Read InterstellarNet: Origins for Free Online

distinguished member of my staff comment in my place.” Once permission was granted, Shuskov ceded the floor to General Antinov.
    “Ambassadors, thank you for hearing an old soldier. I am proud to have defended the Soviet Union for many years. I am proud to have taken part in Russia’s transition to democracy. As a past member of the rocket forces and the cosmonaut corps, I believe I have credibility in defense and space matters.
    “Ambassador Shuskov asked me to assure this committee that our forces have searched for evidence of approaching aliens. We found no such evidence. As a cosmonaut, however, I tell you frankly: If ET does visit us, it will mean that his technology exceeds ours as an aircraft carrier exceeds a canoe.”
    That came painfully close to accusing ET of gunboat diplomacy, a comparison not lost on Li Zhou Huang, the Chinese ambassador. Charise suspected the association was intentional—and a straw man set up only to be knocked down.
    “I am known for being direct. If ET can come, and chooses to, he will. In that case, nothing we say will stop him. Nothing we can do will stop him. If ET wishes only to talk, we may choose to listen. I urge COPUOS to listen.
    “It is better to know what ET can do than not to know. I will state clearly what most only hint at: Some nations have had cause to fear the superior technology of others. Where nations differ has been in their response to such challenges. Those who learned eventually prospered. Those who clung to their old ways soon suffered.”
    Pausing for a sip of water Antinov studied his audience.
    Following the general’s gaze, Charise felt a chill. These men and women were her colleagues and she knew them well.
    New doubts simmered behind carefully expressionless faces.
    Antinov saw it, too. “Nothing this committee decides can reduce the risks of new knowledge. You may choose not to listen to ET. You cannot stop other countries, universities, corporations from listening. From learning. You may hope to keep ET’s message from your society. You will be no more successful than you were at keeping out blue jeans or rock-and-roll.
    “I give you a final thought. The cost of restricting knowledge is onerous. It takes a police state to even try.” Antinov smiled sadly. “We Russians learned that lesson well.
    “And to bear the burden of such restrictions, only to see other countries master new technologies from ET…that would be truly a tragedy.”
    ■□■
    “…So since we were made in God’s image, some bug-eyed thing across the galaxy can’t be one of God’s creatures.”
    “Interesting point, Rick,” said the deejay. His enthusiasm sounded forced.
    “The way I was taught, God sent His only begotten Son to redeem us. Jesus died for our sins, right here on Earth. That tells me that ET does not have a soul.”
    “As a good Christian, is it your duty to bring the message of Jesus to ET?”
    “You’re not listening! These aliens are not made in God’s image. They’re damned. In my book, that makes them devils.”
    ■□■
    Before COPUOS reconvened for its second day of hearings, Charise and her allies had changed tactics. Rebut Antinov’s defense of listening? There was no need. In one late-night phone call after another, she had reminded her colleagues that ET had stopped talking.
    That made Charise’s plan for the day simplicity itself: Declare victory. The task force—and who better than she, as one of its few ambassadorial members, to advocate this position?—had done the hard work. The message from ET was safely recorded. Anyone with the interest was free to finish deciphering the message.
    Oh, yes. And please leave your budget at the door.
    There was a whispered consultation among the Steering Committee members, seated behind the long table beneath the ambassadorial dais. Bridget Satterswaithe grabbed a microphone. “We still need to talk about the work of the Reply committee.”
    “I beg to differ, Dr. Satterswaithe.” Charise