Inferno: A Chronicle of a Distant World (The Galactic Comedy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

manhood by killing a huge carnivore with a spear not three years ago. He has many admirable qualities, not the least of which are his curiosity and intelligence, but you can't put him into a tunic and sit him down in front of a computer—not this year, not in ten years, possibly not ever. He could be the Copernicus or Galileo of his race, but he squats outside in the rain and eats strips of dried meat that he rips off with his bare hands."
    "But his children can be assimilated as easily as yours or mine could," said Cartright.
    "Probably," said Beddoes. "If they grew up in a human household."
    "Your doubts are logged and noted," said Cartright. "But we simply haven't got the time. You've seen what's happened to other worlds when the Republic, with the best of intentions, tried to colonize them. Faligor is our last best chance to prove to them that there's a better way, to show them that the carrot works better than the stick. We're asking a lot of the jasons, I know, but they seem a bright and willing race, and the rewards will be commensurate with their effort. And, of course, the alternative is considerably worse."
    "Well," said Beddoes. "You asked for my opinion. I gave it to you."
    "And I thank you for it, Susan—and especially for your suggestion about the moles. Now, since I'm here for a limited time, I think I'd better speak with my other experts."
    Realizing she had been dismissed, Beddoes got to her feet. She walked to the door, then stopped and turned to Cartright.
    "May I make one final suggestion?"
    "Certainly."
    "I've only counted two alien psychologists among your experts," she said. "If you're going to accelerate the jasons' march to civilization, I'd import a hell of a lot more of them if I were you."

    3.

    Despite all of Susan Beddoes' doubts, Faligor worked.
    There was no show of resentment at the importation of some 300,000 moles on long-term mining contracts.
    Jason and Man worked side-by-side in the fields, taming the land and exporting more than enough food in the first six months so that the nearby mining worlds were no longer dependent upon any other source.
    The seas proved to be as rich in protein as the soil was in minerals, and before long the fishing and aquaculture industries were also able not just to feed the populace but also to export their products as well.
    No less a personage than Johnny Ramsey, the former Secretary of the Republic, went on a hunting safari, spent some time preaching his brand of democracy to the jasons, and solemnly declared that Faligor was the Diamond of the Outer Frontier.
    Seventeen Republic worlds planned to open embassies on Faligor, each of them intent upon setting up trade relations with either the miners or the farmers or both.
    At Disanko's invitation, Men built the city of Romulus on Enkoti soil, and made it their headquarters. Within a year the neighboring city of Remus was built on the shores of a large inland lake.
    When Disanko died suddenly, stricken by a virus, he was succeeded by his son, Tantram, who immediately vowed to work closely with the Republic to bring its benefits to all of his people. His first act was to use the money Disanko had stockpiled to create Tantram University on the outskirts of Romulus, and he established a trust fund that was sufficient to hire the finest human academics to staff it.
    Cartright was elated at the way things were progressing, so much so that he purchased a large tract of land from the Rizzali and built a house on it with the intention of retiring to Faligor when his contract with the Department of Cartography expired.
    Beddoes herself remained on the planet. When Cartography suggested it was time to move on, she resigned and signed up with one of the local safari companies, which had sprouted like weeds after Ramsey's visit and his subsequent book extolling the virtues of Faligor. She had no interest in or talent for hunting, but she acted as a guide for holo safaris, and spent her spare time pursuing her