Then Adam looked at them and said, “The future is waiting. Mark well what you do,” and turned meeting over to Prof rather than usual chairman.
Was twenty-two hundred and fight began. Sure, they were in favor of it; news all day had been jammed with what bad boys we were, how we were to be punished, taught a lesson, so forth. Not necessary to spice it up; stuff up from Earthside was nasty–Mike merely left out on-other-hand opinions. If ever was a day when Luna felt unified it was probably second of July 2076.
So they were going to pass it; Prof knew that before he offered it.
But not as written–“Honorable Chairman, in second paragraph, that word ‘unalienable,’ is no such word; should be ‘inalienable’–and anyhow wouldn’t it be more dignified to say ‘sacred rights’ rather than ‘inalienable rights’? I’d like to hear discussion on this.”
That choom was almost sensible, merely a literary critic, which is harmless, like dead yeast left in beer. But– Well, take that woman who hated everything. She was there with list; read it aloud and moved to have it incorporated into Declaration “so that the peoples of Terra will know that we are civilized and fit to take our places in the councils of mankind!”
Prof not only let her get away with it; he encouraged her, letting her talk when other people wanted to–then blandly put her proposal to a vote when hadn’t even been seconded. (Congress operated by rules they had wrangled over for days. Prof was familiar with rules but followed them only as suited him.) She was voted down in a shout, and left.
Then somebody stood up and said of course that long list didn’t belong in Declaration–but shouldn’t we have general principles? Maybe a statement that Luna Free State guaranteed freedom, equality, and security to all? Nothing elaborate, just those fundamental principles that everybody knew was proper purpose of goiverament.
True enough and let’s pass it–but must read “Freedom, equality, peace, and security”–right, Comrade? They wrangled over whether “freedom” included “free air,” or was that part of “security”? Why not be on safe side and list “free air” by name? Move to amend to make it “free air and water”–because you didn’t have “freedom” or “security” unless you had both air and water.
Air, water, and food.
Air, water, food, and cubic.
Air, water, food, cubic, and heat.
No, make “heat” read “power” and you had it all covered. Everything.
Cobber, have you lost your mind? That’s far from everything and what you’ve left out is an affront to all womankind– Step outside and say that! Let me finish. We’ve got to tell them right from deal that we will permit no more ships to land unless they carry at least as many women as men. At least, I said–and I for one won’t chop it unless it sets immigration issue straight.
Prof never lost dimples.
Began to see why Prof had slept all day and was not wearing weights. Me, I was tired, having spent all day in p-suit out beyond catapult head cutting in last of relocated ballistic radars. And everybody was tired; by midnight crowd began to thin, convinced that nothing would be accomplished that night and bored by any yammer not their own.
Was later than midnight when someone asked why this Declaration was dated fourth when today was second? Prof said mildly that it was July third now–and it seemed unlikely that our Declaration could be announced earlier than fourth and that July fourth carried historical symbolism that might help.
Several people walked out at announcement that probably nothing would be settled until fourth of July. But I began to notice something: Hall was filling as fast as was emptying. Finn Nielsen slid into a seat that had just been vacated. Comrade Clayton from Hong Kong showed up, pressed my shoulder, smiled at Wyoh, found a seat. My youngest lieutenants. Slim and Hazel, I spotted down front–and was thinking I must alibi Hazel by telling Mum I had kept her out on Parts business–when was amused to see Mum herself next to them. And Sidris. And Greg, who was supposed to be at new catapult.