"Philip Jose Farmer - Tongues of the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Farmer Phillip Jose)

Broward, sitting in the front row of the audience, thought that Scone was being very arrogant indeed. Yet, he
could not help being pleased. The North Americans had suffered much after the war when the Chinese had occupied
the western coast. Later, the Russians had forced withdrawal of all the Chinese except a few token garrisons. The
Russians were no better, but the westerners had not forgotten their savage treatment by the Orientals.
Ying was red in the face, quivering, his fists clenched. He glared at Scone, but Scone regarded him with a face
as immovable as that of Mount Everest. Presently, Ying sat down.
"Now," said Scone. "Everyone in this room has been given a document. This outlines the reasons for our
being here. Also, the rules by which we will proceed. If you don't care to attend or to obey the parliamentary rules,
leave now."
He paused and stared around the room. Seeing that no one was disposed to take action, he said, "Very well.
The first thing we should take into consideration is the military aspect. That is, the type of action to be taken against
the Axis colonies on Mars, if there are any left, and what type of organization we will operate with.
"Unfortunately, there are other matters to be cleared up before we can discuss that. The main thing is, which
base will be the leader? I say leader, not equal partner, because I know what will happen if we have a joint military
head. With three commanders-in-chief, all with equal powers, we will have nothing but quarreling over matters of
policy and ways to implement that policy. To survive, we must have one unquestioned leader, a man who can decide
at once what action to take. And who will be obeyed without hesitation.
"Since we of Clavius hold the whip hand, and since I am the commander of Clavius, I will be the
commander-in-chief."
He paused again to look at the shocked men at the table with him.
Broward, though he felt uncomfortable at the brutal directness of Scone and his arrogance, was also pleased.
To see the situation now reversed, the Americans giving the orders and the Russians and Chinese helpless to do
anything about it, warmed him.
Ying said, "Colonel Scone."
"You will address me as Mr. Chairman."
Ying swallowed and said, "Mr. Chairman."
"You may speak, General Ying."
"You Clavians need us as much as we need you. Therefore..."
"You are wrong, General. We need you, but not as much as you need us. Not nearly as much. You know that.
Let's have no more argument on that point."
Ying closed his eyes, and his lips moved silently.
Scone smiled slightly. He said, "Russian was the means for intercommunication between the bases. It will
now be English. And this brings up another matter. Language is not only a means for communication. It may also be a
barrier to communication. I foresee that we will all become one people in the future, a long time before we or our
descendants are able to return to Earth. The use of three or more languages will keep us separate, maintain the
hostilities and misunderstandings. I propose, therefore, that we make one language the primary tongue of all. Our
children will be taught this language, will grow up thinking of it as their native tongue."
Broward rose. "Mr. Chairman!"
"Captain Broward."
"I move that all the bases of the Moon should agree to accept one language as the primary language. This
will be spoken everywhere, except in the privacy of one's quarters, where one may use whatever language pleases
him."
Miller, the zoologist, rose and seconded the motion.
Scone then declared that the representatives and delegates could speak for their choices. Each speaker was
to be limited to two minutes, and a particular language could not be pled for more than once.
Panchurin, the Russian commandant, was the first to be recognized. He was a short broad man with
brown-yellow hair and a broad high cheekboned face and was thirty-five years old.
"I do not understand how English can be made the language of base intercommunication but some other
language can also be the universal speech. There is a contradiction."
"English will be used during the present state of emergency. Afterwards, we will adopt whichever tongue is