to the great man allowed, to give power time to corrupt.”
“I can think of a dozen men who’d handle things better than the politicians,” Paul said.
“The sad thing is that the revolution, if there is one, is being run by the wrong people,” Dom said.
“Perhaps, if we finish our mission, there won’t be a revolution,” J.J. said. “What we’ll bring back will be revolutionary, but for the better. But Neil asked a good question. How far would we be willing to go, how many personal freedoms would we be willing to put into storage, in order to restore a bit of sanity in the world? Would we send armed soldiers to break up Earthfirster rallies and kill hundreds?”
“Would it be a loss?” Paul asked.
“I’d send them with fire guns,” Neil said.
“I would first give them a chance to disperse peacefully,” Ellen said.
“Hell, exterminate them where you find them,” Neil said.
“My husband met force with force,” Doris said. “He died.”
There was a moment of silence. “We’re a fine, bloodthirsty crew,” Dom said. “If I decide to start a revolution I’ll recruit all of you.”
“Would it be inhumane to kill the terrorists in order to have peace?” J.J. asked.
“You’re being very persistent with that question, aren’t you?” Ellen asked.
“I’m curious,” J.J. said. “Is it wrong to put the welfare of the race ahead of temporary considerations of personal freedom? Would we be labeled monsters by history if we killed thousands in order to make life better for millions?”
“That question is too big for me,” Dom said.
“Because it could come to that,” J.J. said. “You may be forced to take sides, to fight. Space and future hope, or Earth in isolation and slow rot. The future or the present. A loaf of bread for each citizen before starvation or some starvation now and plenty later.”
“I can hope for a loaf now and more loaves in the future,” Dom said. “I can hope that that alien on Jupiter has a sublight drive and we pull him out and he shares his secrets with us. I can hope that we’ll build a fleet of starships and start sending out colonists to grow good wheat so that every man does not want for bread.”
“I can go with that,” J.J. said. “But what if the bogie is not a sublight ship? What if it is merely an unmanned probe which has been traveling for centuries? Sure, a sublight drive would solve all our problems, provided that there are rich, uninhabited planets out there. But what would solve our short-term problems and give us an opportunity to develop our own starships?”
“That’s simple,” Ellen said. “Food.”
“Food,” J.J. said. “All our recent efforts have been directed toward providing more food. We’re going to Jupiter to try to salvage an alien ship in the hope that it will enable us to move the race to a new food supply. Food is the key. The man, or group of men, who provide the world with food can control the world without armed revolution. Do you agree?”
“Meaning that if we, as you say, bring home the bacon, the service will have a strong voice in policy?” Doris asked.
“Shouldn’t we?” J. J. countered.
“So we’re going to Jupiter so that we can tell other men what to do?” Doris asked.
“Hell, no,” J. J. said. “We’re going to Jupiter to get a few loaves of bread.” He spread his hands. “But when it comes down to it, who would you rather have running things, service people or men like the senator from New Mexico?”
“Knowing some high-ranking service people, that’s not much of a choice,” Dom said.
“Flash, you wound me,” J.J. said. He smiled. “There’s been a method behind my madness in this discussion. I mentioned the gentleman from New Mexico. As of this morning, Pacific time, he announced that he has been the controlling force behind the Earthfirster movement. Further, he said that he has effected a union of all radical forces, with the two main groups being Firsters and Worldsavers, and that he intends to take over sole control of the government, either by peaceful means or by armed force.”
“My God,” Doris said.
Dom felt a cold chill run up his spine.
“There will be civil war,” J.J. said. “When we return, well have to take sides.”
“If it isn’t over when we get back,” Neil said.
“Who the hell will fight them?” Art asked. “Not the government in Washington.”
“The Department of Space Exploration has joined with all branches of the service to declare loyalty to the government,” J.J. said.
“The government is riddled with Firsters and Worldsavers,” Dom said.
“The radicals walked out of Congress, declaring it an instrument of totalitarianism. There’s no one left in Washington but the President, a few members of his cabinet, and a few very brave liberals.”
“What a choice,” Neil said. “The terrorists or the bleeding hearts.”
“It’s the only choice we have,” J.J. said, “but you can easily see that if we muster enough force to beat them, we’ll be running things when it’s over. I mean the combined services.”
“Has fighting actually started?” Ellen asked.
“It’s fairly unorganized, for the moment.” J.J. sighed. “There is a main force of radicals pushing eastward from California, picking up recruits as they move. Their target is probably DOSEWEX. A couple of the southern bases, one army and one naval base, have been taken. But mainly the losses have been in the northeast. The southern army and sea marine bases are furnishing most of the loyal troops. There’s a defense line being drawn up running roughly from Chicago to the Texas gulf coast.”
“Can it be held?” Neil asked.
“That remains to be seen. As it looks now, the services, with the exception of the space arms, which have a higher percentage of loyalty, seem to be divided about fifty-fifty.”