DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Sparx, v. 1, issue 6, February 1948

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Sparx, v. 1, issue 6, February 1948

Page 4

want to be, in the last analysis."
   "Just the same, if we could leave..." Jackson left the sentence hanging as he vanished into the snow. Neiland was frowning as he entered the hut.

   They met again a few days later. The snow had stopped falling, and for miles around the village there stretched a curtain of unbroken white. It's the price we have to pay for an atmosphere, thought Neiland. Still, I hate it.
   He was going to the coal mines; compulsory miner duty had been voted in at the last Assembly. He remembered the general consternation that had prevailed when a return to a coal economy had been proposed. Now eve the coal pocket was showing signs of fading. He tramped across the hard-packed snow, trying not to think.

   Jackson didn't greet him; they merely fell into step and walked along together. Idly Neiland noticed an impervium ring on one of Jackson's fingers. Good luck charm, he supposed. Some luck would come in handy about now.
   "I've been thinking," began Jackson. "The Empire is so centralized. Couldn't one of us get to Dictator II, and assasinate him? And then we could take over during the disorganized time that would follow. Maybe set up a new, liberal state."
   "We can't leave," the other replied wearily. "Not quite enough fuel to make escape velocity. And anyway---well, it's hard to explain, but the fundamental principle of our philosophy is to allow each man a certain sphere of inalienable rights, which no one can violate.
   "If we killed Dictator, the interregnum that would result would dwarf all the anarchies in history. So many people would lose their lives, their property...It's a step we couldn't take arbitrarily, without the consent of the millions who'd be affected. A question of ethics. Old fashioned, but that's why we're here, after all."
   "But it would free people from intellectual and physical slavery. That kind of centralized power can't exist forever. Sooner or later something will happen..."
   "The only thing that could stop the Empire now is interstellar invasion. They've got everything else under control. Economics, mass psychology, propaganda...We certainly can't do it. Biologically, as well as philosophically, we're on the way out. Who's going to have children if the chances are fifty-fifty that a child will die of cold within the first two weeks? And, anyway, people don't want to be freed from slavery. They're sure of life and economic survival; they don't want any more. Too dangerous to think. Somebody might has an idea."
   Jackson's jaw was set.

   Jackson stole the ship the next night. They came and got Neiland out of bed; he stood, shivering, on a hill near the field,
((Continued on page 12))

Saving...

want to be, in the last analysis." "Just the same, if we could leave..." Jackson left the sentence hanging as he vanished into the snow. Neiland was frowning as he entered the hut. They met again a few days later. The snow had stopped falling, and for miles around the village there stretched a curtain of unbroken white. It's the price we have to pay for an atmosphere, thought Neiland. Still, I hate it. He was going to the coal mines; compulsory miner duty had been voted in at the last Assembly. He remembered the general consternation that had prevailed when a return to a coal economy had been proposed. Now eve the coal pocket was showing signs of fading. He tramped across the hard-packed snow, trying not to think. Jackson didn't greet him; they merely fell into step and walked along together. Idly Neiland noticed an impervium ring on one of Jackson's fingers. Good luck charm, he supposed. Some luck would come in handy about now. "I've been thinking," began Jackson. "The Empire is so centralized. Couldn't one of us get to Dictator II, and assasinate him? And then we could take over during the disorganized time that would follow. Maybe set up a new, liberal state." "We can't leave," the other replied wearily. "Not quite enough fuel to make escape velocity. And anyway---well, it's hard to explain, but the fundamental principle of our philosophy is to allow each man a certain sphere of inalienable rights, which no one can violate. "If we killed Dictator, the interregnum that would result would dwarf all the anarchies in history. So many people would lose their lives, their property...It's a step we couldn't take arbitrarily, without the consent of the millions who'd be affected. A question of ethics. Old fashioned, but that's why we're here, after all." "But it would free people from intellectual and physical slavery. That kind of centralized power can't exist forever. Sooner or later something will happen..." "The only thing that could stop the Empire now is interstellar invasion. They've got everything else under control. Economics, mass psychology, propaganda...We certainly can't do it. Biologically, as well as philosophically, we're on the way out. Who's going to have children if the chances are fifty-fifty that a child will die of cold within the first two weeks? And, anyway, people don't want to be freed from slavery. They're sure of life and economic survival; they don't want any more. Too dangerous to think. Somebody might has an idea." Jackson's jaw was set. Jackson stole the ship the next night. They came and got Neiland out of bed; he stood, shivering, on a hill near the field, ((Continued on page 12))