are particularly
interested are actually in the Chamber. The others are working on reports or seeing
constituents in their little cubbyholes all over the building.”
“Now, boys,” boomed Sir Michael as he returned, having collected a tray of drinks
on the way, “tell me about this scheme of yours for going to the Moon.”
Matthews cleared his throat, and Dirk pictured his mind running rapidly through all
the possible opening gambits.
“Well, Sir Michael,” he began, “it’s only a logical extension of what mankind’s been
doing since history began. For thousands of years the human race has been spreading
over the world until the whole globe has been explored and colonized. The time’s now
come to make the next step and to cross space to the other planets. Humanity must
always have new frontiers, new horizons. Otherwise it will sooner or later sink back
into decadence. Interplanetary travel’s the next stage in our development, and it
will be wise to take it before it’s forced upon us by shortage of raw materials or
space. And there are also psychological reasons for space flight. Many years ago someone
likened our little Earth to a goldfish bowl inside which the human mind couldn’t keep
circling forever with stagnation. The world was big enough for mankind in the days
of the stagecoach and the sailing ship, but it’s far too small now that we can round
it in a couple of hours.”
Matthews leaned back to watch the effect of his shock tactics. For a moment Sir Michael
looked a little dazed: then he made a quick recovery and downed the remainder of his
drink.
“It’s all a little overwhelming,” he said ruefully. “But what will you do when you
get to the Moon, anyway?”
“You must realize,” said Matthews, pressing on remorselessly, “that the Moon’s only
the beginning. Fifteen million square miles is quite a good beginning, to be sure,
but we only look upon it as a stepping-stone to the planets. As you know, there’s
no free air or water there, so the first colonies will have to be totally enclosed.
But the low gravity will make it easy to build very large structures and plans have
been drawn up for whole cities under great transparent domes.”
“Seems to me,” said Sir Michael shrewdly, “that you’re going to take your ‘goldfish
bowls’ with you!”
Matthews nearly smiled.
“A good point,” he conceded, “but probably the Moon will be mainly used by the astronomers
and physicists for scientific research. It’s enormously important to them, and whole
new areas of knowledge will be opened up when they can build labs and observatories
up there.”
“And will that make the world a better or a happier place?”
“That, as always, depends on humanity. Knowledge is neutral, but one
must
possess it to do either good or ill.”
Matthews waved his arm along the great river moving sluggishly past them between its
crowded banks.
“Everything you can see, everything in our modern world, is possible because of the
knowledge which men won in ancient times. And civilization isn’t static: if it stands
still, it will die.”
There was silence for a while. Almost in spite of himself, Dirk felt deeply impressed.
He wondered if he had been wrong in thinking that Matthews was merely an efficient
salesman, propagating the ideals of others. Was he no more than a talented instrumentalist,
performing a piece of music with complete technical skill but without any real feeling?
He could not be sure. Matthews, extrovert though he was, concealed depths of reserve
which Dirk could never plumb. In this, though in no other respect, he filled the specifications
of that fabulous creature, the typical Englishman.
“I’ve had a good many letters,” said Sir Michael presently, “from friends of mine
in Ireland who don’t like the idea at all and think we were never intended to leave
the Earth. What am I to say to
interested are actually in the Chamber. The others are working on reports or seeing
constituents in their little cubbyholes all over the building.”
“Now, boys,” boomed Sir Michael as he returned, having collected a tray of drinks
on the way, “tell me about this scheme of yours for going to the Moon.”
Matthews cleared his throat, and Dirk pictured his mind running rapidly through all
the possible opening gambits.
“Well, Sir Michael,” he began, “it’s only a logical extension of what mankind’s been
doing since history began. For thousands of years the human race has been spreading
over the world until the whole globe has been explored and colonized. The time’s now
come to make the next step and to cross space to the other planets. Humanity must
always have new frontiers, new horizons. Otherwise it will sooner or later sink back
into decadence. Interplanetary travel’s the next stage in our development, and it
will be wise to take it before it’s forced upon us by shortage of raw materials or
space. And there are also psychological reasons for space flight. Many years ago someone
likened our little Earth to a goldfish bowl inside which the human mind couldn’t keep
circling forever with stagnation. The world was big enough for mankind in the days
of the stagecoach and the sailing ship, but it’s far too small now that we can round
it in a couple of hours.”
Matthews leaned back to watch the effect of his shock tactics. For a moment Sir Michael
looked a little dazed: then he made a quick recovery and downed the remainder of his
drink.
“It’s all a little overwhelming,” he said ruefully. “But what will you do when you
get to the Moon, anyway?”
“You must realize,” said Matthews, pressing on remorselessly, “that the Moon’s only
the beginning. Fifteen million square miles is quite a good beginning, to be sure,
but we only look upon it as a stepping-stone to the planets. As you know, there’s
no free air or water there, so the first colonies will have to be totally enclosed.
But the low gravity will make it easy to build very large structures and plans have
been drawn up for whole cities under great transparent domes.”
“Seems to me,” said Sir Michael shrewdly, “that you’re going to take your ‘goldfish
bowls’ with you!”
Matthews nearly smiled.
“A good point,” he conceded, “but probably the Moon will be mainly used by the astronomers
and physicists for scientific research. It’s enormously important to them, and whole
new areas of knowledge will be opened up when they can build labs and observatories
up there.”
“And will that make the world a better or a happier place?”
“That, as always, depends on humanity. Knowledge is neutral, but one
must
possess it to do either good or ill.”
Matthews waved his arm along the great river moving sluggishly past them between its
crowded banks.
“Everything you can see, everything in our modern world, is possible because of the
knowledge which men won in ancient times. And civilization isn’t static: if it stands
still, it will die.”
There was silence for a while. Almost in spite of himself, Dirk felt deeply impressed.
He wondered if he had been wrong in thinking that Matthews was merely an efficient
salesman, propagating the ideals of others. Was he no more than a talented instrumentalist,
performing a piece of music with complete technical skill but without any real feeling?
He could not be sure. Matthews, extrovert though he was, concealed depths of reserve
which Dirk could never plumb. In this, though in no other respect, he filled the specifications
of that fabulous creature, the typical Englishman.
“I’ve had a good many letters,” said Sir Michael presently, “from friends of mine
in Ireland who don’t like the idea at all and think we were never intended to leave
the Earth. What am I to say to
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