"Homer Eon Flint - The Emancipatrix" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Homer Eon)

easily the greatest Capellan of them all; a magnificent intellect, which I
still
think was intended to have ruled the rest. I haven't backed down from my
original position."
"Van! You still believe," incredulously, "in a government of the sort he
contemplated?"
Van Emmon nodded aggressively. "All that we learned merely strengthens my
conviction. Remember what sort of people the working classes of Capellette
were?
Smith's 'agent' was typicalтАФa helpless nincompoop, not fit to govern
himself!"
The geologist strove to keep his patience.
"However," remarked Kinney, "the chap whose mind I used was no fool."
"Nor was Billie's agent, the woman surgeon," agreed Van Emmon, "even if she
did
prefer 'the Devolutionist' to Powart. But you'll have to admit, doc, that the
vast majority of the Capellans were incompetents; the rest were exceptions."
The doctor spoke after a brief pause. "AndтАФthat's what is wrong, Van?"
"Yes," grimly. "Billie can't help but rejoice that things turned out the way
they did. She is sure that the workers, now that they've been separated from
the
ruling class, will proceed to make a perfect paradise out of their land." He
could not repress a certain amount of sarcasm. "As well expect a bunch of
monkeys to build a steam engine!
"Well," after a little hesitation, "as I said before, doc, I've no reason to
change my mind. You may talk all you like about itтАФI can't agree to such
ideas.
The only way to get results on that planet is for the upper classes to
continue
to govern."
"And this is what you two haveтАФquarreled about?"
Van Emmon nodded sorrowfully. He lit another cigar absent-mindedly and
cleared
his throat twice before going on: "My fault, I guess. I've been so darned
positive about everything I've said, I've probably caused Billie to
sympathize
with her friends more solidly than she would otherwise."
"But just because you've championed the autocrats so heartilyтАФ"
"I'm afraid so!" The geologist was plainly relieved to have stated the case
in
full. He leaned forward in his eagerness to be understood. He told the doctor
things that were altogether too personal to be included in this account.
Meanwhile, out in the doctor's study, Smith had made no move whatever to
interrogate the geologist's young wife. Instead, the engineer simply remained
standing after Billie had sat down, and gave her only an occasional hurried
glance. Shortly the silence got on her nerves; andтАФ such was her nature, as
contrasted with Van Emmon'sтАФwhereas he had stated causes first, she went
straight to effects.
"Well," explosively, "Van and I have split!"
Smith was seldom surprised at anything. This time was no exception. He merely