"Newman, Kim - Tomorrow Town" - читать интересную книгу автора (Newman Kim)

"It's not so dreadful," said Gewell, sipping nutrient. "On the outside, in the past, suffrage is restricted by age, sanity, residence and so on. Here, in our technomeritocracy, to register for a voteЧwhich gives you a voice in every significant decisionЧyou have to demonstrate your applied intelligence."

"An IQ test?"

"Not a quotient, Mm Richard. Anyone can have that. The vital factor is application. Bee-Tee tests for that. There's no personality or human tangle involved. Surely, it's only fair that the most useful should have the most say?"

"I have a vote," said Zootie, proud. "Earned by applied intelligence."

"Indeed he does," said Gewell, smiling.

"And Mm Jor-G has fifteen votes. Because he applies his intelligence more often than I do."

Everyone looked at Zootie with different types of amazement.

"It's only fair," said Zootie, content despite a nose-trickle, washing down another purple pill.

Richard wondered whether the agri-terrain rearrangement tech was hovering near regrading as a zenpass.

Richard addressed Sue-2. "What does your husband do?"

"He's a history teacher."

"An educationalist. Very valuable."

Gewell looked as if his pill was sour. "Your present is our past, Mm Richard. Buster's discipline is surplus."

"Doesn't the future grow out of the past? To know where you're going you must know where you've been."

"Var-Z believes in a radical break."

"But Var-Z is in the past too."

"Indeed. Regrettable. But we must think of the future."

"It's where we're going to spend the rest of our lives," said Zootie.

"That"s very clever," said Vanessa.

Zootie wiped his nose and puffed up a bit.

"I think we should hand Buster over to you," said Gewell. "To be taken outside to face the justice of the past. Var-Z left work undone that we must continue."

"Not just yet," said Richard. "This sad business raises questions about Tomorrow Town. I have to look beyond the simple crime before I make my report. I'm sure you understand and will extend full cooperation."

No one said anything, but they all constructed smiles.

"You must be economically self-supporting by now," continued Richard, "what with the research and invention you've been applying intelligence to. If the Prime Minister withdrew government subsidies, you'd probably be better off. Free of the apron strings, as it were. Still, the extra cash must come in handy for something, even if you don't use money in this town."

Gewell wiped his eyes and kept smiling.