"Phillip Francis Nowlan - Buck Rogers 01 - Armageddon 2419" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nowlan Philip Francis)

"beamed" by the first Han ship.
The synthetic fabrics plant had been partially wiped out, though the lower levels underground had not
been reached by the dis ray. The forest screen above, however, had been annihilated, and it was
determined to abandon it after removing all usable machinery and evidences of the processes that might
be of interest to the Han scientists, should they return to the valley in the future.
The armutmition plant, and the rocketship plant, which had just been about to start operation at the
time of the raid, were intact, as were the other important plants.
Hart brought the Big Camboss up from the Swquanna Works, and laid out new camp locations,
scattering them farther to the south, and avoiding ground which had been seared by the Han beams
and the ira-mediate locations of the Han wrecks.
During this period, a sharp check was kept upon Han messages, for the phone plant had been one of
 the first to be put in operation, and when it became evident that the Hans did not intend any immediate
reprisals, the entire membership of the community was summoned back, and normal life was resumed.
Wilma and I had been married the day after the destruction of the ships, and spent this intervening
period in a delighiful honeymoon, camping high in the mountains. On our return, we had a camp of our
own, of course. We were assigned to location 1017. And as might be expected, we had a great deal
of banter over which one of us was Camp Boss. The title stood after my name on the Big Boss'
records, and those of the Big Camboss, of course, but Wilma airly held that this meant nothing at
all-and generally succeeded in making me admit it whenever she chose.
I found myself a full-fledged member of the Gang now, for I had elected to search no farther for a
permanent ailiance, much as I would have liked to farniliarize myself with this 25th Century life in other
sections of the country.
The Wyomings had a high morale, and had prospered under the rule of Big Boss Hart for many years.
But many of the gangs, I found, were badly organized, lacked strong hands in authority, and were rife
with intrigue. Oh the whole, I thought I would be wise to stay with a group which had already proved its
friendliness, and in which I seemed to have prospects of advancement Under these modern social and
economic conditions, the kind of individual freedom to which I had been accustomed in the 20th Century
was impossible. This entire modern life, it appeared to me, judging from my ancient viewpoint, was
organized along what I called "political" lines. And in this connection, it amused me to notice how
universal had become the use of the word "Boss." There was as little formality in his relatious with his
followers as there was in the case of the 20th Century political boss, and the same high respect paid him
by his followers as well as the same high considezation by him of their interest. He was just as much of an
autocrat, and just as much dependent upon the general popularity of his actions for the ability to maintaian
his autocracy.
The sub-boss who could not command the loyalty of his followers was as quickly deposed, either by
them or by his superiors, as the ancient ward leader of the 20th Century who lost control of his votes.
As society was organized in the 20th Century, I did not believe the system could work in anything but
politics. I tremble to think what would have happened, had the attempt been made to handle the
A.E.F. during the First World War, instead of by that rigid military discipline and complete assumption
of the individual as a mere standardized cog in the machine.
But owing to the centuries of desperate suffering the people had endured at the hands of the Hans,
there developed a spirit of self-sacrifice and consideration for the common good that made the sceme
applicable and efficient in all forms of human co-operation.
I have a little herasy about all this, however. My associates regard the thought with as much horror as
many worthy people of the 20th Century felt in regard to any heretical suggestion that the original
outline of government as laid down in the First Constitution did not apply as well to 20th Century
conditions as to those of the early 19th .
In later years I felt that there was a certain softening of moral fiber among the people, since the Hans
had been finally destroyed with all their works; and Americans have developed a new luxery
economy. I have seen signs of the reawakening of greed, of selfishness. The eternal cycle seems to be