“But . . . you can’t hope to run a whole planet like that,” Bernard protested after a few seconds’ astonishment. “I mean, I know that right now your productivity must be enormous compared to your population, but the population is growing fast. You’ve got to start thinking about some kind of . . . system to regulate things. Your resources are only finite.”
Rastus looked puzzled. ‘There’s a whole galaxy out there, and a few billion more beyond that,” he said. “It’ll take a long time for it to get crowded. Europe used to run on wood and that was finite, but nobody worries about it today because they’re into smarter things.” He shrugged. “It’s the same with everything else. The human mind is an infinite resource, and that’s all you need.”
Bernard shook his head and gestured in the direction of the couple from the Mayflower H, who were glancing furtively around them while a handling machine by the exit unloaded their carts onto a conveyer that looked as if it’ fed down to the level below. “But look what’s happening,” he said. “How long can you keep up with that kind of thing? What happens when everyone starts acting like that?”
“Why should they?” Chang asked. He looked across at the couple curiously. “I was wondering what they want with all that stuff. Anyone would think it’s about to run out.”
“For the status,” lay said. Chang looked at him blankly. “It’s okay,” Rastus said. “As long as they pay for it.”
“That’s my whole point,” Bernard told them. “They’re
not paying for it–not a cent’s worth of any of it.” “They will,” Rastus replied. “How?” Rastus looked mildly surprised. “They’ll find a way,” he said.
Just then Jerry Pernak came around a comer accompanied by his fiancé, Eve Verritty, and two more Chironians. A cart was following them with a few odds and ends inside. He gaped at Bernard and Jay in surprise, then grinned. “Hey! So Jay dragged you out to see the sights, eh? Hello, Jay. Started making friends already?” Introductions were exchanged with smiles and handshakes. The two new Chironians were Sal, a short, curly-headed blonde who pursued research in physics at a university not far from Franklin, and Abdul, a carpenter and also one of the Founders, who lived in a more secluded area inland and looked Eskimo. Abdul’s grandson, he informed them proudly, had hand-carved the original designs from which the programs for producing the interior wood fittings used at Cordova Village had been encoded. He was delighted when Bemard praised their quality and promised to tell his grandson what the Terran had said.
“And how about this?” Pernak said. “Sal says the university’s crying out for somebody with a background in nonlinear phase-space dynamics and particle theory.. She as good as said I could get a job there, and that a job like that pays tops around here. What do you think of that for a break?”
Bernard gave a pained smile. “It sounds good,” he agreed. “But the Directorate might have a few things to say.”
“I know, but I figured rd go take a 16ok at the place anyhow out of curiosity. That can’t do any harm. Later on, well… maybe anything could happen.”
“How are they going -to pay you?” Jay asked.
“We haven’t talked about that yet,” Pernak told him.
‘That’s a personal question, Jay,” Bernard cautioned. “Anyhow, it’s early yet.”
“Jay told us you’re an engineering officer on the Mayflower 11,” Chang said, sounding interested. “A specialist in fusion processes.”
“That’s right.” Bernard was surprised and felt a little flattered. “I help look after the main drive systems.”
“We could probably arrange a visit for you too,” Chang offered. “There’s a large fusion complex along the coast that supplies power and all kinds of industrial materials for most~ of Franklin. Another one’s due to be built soon, and they’ll be needing people too. I could arrange for you to go and see it, ff you think you’d be interested.”
It was interesting, certainly. “Well.. . maybe,” Bernard replied guardedly. “Who do you know there?” –
“I’ve got a friend whose mother works most of her time there. Her name’s Kathy