Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

Neither of us was injured.I gave the tapes to Stu, who passed them on to his employees, and there was news worthwhile. Not all news coverage is bad for us.Stu had the tape edited and made a tendentious report: The government exhausted the moon man? - The Lunar Ambassador falls during interrogation - "Outcast!" he shouts - Professor Pazza complains of humiliation: see page 8 for details. Of course, not all news coverage is on our side.The closest thing to our point of view is an editorial in The New India Times.The editorial questioned whether the authorities were prepared to sacrifice grain supplies and refuse to make peace with the moon rioters.It states that the government can make concessions if the Moon guarantees an increased grain supply.There are many exaggerated data in the article, which shows that with the current food supply, the moon does not feed "100 million" Indians at all, but only ensures that those who are malnourished will not starve to death.

On the other hand, New York's largest newspaper pointed out that the authorities had made a fatal mistake in their treatment of our problems.The only way to subdue a prisoner is to whip.Troops should be sent to the moon, put down the rebellion, hang the guilty, and leave troops behind to keep the peace. There are rumors that the peacekeeping heavy cavalry - our former ruler is from the peacekeeping heavy cavalry - will be sent to the moon. As soon as the rumors came out, there was a mutiny within the army, but it was quickly quelled.The news of the mutiny could not be blocked, and Stu's men were really powerful.

The next day, they sent someone to ask whether Professor de la Pazza's health would allow the restart of the peace talks.We thought it was okay, so the peace talks resumed. The committee sent doctors and nurses to monitor the professor.But this time they searched us, and the tape recorder in my bag was also found. I calmly handed over the tape recorder, which was also Stu's arrangement.My number six arm has a hidden recess for the power pack, which just fits my mini radio.I didn't need power that day anyway.Most people hate touching prosthetics, even the toughest cops. Everything discussed the day before yesterday was ignored, with one exception: the chairman accused us of breaking the secrecy of the talks at the outset.

The professor replied: "As far as we are concerned, there is no need for secret talks at all. We welcome journalists, TV cameras, the public, anyone is welcome. Our lunar free government has nothing to hide." The chairman said coldly: "The hearings are not controlled by your so-called free government. These meetings are closed and can only be discussed in this room. This is an order." The professor looked at me. "Can I do you a favor, Colonel?" Immediately I hit the wheelchair switch, moved quickly, and used my chair to push his cot toward the door.The chairman realized that we were protesting by leaving the venue.

In the end, they managed to convince the professor to stay on without any promises.It was difficult for them to intimidate a man who would pass out if he was too excited. The chairman said that many irrelevant things were discussed yesterday, but the most important thing was not mentioned.Not allowed to digress further today, he glanced at the Argentine committee member and then at the North American committee member.He continued: "Sovereignty is an abstract concept. Human beings have learned to live peacefully. Sovereignty has been redefined many times under the new situation. There is no need for us to discuss it again. The key point is, professor—if you like , we might as well call you the de facto ambassador, no need to be ambiguous on this issue - the question is can you guarantee that the lunar colonists will keep their promises?"

"What promise, sir?" "Of all the promises, I vividly remember your promises about grain supplies." "I didn't know there was a promise in this regard." The professor looked innocent. The chairman clenched his fists, but still tried to remain calm. "Sir, there's no point in arguing over words, I mean the grain supply quota - the increased quota - thirteen per cent. This is the financial plan for this year, can we get your assurance that the promise will be kept? This is the cornerstone of the negotiations, otherwise the talks cannot continue."

"I'm sorry, but it looks like our talks are coming to an end." "You can't be serious, can you?" "Very seriously, sir. Sovereignty of the free moon is not an abstract concept as you say, and the promises you make are self-contained words on the part of the Earth government, and we are not bound by them. The sovereign nations we represent have not made any promises, That aspect is still up for debate.” "A mob!" exclaimed the North American Commissioner. "I told you you were too friendly with them. Prisoners, thieves, whores, scumbags! They toasted instead of fined."

"quiet." "I'll tell you, if they're in Colorado, I'll give 'em a lesson. I know what to do with 'em." "House representatives, please observe order." "I'm afraid," said the representative of India, who is actually a Parsis, "I'm afraid I agree with the representative of North America that India cannot accept promises of food supplies that are worthless. Gentlemen do not play politics by means of starvation trick." "Besides," put in the Argentine commissioner, "they reproduce like animals, pigs!"

(The professor forced me to take a sedative before the meeting and insisted on staring at me.) The professor said calmly: "My honorable chairman, I ask them to retract these words. Before drawing any conclusions, may I be allowed to state my opinion further?" "Please state." "Is it agreed that I won't be interrupted?" "Unanimously agreed." The chairman looked around. "Deputies, please pay attention. If anyone interrupts the speech in the middle, I will punish them according to the special provisions of Article 14. The security officer will be on standby at any time. Please state."

"I will try to keep my story short, honorable chairman," The professor babbled in Spanish, and I only understood the word "sir".I saw that the Argentine committee member's face was livid, but he didn't say anything. The professor continued, "I'll start by answering a question about human rights from the representative of North America because he lashed out at my fellow man. You call the moon a prison, and I accept that title, and I'm proud of the title 'prisoners', our moon's inhabitants Convicts and offspring of convicts. But the moon is just a strict female teacher, and those who take her classes have no reason to be ashamed. In the moon we don't have to worry about our wallets being stolen, every house is closed at night, people don't panic... Excuse me Is it the same in Denver? I don't think I'd be interested in going to Colorado to learn your lessons either. I'm very content with what Mother Moon taught me. We may have been a mob, but we're an armed mob now.

"Let me now answer the question from the representative of India, we are not 'starvation as a political game', we just ask for open and fair negotiations, not bound by any political assumptions that contradict the facts. If we can Having such talks, I will ensure that the Moon will continue to deliver grain and substantially increase supply quotas... to best meet India's needs." The Indian commissioner seemed taken aback. He was about to speak, but paused again, and then said: "Dear Chairman, can I ask the declarant to explain further?" "Please explain, declarant." "Respected chairman, distinguished representative, the moon can indeed supply food to millions of hungry people on the earth with a tenfold, or even a hundredfold increase. Even during the period of turmoil, we have worked hard to ensure the normal delivery of our food delivery cabins, so that but you don't appreciate it. Discussions about food must be based on equality and not on the false assumption that we are slaves who must accept supply quotas that were not set by us. You What are you going to do? Continue to insist that we are yours, or recognize our freedom, negotiate with us, and discuss how we can help each other?" The Chairman said: "In other words, you are asking us to blindly approve, legislate to recognize your illegal status...and then discuss that unrealistic promise: to supply millions of starving people on the earth at a rate of ten times, or even a hundred times Food. Your promises are unreliable. I know the economy of the Moon well. Your demands are unlikely to be met, and only the United Nations General Assembly has the right to recognize a new nation." "Then let the UN General Assembly recognize her independence. Once sovereign equality is guaranteed, we can move on to discussing food supply. Dear Chairman, we grow food, we own food, we can grow more, but we will not slavery to do all of the above. The Sovereign Independence of the Moon must first be recognized.” "Impossible, you should know this, the moon government cannot give up its sacred duty." The professor sighed: "This seems to be a dead end. I can only suggest a short break. We all think about it. Today we are preparing to send the food delivery pod...but as long as I am forced to inform my government that the peace talks have failed …they … will … cease supply.” The professor rested his head on the pillow, and he seemed a little exhausted. I'm fine, after all I'm young and trained, and an elderly man like him shouldn't take such a risk. They put us in a car and took us back to the hotel quickly. On the way, I asked in a low voice, "Professor, the blood pressure of that 'gentleman' from Argentina suddenly went up. What did you say to him?" He laughed. "Comrade Stu's investigation of these representatives worked well. I asked 'Argentinian Gentleman' about a brothel in Buenos Aires, and asked if there was a red-haired top star?" "How do you know? Have you ever visited?" It's hard to imagine the professor going to that kind of place. "Never. It's been forty years since I came to Buenos Aires. He opened the brothel through a frontman, and his wife, a beautiful red-haired woman, used to work there." "This kind of method is too indecent, it is not a bright diplomacy." As soon as the words came out, I regretted it. The professor closed his eyes and did not answer. After recovering that night, the professor spent an hour meeting reporters in the reception room.His silver hair against the purple pillows, his frail body in embroidered pajamas, glistening, looked a bit like the remains of some great person at a great funeral, only his eyes and dimples showed that he was still alive. I also look like a big shot in my black and yellow uniform.Stu said it was lunar diplomacy clothing for a man of my stature.But there are no such costumes on the moon at all, if there is, how can I not know.I prefer to wear a pressurized suit.The uniform has a tight neckline, and I don't know what the pattern on it means. When a reporter asked me what one of the crescents meant, I said it was just a Scrabble medal.When Stu heard it, he said to me, "Colonel, you are so modest. That medal is equivalent to the Victoria Cross. It is awarded to soldiers with outstanding merit. The colonel received this medal for an act of bravery. It happened in..." I had to let him make up my merits.Stu is as good at lying as the professor, and I have to learn a little too. The Indian newspapers and radio that night were unkind, and they were greatly annoyed by our "threat" to stop the grain supply.Reports also "moderately" suggest destroying the moon, eradicating us evil mobs, and then replacing us with honest Indian farmers who understand the sanctity of life and will bring more grain. That night the professor delivered a speech stating: We will no longer provide food on the moon. Stu's organization broke the news to the entire planet. Some reporters pestered the professor, trying to find some material that could break the news. "Professor de la Pazza, you said that as natural resources dwindle, food supplies will also dwindle, and that by 2082, the moon may not even be able to support its own people. But earlier today, you promised the lunar government that you could Increase the supply of grain dozens of times or even more." "To the lunar government? Is that committee the lunar government?" the professor asked. "Oh...it's an open secret." "Yes, sir, but they are still presenting themselves as an impartial UN General Assembly investigative committee. Don't you think they should disqualify themselves from the committee? That way we can get a fair chance to appeal." "Oh... I'm not qualified to comment. Professor, please answer my question. How do you explain these two different statements?" "What I'm interested in is why you're not qualified to comment? Don't the citizens of Earth want to try to avoid war between Earth and its neighbors?" "'War'? How do you mention war, Professor?" "How else can it be solved but war? If the so-called lunar government does not make concessions, we will never give in to their demands. That's why war is mentioned. If we don't give in, then they will use force Come on us, and we will fight back, like cornered mice, never surrender, never retreat. We do not choose war, we want peace with our neighbors - peaceful trade. But the choice Not on our side, we are weak and you are strong. I speculate that the next step is that the agency responsible for the moon on Earth will conquer the moon by force. This so-called peace organization will start an interplanetary war." The reporter frowned slightly: "Are you exaggerating? Let's assume that the Earth government, or the United Nations General Assembly decides to eliminate your 'government', and you will fight back on the moon. But as you said, you don't have spaceships, so the basic structure No interplanetary war. To put it bluntly, you will never reach Earth." I was next to the professor's cot, and the professor turned around: "Tell them, Colonel." The professor and Mike had expected them to ask this question and had already prepared the answer.I have memorized the answer and am ready to answer it. I said, "You guys remember Pathfinder? What happened when it went down out of control?" They remembered.No one will forget the tragic loss of Pathfinder earlier.The spaceship crashed into a Belgian village, causing a catastrophe. "We don't have warships," I continued, "but we can still drop a lot of food instead of sending them into orbit." The next day, the newspaper headlines were: Moonmen Threaten To Drop Rice. For a while, the earthlings were silent. Finally the reporter said: "Anyway, I hope you can unify your two statements: 'there will be no grain supply after 2082' and 'the grain supply will increase tenfold or a hundredfold.'" "It's not a contradiction," replied the professor, "but it's based on different circumstances. 'There will be no grain supply after 2082' refers to the current situation. As the moon's natural resources are exhausted, disaster will occur in a few years' time." Come on. And these government bureaucrats — maybe I should call them dictatorial bureaucrats? — just keep telling us to increase our quotas.” The professor took a breath and continued: "There is a premise for a large increase in grain supply. As an old teacher, I can hardly restrain my habit in the classroom. What is this premise? This is an exercise I leave to the students, Anyone want to try it?" After an awkward silence, a small man with a strange accent said slowly, "I think you're talking about the replenishment of natural resources, right?" "Yes, that's right." The professor smiled, "Sir, your final grade will be a golden five-pointed star. Planting grains requires water and nutrients, such as phosphorus fertilizers, etc. Provide these to us, and we will ship back the whole batch Grain. You can put hoses in the endless Indian Ocean, India has so many cows, collect their dung, ship it to us, and collect your dung. And you don't need to do anything. Let us do it ——We have mastered cheap and practical treatment technology. And your salty sea water, rotting fish, animal carcasses, urban sewage, cow manure, etc., we want any of your waste. We will send Bringing back ton after ton of golden grain will increase the supply of grain tenfold, maybe even a hundredfold. Send your poor, your deportees, all to the moon, in bulk, and we will teach them to be fast and efficient The moon tunnel planting method, the grain will be transported back to the earth in batches. The moon is a huge leisure farm, it has four billion hectares of land to be cultivated." This amazed everyone, and one of them asked slowly, "So what do you moon get out of it?" The professor shrugged and said, "Money, barter. There are many things that are cheap to make on Earth, but expensive to me, such as medicines, tools, book-like movies, jewelry from the women of the moon. You buy our Grain, and then sell these items to us at a certain price, and you can make a lot of profit from it." An Indian reporter was pensive and eager to write. Sitting next to him was a European journalist who looked a little disapproving and said, "Professor, do you know the cost of sending things to the moon?" "It's just a matter of technology. Shipping across oceans used to be expensive and unlikely, and then it became more feasible, but it's still very hard, dangerous, and expensive. But now, shipping to the other side of the world is just a matter of time." As convenient and cheap as going next door, the price of long distance shipping is not a problem at all. Sir, I am not an engineer, but I understand engineers. As long as the government lets them do it, engineers will find out how to do it economically. If you want to get ours Grain, then let the engineer act quickly." The professor was out of breath, took a break, and motioned for help, but the nurse pushed him away. I refused to answer questions in this regard, I told them to wait until the professor recovers, They can discuss it with him.So they did everything possible to ask me for other information.One of them asked me: "Since you colonists think you have the right to manage the colony in your own way, why don't you pay taxes? After all, the colonies were established by some countries in the Commonwealth at great expense, and all expenses were paid by the earth. Pay, now you enjoy everything and pay no taxes, is that fair?" I wanted to tell him to shut up, but the professor had sedated me beforehand and told me to use rhetorical questions as much as possible to deal with difficult questions. I said, "First of all, why do you say we pay taxes? You tell me what we're enjoying and maybe I'll pay. No, let's put it this way, do you pay taxes?" "Of course, so you should pay taxes too." "So what do you get after paying your taxes?" "What do you get? Taxes go to the government." I said, "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean. I grew up on the moon, no Understand your government, can you give me a brief explanation?After paying the money you (get what?" They seemed interested, and the belligerent began to list, and the others added. I memorized them one by one. As soon as they stopped, I took the list I had written down and started repeating: "Free hospitals - none on the moon. Medical insurance - we have it, but it's not quite what you're talking about. Not at all. On the moon, if You need health insurance, just go to a bookie broker. You can hedge your bets if the price is right. I don't take that kind of bet. I'm in good health, at least before I came here. Public library ——We have a Carnegie library, where you can watch a few books and movies, but there is a fee. The highway is pipe iron in our place, and it is not free, even the air is not free. Sorry, you here The air is all free, right? Our pipe irons were built with company money, and now they get paid for it with a fee. Public schools—we have schools in every area, and they never turn students away, I I think it should be considered as 'public', but they also charge. On the moon, if anyone has knowledge that others can use and is willing to pass it on, they can charge. The charging standard depends on the number of students." I continued, "Let me see what else, by the way, and Social Security. I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, we don't have it on the moon. Pensions—you can buy a pension, but Most people don’t buy it. Most families have a large structure, and there are many elderly people. They are a hundred years old or older. They usually do something they like, or do nothing, just sit and watch TV, or sleep. They It takes a long time to sleep." "Excuse me, sir, do people on the moon really live that long?" I pretended to be surprised that this was a "pre-arranged question" and the answer was already prepared. "No one knows how long people on the moon can live. We haven't been on the moon long enough. The oldest inhabitants of the moon were born on the earth, and their lifespan cannot be measured. So far, no people have been born on the moon because Old and dead, so still immeasurable. For at least a century, they haven't grown old. Like me, ma'am, I'm a true Lunarian, the third Lunar generation, and guess how old I am?" "Seriously, Colonel Davies, I'm amazed at your youth, I mean you're so young for this mission. You look about twenty-two. More than that? I think about the same Bar." "Ma'am, I regret that gravity prevents me from bowing to you, thank you. I am well past twenty-two and married." "What? Are you kidding me?" "I won't take the liberty of guessing the lady's age, but if you emigrate to the moon, you will stay young forever, and you can live for at least another twenty years." I looked at the list, "We don't have any other things left on the moon, so I can't find a reason to pay the tax. Another point, sir, I think you are well aware that the cost of colonization has long since been paid for in the form of grain, and our resources are running out...but you never paid the market Pay us a penny for the price, and that's why the Earth agencies have been so stubborn, they want to continue to exploit us. 'The moon is a heavy burden on the earth, and the investment must return' is just an excuse for the moon government to continue to enslave us , In fact, in this century, the moon has not cost the earth a penny, and the original investment of the earth has long been recovered." He tried his best to fight back: "Hmph, we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the development of space transportation. You can't say that the moon has paid for this money, can you?" "I can give a good example that you have no reason to charge us for this at all. You have space vehicles, but they are used to transport you earthlings. We don't use them at all. The moon doesn't even have a spaceship , why should we pay for a service we never had? Like the list, we didn’t get it, so why pay taxes?” "Wait a minute," said a pompous voice, "you're ignoring the two most important items on your list: police protection and the military. You brag about paying for what you get...then you should pay back nearly a century of These two taxes should be quite a large sum, a large amount of money." He smiled smugly. I really wanted to "thank you" him on the spot! ——But I was afraid that the professor would scold me for not teasing him out.These people looked at each other and nodded their heads, happy to stump me.I looked innocent again: "What are you talking about? I can't understand. The moon has neither police nor army." "I think you should understand what I mean. You enjoy the protection of UN peacekeeping troops and police. Their salaries are paid by related institutions on the earth. As far as I know, almost a year ago, two peacekeeping heavy cavalry units were sent to Go to the moon and do police work." "Oh," I said with a sigh, "how did the peacekeepers protect the moon, can you tell me? I don't think any of you countries will come to attack us? We are far away and have nothing to be jealous of. Wouldn't you say we should pay them to leave me alone? If we did, wouldn't that prove the old adage 'Once you pay the Danish gold, you'll never catch the Danes'? Sir, if there is Necessary, we'll fight the UN forces...and never pay them! And the so called police, they're not sent to the moon to protect us, in our Declaration of Independence, we've exposed these rogues (Some countries have, some countries have not) They raped and murdered crazily, committing all kinds of crimes. Now that they are all dead, please stop sending troops to the moon.” 【① Danish gold is an annual tax levied by England in ancient times for paying tribute to Denmark or raising military expenses against Denmark, and it was later levied as a land tax. 】 I suddenly felt very tired and thought I should leave.I was really tired, I was like an actor, talking and talking, talking non-stop, and to the level that the professor expects.It was a hard job.