“Anybody need a refill?” I asked.
Nothing uses up alcohol faster than political argument. I sent for another bottle.
I did not take part. I was not dissatisfied back when we were “ground under Iron Heel of Authority.” I cheated Authority and rest of time didn’t think about it. Didn’t think about getting rid of Authority–impossible. Go own way, mind own business, not be bothered–
True, didn’t have luxuries then; by Earthside standards we were poor. If had to be imported, mostly did without; don’t think there was a powered door in all Luna. Even p-suits used to be fetched up from Terra–until a smart Chinee before I was born figured how to make “monkey copies” better and simpler. (Could dump two Chinee down in one of our maria and they would get rich selling rocks to each other while raising twelve kids. Then a Hindu would sell retail stuff he got from them wholesale–below cost at fat profit. We got along.)
I had seen those luxuries Earthside. Wasn’t worth what they put up with. Don’t mean heavy gravity, that doesn’t bother them; I mean nonsense. All time kukai moa. If chicken guano in one earthworm city were shipped to Luna, fertilizer problem would be solved for century. Do this. Don’t do that. Stay back of line. Where’s tax receipt? Fill out form. Let’s see license. Submit six copies. Exit only. No left turn. No right turn. Queue up to pay fine. Take back and get stamped. Drop dead–but first get permit.
Wyoh plowed doggedly into Prof, certain she had all answers. But Prof was interested in questions rather than answers, which baffled her. Finally she said, “Professor, I can’t understand you. I don’t insist that you call it ‘government’–I just want you to state what rules you think are necessary to insure equal freedom for all.”
“Dear lady, I’ll happily accept your rules.”
“But you don’t seem to want any rules!”
“True. But I will accept any rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
“You would not abide by a law that the majority felt was necessary?”
“Tell me what law, dear lady, and I will tell you whether I will obey it.”
“You wiggled out. Every time I state a general principle, you wiggle out.”
Prof clasped hands on chest. “Forgive me. Believe me, lovely Wyoming, I am most anxious to please you. You spoke of willingness to unite the front with anyone going your way. Is it enough that I want to see the Authority thrown off Luna and would die to serve that end?”
Wyoh beamed. “It certainly is!” She fisted his ribs–gently–then put arm around him and kissed cheek. “Comrade! Let’s get on with it!”
“Cheers!” I said. “Let’s fin’ Warden ‘n’ ‘liminate him!” Seemed a good idea; I had had a short night and don’t usually drink much.
Prof topped our glasses, held his high and announced with great dignity: “Comrades. . . we declare the Revolution!”
That got us both kissed. But sobered me, as Prof sat down and said, “The Emergency Committee of Free Luna is in session. We must plan action.”
I said, “Wait, Prof! I didn’t agree to anything. What’s this ‘Action’ stuff?”
“We will now overthrow the Authority,” he said blandly.
“How? Going to throw rocks at ’em?”
“That remains to be worked out. This is the planning stage.”
I said, “Prof, you know me. If kicking out Authority was thing we could buy. I wouldn’t worry about price.”
“‘–our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.'”
“Huh?”
“A price that once was paid.”
“Well–I’d go that high. But when I bet I want a chance to win. Told Wyoh last night I didn’t object to long odds–”
“‘One in ten’ is what you said, Mannie.”
“Da, Wyoh. Show me those odds, I’ll tap pot. But can you?”
“No, Manuel, I can’t.”
“Then why we talk-talk? I can’t see any chance.”
“Nor I, Manuel. But we approach it differently. Revolution is an art that I pursue rather than a goal I expect to achieve. Nor is this a source of dismay; a lost cause can be as spiritually satisfying as a victory.”