Read Methuselah's Children for Free Online
Authors: Robert A. Heinlein
voice-
Mary did not answer. The man went on: "Anyhow, I have a surprise for you on that point. I wish I could tell you now, but . . . well, it's a state secret."
"Then don't tell me. It can't change my mind in any case, Bork."
"Oh, but it would! Mmm . . . I will tell you-I know you can be trusted."
"Now, Bork, you shouldn't assume that-"
"It doesn't matter; it will be public knowledge in a few days anyhow. Mary . . . I'll never grow old on you! "
"What do you mean?" Lazarus decided that her tone was suddenly suspicious.
"Just what I said. Mary, they've found the secret of eternal youth!"
" What? Who? How? When?"
"Oh, so now you're interested, eh? Well, I won't keep you waiting. You know these old Johnnies that call themselves the Howard Families?"
"Yes . . . I've heard of them, of course," she admitted slowly. "But what of it? They're fakes."
"Not at all. I know. The Administration has been quietly investigating their claims. Some of them are unquestionably more than a hundred years old-and still young! "
"That's very hard to believe."
"Nevertheless it's true."
"Well . . . how do they do it?"
"Ah! That's the point. They claim that it is a simple matter of heredity, that they live a long time because they come from long lived stock. But that's preposterous, scientifically incompatible with the established facts. The Administration checked most carefully and the answer is certain: they have the secret of staying young."
"You can't be sure of that."
"Oh, come, Mary! You're a dear girl but you're questioning the expert opinion of the best scientific brains in the world. Never mind. Here's the part that is confidential. We don't have their secret yet-but we will have it shortly. Without any excitement or public notice, they are to be picked up and questioned. We'll get the secret-and you and I will never grow old! What do you think of that? Eh?"
Mary answered very slowly, almost inaudibly, "It would be nice if everyone could live a long time."
"Huh? Yes, I suppose it would. But in any case you and I will receive the treatment, whatever it is. Think about us, dear. Year after year after year of happy, youthful marriage. Not less than a century. Maybe even-"
"Wait a moment, Bork. This 'secret.' It wouldn't be for everybody?"
"Well, now . . . that's a matter of high policy. Population pressure is a pretty unwieldy problem even now. In practice it might be necessary to restrict it to essential personnel-and their wives. But don't fret your lovely head about it; you and I will have it."
"You mean I'll have it if I marry you."
"Mmm . . . that's a nasty way to put it, Mary. I'd do anything in the world for you that I could-because I love you. But it would be utterly simple if you were married to me. So say you will."
"Let's let that be for the moment. How do you propose to get this 'secret' out of them?"
Lazarus could almost hear his wise nod. "Oh, they'll talk!"
"Do you mean to say you'd send them to Coventry if they didn't?"
"Coventry? Hm! You don't understand the situation at all, Mary; this isn't any minor social offense. This is treason -treason against the whole human race. We'll use means! Ways that the Prophets used . . . if they don't cooperate willingly."
"Do you mean that? Why, that's against the Covenant!"
"Covenant be damned! This is a matter of life and death-do you think we'd let a scrap of paper stand in our way? You can't bother with petty legalities in the fundamental things men live by-not something they will fight to the death for. And that is precisely what this is. These . . . these dog-in-the-manger scoundrels are trying to keep life itself from us. Do you think we'll bow to 'custom' in an emergency like this?"
Mary answered in a hushed and horrified voice: "Do you really think the Council will violate the Covenant?"
" Think so? The Action-in-Council was recorded last night. We authorized the Administrator to use 'full expediency.' "
Lazarus strained his ears through a long silence.
Mary did not answer. The man went on: "Anyhow, I have a surprise for you on that point. I wish I could tell you now, but . . . well, it's a state secret."
"Then don't tell me. It can't change my mind in any case, Bork."
"Oh, but it would! Mmm . . . I will tell you-I know you can be trusted."
"Now, Bork, you shouldn't assume that-"
"It doesn't matter; it will be public knowledge in a few days anyhow. Mary . . . I'll never grow old on you! "
"What do you mean?" Lazarus decided that her tone was suddenly suspicious.
"Just what I said. Mary, they've found the secret of eternal youth!"
" What? Who? How? When?"
"Oh, so now you're interested, eh? Well, I won't keep you waiting. You know these old Johnnies that call themselves the Howard Families?"
"Yes . . . I've heard of them, of course," she admitted slowly. "But what of it? They're fakes."
"Not at all. I know. The Administration has been quietly investigating their claims. Some of them are unquestionably more than a hundred years old-and still young! "
"That's very hard to believe."
"Nevertheless it's true."
"Well . . . how do they do it?"
"Ah! That's the point. They claim that it is a simple matter of heredity, that they live a long time because they come from long lived stock. But that's preposterous, scientifically incompatible with the established facts. The Administration checked most carefully and the answer is certain: they have the secret of staying young."
"You can't be sure of that."
"Oh, come, Mary! You're a dear girl but you're questioning the expert opinion of the best scientific brains in the world. Never mind. Here's the part that is confidential. We don't have their secret yet-but we will have it shortly. Without any excitement or public notice, they are to be picked up and questioned. We'll get the secret-and you and I will never grow old! What do you think of that? Eh?"
Mary answered very slowly, almost inaudibly, "It would be nice if everyone could live a long time."
"Huh? Yes, I suppose it would. But in any case you and I will receive the treatment, whatever it is. Think about us, dear. Year after year after year of happy, youthful marriage. Not less than a century. Maybe even-"
"Wait a moment, Bork. This 'secret.' It wouldn't be for everybody?"
"Well, now . . . that's a matter of high policy. Population pressure is a pretty unwieldy problem even now. In practice it might be necessary to restrict it to essential personnel-and their wives. But don't fret your lovely head about it; you and I will have it."
"You mean I'll have it if I marry you."
"Mmm . . . that's a nasty way to put it, Mary. I'd do anything in the world for you that I could-because I love you. But it would be utterly simple if you were married to me. So say you will."
"Let's let that be for the moment. How do you propose to get this 'secret' out of them?"
Lazarus could almost hear his wise nod. "Oh, they'll talk!"
"Do you mean to say you'd send them to Coventry if they didn't?"
"Coventry? Hm! You don't understand the situation at all, Mary; this isn't any minor social offense. This is treason -treason against the whole human race. We'll use means! Ways that the Prophets used . . . if they don't cooperate willingly."
"Do you mean that? Why, that's against the Covenant!"
"Covenant be damned! This is a matter of life and death-do you think we'd let a scrap of paper stand in our way? You can't bother with petty legalities in the fundamental things men live by-not something they will fight to the death for. And that is precisely what this is. These . . . these dog-in-the-manger scoundrels are trying to keep life itself from us. Do you think we'll bow to 'custom' in an emergency like this?"
Mary answered in a hushed and horrified voice: "Do you really think the Council will violate the Covenant?"
" Think so? The Action-in-Council was recorded last night. We authorized the Administrator to use 'full expediency.' "
Lazarus strained his ears through a long silence.