Looked around and picked out a dozen more–night editor of Lunaya Pravda, General Manager of LuNoHoCo, others, and each one a working comrade, Began to see that Prof had stacked deck. That Congress never had a fixed membership; these dinkum comrades had as much right to show up as those who had been talking a month. Now they sat–and voted down amendments.
About three hundred, when I was wondering how much more I could take, someone brought a note to Prof. He read it, banged gavel and said, “Adam Selene begs your indulgence. Do I hear unanimous consent?”
So screen back of rostrum lighted up again and Adam told them that he had been following debate and was warmed by many thoughtful and constructive criticisms. But could he made a suggestion? Why not admit that any piece of writing was imperfect? If thin declaration was in general what they wanted, why not postpone perfection for another day and pass this as it stands? “Honorable Chairman, I so move.”
They passed it with a yell. Prof said, “Do I hear objection?” and waited with gavel raised. A man who had been talking when Adam had asked to be heard said, “Well, . . I still say that’s a dangling participle, but okay, leave it in.”
Prof hanged gavel. “So ordered!”
Then we filed up and put our chops on a big scroll that had been “sent over from Adam’s office”—and I noticed Adam’s chop on it. I signed right under Hazel–child now could write although was still short on book learning. Her chop was shaky but she wrote it large and proud. Comrade Clayton signed his Party name, real name in letters, and Japanese chop, three little pictures one above other. Two comrades chopped with X’s and had them witnessed. All Party leaders were there that night (morning), all chopped it, and not more than a dozen yammerers stuck. But those who did, put their chops down for history to read. And thereby committed “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors.”
While queue was moving slowly past and people were talking, Prof banged for attention. “I ask for volunteers for a dangerous mission. This Declaration will go on the news channels–but must be presented in person to the Federated Nations, on Terra.”
That put stop to noise. Prof was looking at me. I swallowed and said, “I volunteer.” Wyoh echoed, “So do I!”–and little Hazel Meade said, “Me, too!”
In moments were a dozen, from Finn Nielsen to Gospodin Dangling-Participle (turned out to be good cobber aside from his fetish). Prof took names, murmured something about getting in touch as transportation became available.
I got Prof aside and said, “Look, Prof, you too tired to track? You know ship for seventh was canceled; now they’re talking about slapping embargo on us. Next ship they lift for Luna will be a warship. How you planning to travel? As prisoner?”
“Oh, we won’t use their ships.”
“So? Going to build one? Any idea how long that takes? If could build one at all. Which I doubt.”
“Manuel, Mike says it’s necessary–and has it all worked out.”
I did know Mike said was necessary; he had rerun problem soon as we learned that bright laddies at Richardson had snuck one home–he now gave us only one chance in fifty-three. . . with imperative need for Prof to go Earthside. But I’m not one to worry about impossibilities; I had spent day working to make that one chance in fifty-three turn up.
“Mike will provide the ship,” Prof went on. “He has completed its design and it is being worked on.”
“He has? It is? Since when is Mike engineer?”
“Isn’t he?” asked Prof.
I started to answer, shut up. Mike had no degrees. Simply knew more engineering than any man alive. Or about Shakespeare’s plays, or riddles, or history, name it. “Tell me more.”
“Manuel, we’ll go to Terra as a load of grain.”
“What? Who’s ‘we’?”
“You and myself. The other volunteers are merely decorative.”
I said, “Look, Prof. I’ve stuck. Worked hard when whole thing seemed silly. Worn these weights–got ’em on now–on chance I might have to go to that dreadful place. But contracted to go in a ship, with at least a Cyborg pilot to help me get down safely. Did not agree to go as meteorite.”
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