“Is the state actively fighting religion?”
“Of course not. To educate in opposition to particular dogmas of particular sects is not to fight religion. But if a church persists in teaching anti-social doctrine, the state reserves the right to combat those doctrines with argument in rebuttal. It is necessary to remember that head-hunting is a religious rite. Shall we tolerate it? The most popular sects of your day practiced a form of symbolic cannibalism. Is the state obligated to stand in awe of that rather nauseating myth? Our answer is simple. Any religion is free to preach and practice but the state and all individuals have an equal right to combat their doctrines by any peaceful means.”
“Haven’t some sects attempted to prevent any non-conformist instruction of their children?”
“Yes, some extreme cases have preferred to go to Coventry, whole sects. They seceded from us, so instead of fighting, we seceded from them. But we were talking about politics and here we are on religion. What was I saying? Oh yes, why we get better men into office than we used to. I think I’ve covered most of the reasons. The destruction of the political power of finance capitalism was a big factor, naturally. Required voting helps—only those can draw the dividend who vote, and the franchise calls for a rather stiff course in the details of the mechanics of government.”
“Suppose one doesn’t pass the examination, does he lose his vote?”
“There is no examination. If there were, the party in power might use it to disenfranchise the opposition, just as such laws were used to disenfranchise the negroes in the South in your day. We just make sure that the citizen has been thoroughly instructed in the machinery of government. All these things help to make a more intelligent electorate and bring out better candidates. In spite of everything we get a certain percentage of stupid, or unqualified, or small-souled men in office. This isn’t Utopia, you know. This is just the United States of America in 2086.
XIII
Back in California, Diana paid a call on Master Hedrick. He received her at once and ushered her into his study, his face wreathed in a smile of welcome that managed to make him more birdlike than ever.
“Come in, come in, my dear. May I do you a service? I’ve missed you lately. But I did see some of your Chicago appearances by telecast. You were magnificent. Lovely! Lovely! Sit you down here by the fire. Something to eat? No? A cigarette? A little glass of wine? Ah, good. I saw your parents when I was up north this past week. Both well and hearty and full of the joy of living.”
Diana shifted uneasily in her chair. “Master Hedrick, I’m troubled and need advice.”
His face sobered. “I hope that I can help you. Tell me about it.”
She drew circles with her toe on the floor, and considered her words. “I hardly know how to begin. You already know a lot about it. You know how Perry got into difficulties and why he was sent here. Well, I am very deeply attached to Perry. I thought and still hope and believe that our association will last throughout our lives and grow and deepen. But the trouble with my dancing partner, Bernard, got us off to a poor start. It worries me that it might happen again and I care so deeply that I find myself willing to do anything to avoid the possibility of anything like it happening again.”
“How do you plan to avoid the possibility?”
“I don’t know exactly. I could quit dancing with Bernard when this contract expires, and not see him anymore. But this last series we did together went so well that we have been offered a new contract at a considerably higher salary. I know that Bernard expects me to take it. He has even planned what he will do with his additional credit.”
“You believe that you might be happier with Perry if you refused to work with Bernard?”
“Well—that is what I’ve been thinking about. In any case, although Bernard hasn’t said anything and apparently the public hasn’t noticed it, I know that my work with Bernard isn’t as good as it used to be. I am distracted from it by the fear of Perry’s opinion. Whenever a dance calls for a love scene, I can’t get my mind off Perry. I wonder if he is tuned in, and if he thinks my acting too realistic.”
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