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indulgently)  is too much for you.
The Secretary, who disliked the air of condescension, said stiffly,  The Jovian satellites are practical sites
for colonization, however, and we intend to colonize them shortly.
 But the satellites will not be disturbed in any way. They are yours in every sense of the word. We ask
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only Jupiter itself, a completely useless world to you, and for that the return we offer is generous. Surely
you realize that we could take your Jupiter, if we wished, without your permission. It is only that we
prefer payment and a legal treaty. It will prevent disputes in the future. As you see, I'm being completely
frank.
The Secretary said stubbornly,  Why do you need Jupiter?
 The Lamberj-
 Are you at war with the Lamberj?
 It's not quite-
 Because you see that if it is war and you establish some sort of fortified base on Jupiter, the Lamberj
may, quite properly, resent that, and retaliate against us for granting you permission. We cannot allow
ourselves to be involved in such a situation.
 Nor would I ask you to be involved. My word that no harm would come to you. Surely (he kept
coming back to it)  the return is generous. Enough power boxes each year to supply your world with a
full year of power requirement.
The Secretary said,  On the understanding that future increases in power consumption will be met.
 Up to a figure five times the present total. Yes.
 Well, then, as I have said, I am a high official of the government and have been given considerable
powers to deal with you-but not infinite power. I, myself, am inclined to trust you, but I could not accept
your terms without understanding exactly why you want Jupiter. If the explanation is plausible and
convincing, I could perhaps persuade our government and, through them, our people, to make the
agreement. If I tried to make an agreement without such an explanation, I would simply be forced out of
office and Earth would refuse to honor the agreement. You could then, as you say, take Jupiter by force,
but you would be in illegal possession and you have said you don't wish that.
The simulacron clicked its tongue impatiently.  I cannot continue forever in this petty bickering. The
Lamberj- Again he stopped, then said,  Have I your word of honor that this is all not a device inspired
by the Lamberj people to delay us until-
 My word of honor, said the Secretary.
The Secretary of Science emerged, mopping his forehead and looking ten years younger. He said softly,
 I told him his people could have it as soon as I obtained the President's formal approval. I don't think
he'll object, or Congress, either. Good Lord, gentlemen, think of it; free power at our fingertips in return
for a planet we could never use in any case.
The Secretary of Defense, growing purplish with objection, said,  But we had agreed that only a
Mizzarett-Lamberj war could explain their need for Jupiter. Under those circumstances, and comparing
their military potential with ours, a strict neutrality is essential.
 But there is no war, sir, said the Secretary of Science.  The simulacron presented an alternate
explanation of their need for Jupiter so rational and plausible that I accepted at once. I think the President
will agree with me, and you gentlemen, too, when you understand. In fact, I have here their plans for the
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new Jupiter, as it will soon appear.
The others rose from their seats, clamoring.  A new Jupiter? gasped the Secretary of Defense.
 Not so different from the old, gentlemen, said the Secretary of Science.  Here are the sketches
provided in form suitable for observation by matter beings such as ourselves.
He laid them down. The familiar banded planet was there before them on one of the sketches: yellow,
pale green, and light brown with curled white streaks here and there and all against the speckled velvet
background ofspace. But across the bands were streaks of blackness as velvet as the background,
arranged in a curious pattern.
 That, said the Secretary of Science,  is the day side of the planet. The night side is shown in this
sketch. (There, Jupiter was a thin crescent enclosing darkness, and within that darkness were the same
thin streaks arranged in similar pattern, but in a phosphorescent glowing orange this time.)
 The marks, said the Secretary of Science,  are a purely optical phenomenon, I am told, which will not
rotate with the planet, but will remain static in its atmospheric fringe.
 But what is it? asked the Secretary of Commerce.  You see, said the Secretary of Science,  our
solar system is now on one of their major trade routes. As many as seven of their ships pass within a few
hundred million miles of the system in a single day, and each ship has the major planets under telescopic
observation as they pass. Tourist curiosity, you know. Solid planets of any size are a marvel to them.
 What has that to do with these marks?
 That is one form of their writing. Translated, those marks read: 'Use Mizzarett Ergone Vertices For
Health and Glowing Heat.'
 You mean Jupiter is to be an advertising billboard? exploded the Secretary of Defense.
 Right. The Lamberj people, it seems, produce a competing ergone tablet, which accounts for the
Mizzarett anxiety to establish full legal ownership of Jupiter-in case of Lamberj lawsuits. Fortunately, the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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