He got worry lines between his brows, the way he’d done when first they met, he an Aventureros engineer consulting her about a thorny design problem.
Oh, he’d fallen into such awe of her intellect, though really she doubted it was better than his -differently configured and oriented, but not intrinsically better- except when she was joined to her machine. He’d found excuses to meet her later on, which led to outright dinner dates after he was widowed and had moved to Demeter and made occasional trips Earthside. She enjoyed his company as she enjoyed a gust off the sea.
Eventually, impulsively, she let him into her bed, and was astounded. .
. . How young those worry lines made him look.
“Supposing we do reach Beta,” he said, “will they help us? You and Carlos emphasized how they don’t want to interfere, how careful they’ve always been about respecting less advanced species.”
“Humankind is special to them, though,” she assured him. “We’ll have extensive explaining and persuading to do, I admit. But when we of Emissary described our history and sociology, what little we could convey, they found it no more grotesque than what they’d encountered among other races. Their leaders do believe we can help them through their psychosexual crisis.”
“So they’d-m-m-m-what?”
“Make an appearance in the Solar System, I imagine, invincible, but simply protecting us while we broadcast the facts to Earth.”
“And they offer us a fabulous bargain, you said. Their technology in exchange for franchises to exploit Jupiter and Saturn, which we can’t anyway.
Right?” Brodersen struck fire to tobacco, peering at her across it. “Of course, that will destroy the Actionists, and every party like theirs. Quite aside from the scandal, I mean. The whole philosophy will be killed.”
“How?”
“Why, it’s obvious. As fast as we acquire that same technology, we’ll skite off through every star gate the Betans have mapped, as well as mounting our own program to chart new ones. The sheer profit to be made, in countless places and ways, must beggar the imagination. Else why would the Betans bother with our giant planets? So even before we start large-scale emigration, the balance of economic power will shift away from Earth. It’ll also shift away from governments, unions, giant corporations, toward small outfits and individuals.
There goes the tidy world welfare state the Actionist types hope to build. I daresay Quick foresees as much.”
Joelle frowned, striving to comprehend. “But that isn’t logical, Dan.
Presumably welfare measures serve a need. If the need comes to an end, who would want to continue them?”
Brodersen laughed the ringing laugh she knew. Smoke burst from his mouth. It smelled masculine. “Dear, you’re doing it again. Assuming people are logical. They aren’t. The welfare state -any state- is an end in itself. It’s the way for a few to impose their will on the many. And Judas priest, how those few do want to! Need to.” He puffed on his pipe. “Talk with Stef Dozsa if you’re interested. His country’s been through the mill, over and over. Holy Roman Empire, Mongol Empire, Ottoman Empire, Austrian Empire, Soviet Empire, Balkan Empire. . . . No, maybe you shouldn’t. That history’s made a rabid anarchist of him. Harmless in his case, but if he converted you-well, under your stiffish exterior, Joelle, you’ve got a lot of wildness bottled up. I know.”
You do, Dan!
Brodersen stirred. “My personal weakness is I ramble,” he said. “I’d better stop boring you and carry on in my proper job.”
“You weren’t boring me,” Joelle answered with effort. She felt the heat in her face and breasts. “You never did. Were always rather fascinating, in fact, I suppose because we’re so unlike.”
“Yeah, we are. Well, anyhow.” He rose.
She did too. “Why don’t you come by this evenwatch after we’re both off?” she suggested. “I could indent for some food and wine. Remember how you used to do the cooking? I’m still terrible at that, but. . . I’ll bet you’ve improved.”
“Not much.” He looked at his toes. “Besides, I- Happens I have a date.
Sorry, but it’s not the kind a person breaks.”
Side 90
Anderson, Poul – Avatar, The