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something about what had
happened to me. I'm going to do that now."
And he told them. He told them about the Federal marshal and his ride to New York. Told them about
the man's unhappiness at missing his family picnic. Told them of his night in New York, the gangs, the
knives, the running, the terror. Told them how the Institute looked, emptied of everyone but Big George.
Of his arrest, his arrival in Messina, his audience with Minister Bernard. Told them of the island, of
Marcus, of what they planned to do, how they wanted to use genetic engineering and the offshoots of
their biochemistry as weapons alongside an arsenal of nuclear bombs. Told them of what they did to Big
George, and what they wanted to do to all mankind.
And finally he told them of the gently implacable General Chairman, of how he admitted that their exile
was a horrible injustice, but could see no other course of action. And the people, the great masses of
people, the twenty billions of people for whom they were being sacrificed, the people who knew of their
exile but didn't care.
"This is the world we've been exiled from. A world where a few people can destroy the lives of the best
scientists on the planet, along with the lives of their families. A world where savages rule the cities and
civilized monsters battle to control the government."
He turned toward Kaufman. "This is the world you want to go back to! So let's assume that we're
allowed to go back; let's assume that the government changes its mind and frees us. What will they do
with our work? Can we trust them to use our knowledge? Can we trust them in any way? What's to stop
them from exiling us again? Or quietly having us killed? Nobody cares about us. All they want is the
power that our knowledge can give them. Thekindest thing they were able to to was to exile us!"
Looking directly into the cameras, Lou said, "We have no one to turn to but ourselves. The choice is
ours. We can orbit this planet, slowly dying, and hope that someday the government will allow us to
return.But do we really want to return? I don't. I've seen that world down there, and despite all its
beauty I don't want to return to it. In this universe, with all its stars and space, there's got to be some
place where we can make a better world for ourselves and our children. I say we should go to the stars."
Lou collapsed back in the chair, feeling weak and trembling
inside. Then the lights caught his eye. The vote shocked him: the green lights overwhelmed the few red
ones.
Somewhere behind the cameras, people were laughing and clapping their hands. Somebody whistled
shrilly. A door opened and Lou saw Kori and Greg heading toward him, grinning.
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Lou knew that Bonnie was in her compartment. Packed and ready to leave. She was probably past
tears now. Crying wouldn't help anymore. The pain won't be eased by tears, or words, or regrets.
"You're making a terrible mistake," Kaufman said, shaking his head. "Everything we need and desire is
here, and you're going to force us to turn our backs on it all. You're making us leave our homes and head
out into emptiness. There's nothing out there for us, Christopher. Nothing!"
Nothing,Lou thought.Except the universe.
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