Read Online Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke - Free Book Online
Authors: Arthur C. Clarke
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Fiction - Science Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera
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building illegal radio sets during the German occupation."
Duval looked disappointed.
"Well, I suppose I have mentioned that once or twice before. But there's one other thiug-"
44
"What's that?"
"When you are caught, I didn't know what you wanted the gear for."
"What, after all the fuss you once made about the scientist's social responsibility for his inventions? Really, Pierre, I'm ashamed of you!"
Stormgren laid down the thick folder of typescript with a sigh of relief.
"Thank heavens that's settled at last," he said. "It's strange to think that these few hundred pages hold the future of mankind. The World State! I never thought I would see it in my lifetime!"
He dropped the file into his brief-case, the back of which was no more than ten centimetres from the dark rectangle of the screen. From time to nine his fingers played across the locks in a half-conscious nervous reaction, but he had no intention of pressing the concealed switch until the meeting was over. There was a chance that something might go wrong: though Duval had sworn that Karellen would detect nothing, one could never be sure.
"Now, you said you'd some news for me," Stormgren continued, with scarcely concealed eagerness. "Is it about-"
"Yes," said Karellen. "I received a decision a few hours ago."
What did he mean by that? wondered Storingren. Surely it was not possible for the Supervisor to have communicated with his distant home, across the unknown numbers of light years that separated him from his base. Or perhaps-this was van Ryberg's theory-he had merely been consulting some vast computing machine which could predict the outcome of any political action.
"I don't think," continued Karellen, "that the Freedom League and its associates will be very satisfied, but it should help to reduce the tension. We won't record this, by the way.
"You've often told me, Rikki, that no matter how unlike you we are physically, the human race would soon grow accustomed to us. That shows a lack of imagination on your part. It would probably be true in your case, but you must remember that most of the world is still uneducated by any reasonable
45
standards, and is riddled with prejudices and superstitions that may take decades to eradicate.
"You will grant that we know something of human psychology. We know rather accurately what would happen if we revealed ourselves to the world in its present state of develop-merit. I can't go into details, even with you, so you must accept my analysis on trust. We can, however, make this definite promise, which should give you some satisfaction. In fifty years-two generations from now-we will come down from our ships and humanity will at last see us as we are."
Stormgren was silent for a while, absorbing the Supervisor's words. He felt little of the satisfaction that Karellen's statement would once have given him. Indeed, he was somewhat confused by his partial success, and for a moment his resolution faltered. The truth would come with the passage of time:
all his plotting was unnecessary and perhaps unwise. If he still went ahead, it would be only for the selfish reason that he would not be alive in fifty years.
Karellen must have seen his irresolution, for he continued:
"I'm sorry if this disappoints you, but at least the political problems of the near future won't be your responsibility. Perhaps you will think that our fears are unfounded, but believe me we've had convincing proofs of the danger of any other course."
Stormgren leaned forward, breathing heavily.
"So you have been seen by Man!"
"I didn't say that," Karellen answered promptly. "Your world isn't the only planet we've supervised."
Stormgren was not to be shaken off so easily.
"There have been many legends suggesting that E5L'th has been visited in the past by other races."
"I know: I've read the }Iistorical Research Section's report. It makes Earth look like the crossroads of the Universe."
"There may have been visits about which you
Duval looked disappointed.
"Well, I suppose I have mentioned that once or twice before. But there's one other thiug-"
44
"What's that?"
"When you are caught, I didn't know what you wanted the gear for."
"What, after all the fuss you once made about the scientist's social responsibility for his inventions? Really, Pierre, I'm ashamed of you!"
Stormgren laid down the thick folder of typescript with a sigh of relief.
"Thank heavens that's settled at last," he said. "It's strange to think that these few hundred pages hold the future of mankind. The World State! I never thought I would see it in my lifetime!"
He dropped the file into his brief-case, the back of which was no more than ten centimetres from the dark rectangle of the screen. From time to nine his fingers played across the locks in a half-conscious nervous reaction, but he had no intention of pressing the concealed switch until the meeting was over. There was a chance that something might go wrong: though Duval had sworn that Karellen would detect nothing, one could never be sure.
"Now, you said you'd some news for me," Stormgren continued, with scarcely concealed eagerness. "Is it about-"
"Yes," said Karellen. "I received a decision a few hours ago."
What did he mean by that? wondered Storingren. Surely it was not possible for the Supervisor to have communicated with his distant home, across the unknown numbers of light years that separated him from his base. Or perhaps-this was van Ryberg's theory-he had merely been consulting some vast computing machine which could predict the outcome of any political action.
"I don't think," continued Karellen, "that the Freedom League and its associates will be very satisfied, but it should help to reduce the tension. We won't record this, by the way.
"You've often told me, Rikki, that no matter how unlike you we are physically, the human race would soon grow accustomed to us. That shows a lack of imagination on your part. It would probably be true in your case, but you must remember that most of the world is still uneducated by any reasonable
45
standards, and is riddled with prejudices and superstitions that may take decades to eradicate.
"You will grant that we know something of human psychology. We know rather accurately what would happen if we revealed ourselves to the world in its present state of develop-merit. I can't go into details, even with you, so you must accept my analysis on trust. We can, however, make this definite promise, which should give you some satisfaction. In fifty years-two generations from now-we will come down from our ships and humanity will at last see us as we are."
Stormgren was silent for a while, absorbing the Supervisor's words. He felt little of the satisfaction that Karellen's statement would once have given him. Indeed, he was somewhat confused by his partial success, and for a moment his resolution faltered. The truth would come with the passage of time:
all his plotting was unnecessary and perhaps unwise. If he still went ahead, it would be only for the selfish reason that he would not be alive in fifty years.
Karellen must have seen his irresolution, for he continued:
"I'm sorry if this disappoints you, but at least the political problems of the near future won't be your responsibility. Perhaps you will think that our fears are unfounded, but believe me we've had convincing proofs of the danger of any other course."
Stormgren leaned forward, breathing heavily.
"So you have been seen by Man!"
"I didn't say that," Karellen answered promptly. "Your world isn't the only planet we've supervised."
Stormgren was not to be shaken off so easily.
"There have been many legends suggesting that E5L'th has been visited in the past by other races."
"I know: I've read the }Iistorical Research Section's report. It makes Earth look like the crossroads of the Universe."
"There may have been visits about which you
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