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

comesтАФ if it comes. If we come to blows with the Spanish speakers of Mars or their Bantu allies, we may be
exterminated or else enslaved. In either case, our languages will no longer be a matter of choice. Our masters will
impose their speech upon us. But we may win. Who knows? Only GodтАФI use the term in a consciously mythological
or literary sense only, of course тАФonly God knows.
"But what if Martian and Moonman avoid each other, leaving each to his own destiny, thus making sure that
we don't annihilate one another and put an end to mankind forever? This is a possible solution. What, then, if this
state of actionless war, of eternal emergency, is maintained? Then, since English is the means of intercommunication,
since it is the language with the most prestige, it will be used more and more. The other tongues will die of disuse. And
they will die quickly.
"Remember, the situation is not the same here as it was on Earth. There, even a secondary tongue had many
speakers to hand it on to the children. Breton and Basque took a long time a-dying, though their fate was as certain as
that of Atinu or Wend or Yuma. But there are very few people on the Moon. Three hundred by latest count. If the
state of war continues for a generation, a good percentage of you, as old men and women, will barely remember the
tongue you now speak so trippingly.
"Therefore, I propose that we forget all about the vote. You have already decided the issue. Or, I should say
Colonel Scone has done so."
He sat down, and there was a silence.
Scone did not wait for Dahlquist's words to take effect but said immediately, "The motion has been made and
seconded that, after the war with the Axis is ended, we adopt one language as the primary speech for the Moon bases.
Now, we don't have voting machines, so we will have to have a show of hands. To insure there's no complaint about a
possible miscount, each of the bases may select one member for a hand-counting committee."
The committee was quickly chosen, and the three went up to the platform where they could have a better
view. Scone then said, "All those voting yea for the motion will signify by raising hands."
Broward looked around and saw that practically the only ones holding up their hands were the native
English-speakers of Clavius, a few West Europeans, an Armenian in the Russian delegation, and a Thai in the Chinese
group.
Suddenly, it struck him that he had been thinking like those others who had pled for their own tongue. He had
taken it for granted that the motion would be carriedтАФbecause of Scone's strong action in repressing YingтАФand had
thought that the issue would be only which language would be selected. Now, he saw that Scone, in asking Broward
to make the motion, had not told him everything. Scone might be big and impassive, but he was not unintelligent. He
had, surely had, arranged with Dahliquist before the meeting to make that speech. And Dahlquist's words had had the
intended effect. They had frightened everybody into wanting to put off the issue as long as possible. So, although
Dahlquist had told them the truth when he said that it was not necessary to vote, he had also scared them into
avoiding the issue. They thought that if they waited until peace came, then they could deal with Scone, refuse to
accept one and only one language, save their beloved language for their children and grandchildren.
Only, they had either forgotten, or did not really understand, or else did not want to believe Dahlquist when
he said that it was not necessary to vote.
Scone rapped his gavel and said, "Obviously, we won't have to count the nay-sayers. Very well, then. We will
wait until peace comes."
Later, the others would get to thinking about what had happened and would see what Broward knew. But
there would be nothing to do about it then. And, indeed, if Scone kept them busy enough, they might not have time to
meditate and thus arrive at the truth.
"The next big issue is something that has to be decided at once," said Scone. "Putting it off will cause a great
deal of trouble. Perhaps enough to disrupt us, make us weak for the conflict with the Axis. That problem is the
shortage of women."
He paused, as if reviewing again what he must have gone over many times in his mind. It was then that a light
on a squawkbox on the desk before him began flashing. He flipped a switch and leaned over close to it
He spoke a few words, then straightened and said, "'You will have to excuse me for a few minutes. The
meeting is adjourned until I return. In the meantime, be thinking about solutions to the next issue."
He stepped down off the platform and strode down the central aisle towards the exit. On reaching the first