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virtually paralyzed much of Europe and North America and caused at least seven thousand deaths over a
forty-eight-hour span.
World Government Acting Director Kowie Boweto and the revolutionary leaderEl Libertador were unhurt and plan
to continue their negotiations aboard the space colony Evening news broadcast, International News Syndicate,
10 December 2028
FORTY-THREE
So this is how politics works,David thought.
He was sitting at a small round table, representing the host Island One while Dr. Cobb recuperated from his dose
of the respiratory infection David had carried. On David's right sat Kowie Boweto, on his left,El Libertador. Jamil
al-Hashimi was the fourth man at the table, sitting opposite David.
Boweto spread his big hands. ' 'My staff has gone over the problem several times in the past week, since we've been
here. Our position has not been rigid."
Villanova smiled a calculated, gray-eyed smile. ' 'But not quite as flexible as my people would like."
"We are granting local autonomy."
"In return for allegiance to the World Government."
"That seems only fair," said Boweto.
"Only if local autonomy includes the power to make necessary adjustments in the local economy."
"But you can't tinker with the economy of one nation without disrupting the economy of your neighbors and the rest
of the world. The next thing you'll demand is a return to local currencies."
Villanova raised his hands in protest. "No, no ... the World currency is perfectly suitable. Your monetary policies have
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been admirable, for the most part."
"For the most part," Boweto echoed in a frowning mumble.
"Gentlemen," David interrupted, "as your host, I must
484
COLONY " 485
remind you that your conference is due to end today, and the world expects a communique of some sort from you.
Perhaps you should emphasize the things you've agreed on and continue this dialogue at future meetings."
Boweto grumbled something, but Villanova chuckled. "Out of the mouths of babes," he said.
"What have we agreed upon?" al-Hashimi asked rhetorically.
David answered, ticking off on his fingers, ' 'First, there will be a general amnesty, worldwide, for all members of the
Peoples' Revolutionary Underground... no further prosecution of them, anywhere."
' 'But any future guerrilla activities from this date onward will be stamped out without mercy," Boweto added.
"Agreed," saidEl Libertador. "The time for fighting is ended if we can achieve justice without force."
Before they could start arguing again, David went on: "Two: Argentina, Chile, and South Africa will rejoin the World
Government. And three," he added quickly, "the World Government will restructure its Legislature and regional
structure in a way to give more local autonomy to the member nations."
"The details must still be ironed out," Villanova said. Boweto nodded.
"Fourth," David continued, "all clandestine support of the PRU by private agencies" they all stared at
al-Hashimi "will immediately cease. Future support to terrorists will be regarded as an act of terrorism in and of itself,
and will be treated as such."
"Agreed." Al-Hashimi sighed.
"I would like to add a final point," David said, "one that hasn't been brought up in your discussions, but one that we
here in Island One feel is vitally important."
They turned toward him.
' 'Dr. Cobb has suggested that we begin to turn as much of Island One's profit as possible into new space
communities, which will move outward through the Solar System to develop new raw materials, natural resources, and
space industries. Our preliminary calculations have shown that for an investment of seventy-five percent of our
incoming
BEN BOVA " 486
profit, we could return to Earth something on the order of a fifty-billion-dollar-per-year increase in Gross Global
Product."
"Seventy-five percent of the profits!" al-Hashimi gasped.
Nodding, David said, "We will be able to speed up production of Solar Power Satellites, to beam energy to the
Southern Hemisphere nations, as well as construct new space communities. Our aim is to bring the riches of the entire
Solar System to all of the Earth's people."
"But the Board will never agree to investing so much of their profits."
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"They will have to agree," David said, "or Island One will declare itself an independent nation and apply to the World
Government for membership. Just the way the lunar settlers did at Selene."
Al-Hashimi half-rose from his seat, then sat down again, his face a bitter mask of displeasure. "This is blackmail."
David smiled at him. "The Board will still be making a good profit from Island One. But thepeople of Island One want
more than profit. Our objective is to make our fellow human beings on Earth as rich and secure as we are."
"That is Cobb's objective," al-Hashimi snapped. "The people of the colony don't even know about this yet."
"But they will soon," David countered. "How do you think they'll vote on the question?"
Al-Hashimi didn't answer.
El Libertadorbroke in. "As you said, my young friend, we must bring this conference to an end. I think we have
accomplished much, although much remains to be done."
Boweto got to his feet and extended a hand to Villanova. "I suppose you'll have to become a member of our Executive
Council," he said.
Taking the African's hand,El Libertador smiled ruefully. "Do you think there is any way I can quietly disappear? I
really don't like politics."
Boweto grinned back. "Not likely. You're in politics for life, Colonel, whether you like it or not. You'll probably take my
Chairman's seat away from me, sooner or later."
Villanova looked aghast. "I wouldn't dream of it!"
COLONY " 487
"No," Boweto said, "but your supporters will. And in the end, you will do what must be done."
Sagging back in his chair,El Libertador ran a hand through his iron-gray hair. "Then let us hope at least that we can
disagree with each other in peace."
Boweto nodded. "In peace," he repeated.
David fled die small, private conference chamber gladly and hurried down to Dr. Cobb's office, which he had made his
own headquarters while the old man was hospitalized.
He avoided the inner observation chamber. Gobb could spend all day in his all-seeing insect's eye, but not David. He
simply wanted to finish the business at hand and get outdoors, away from offices and reports and politics. He knew
howEl Libertador felt.Will I be tied to this for the rest of my life, too? he wondered.
Evelyn was in the outer office waiting for him, sitting on one of the low-slung couches in me quiet, warmly carpeted
room.
He had expected her. "It's finished," David said, letting the door click shut behind him. "The conference is over. They
haven't really agreed to very much except to put an end to the violence."
"It's a good beginning," she said.
"Maybe it's enough," he said as he sat on the couch beside her. "Maybe ..."
Evelyn was wearing a frock of Island One silk, a shimmering sea-green dress that brought out her natural coloring.
Already the lines and tensions of the past months were easing out of her face.
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She smiled at David, but then her reporter's curiosity took command. ' 'Will they be releasing some kind of statement
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