Free Empire Builders by Ben Bova Page B

accurate: fusion power will eventually drive out solar power. Not the small-scale kind of solar, private homes covering their roofs with solar voltaic cells. Not that kind of thing. But the big multi-gigawatt sunsats—yes, cheap fusion power will take away their existing markets.”
    Nobo took in a deep breath.
    Before he could say anything, Dan went on, “The smart thing to do, in such a situation, is to buy into the innovative technology that will eventually take away your existing market. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Your father understood that.”
    The young man’s eyes blinked rapidly, several times. “I am not my father,” he said flatly. Dumb mistake, Dan told himself. Never throw the old man at the son. That’s stupid.
    “The fact remains,” Nobo said, “that your fusion fuel operation will be competing against our sunsats for some time to come.” “Then buy in!”
    “Why should I have to spend capital that we could use to develop other new industries to buy into your operation?”
    “What alternative do you suggest?” Dan asked. “Limit your sales of fusion fuel.”
    “What?”
    “Limit the sales. You have a monopoly on the mining and processing of lunar helium-three. Limit sales and you will drive up the price. That will give you a higher profit margin.”
    Dan could not believe what he was hearing. “Nobo, I’ve got a monopoly because I’m producing helium-three cheaper than anybody else can. If I start cutting down on production, everybody and his brother will jump into the game!”
    “It will take them years to get into the market.” “The years fly by, pal.”
    “If you agree to limit production we can work out market shares, divided between sunsats and fusion generators.”
    “That’s conspiracy in restraint of trade! The GEC would be all over us in ten minutes!” “My lawyers assure me ...”
    “Your lawyers are full of shit if they’re telling you we can carve up the energy market between us without the GEC slapping us both in jail!”
    “We can handle the GEC.” “And rain makes applesauce.”
    “You would have made such an arrangement with my father!” That stunned Dan into silence.
    “Wouldn’t you?” Nobo demanded. Dan had no reply.
    “You don’t wish to make such an arrangement with Yamagata Industries now that I am at its head?” “Nobo, I can’t.”
    “Then you have decided to try to drive us out of the energy business.”
    “No! Not at all! I’m offering you a share of the fusion operation. And you ought to get your marketing people to start looking at how the sunsats can be used to deliver power to other space facilities. Hell, you could beam power all the way out to the asteroid belt if you wanted to.”
    “There is nothing in the asteroid belt that needs gigawatts of power.”
    “But there will be! Things don’t stand still, Nobo. Don’t try to freeze everything in place. You’ll get swamped by the changes that can’t be stopped.”
    “Stop lecturing me. I’m not a child.”
    “Double-damn it to hell and back, Nobo. You’re taking this personally. It’s not personal; it’s business!”
    The younger man got to his feet and reached for his suit jacket. “You must pardon me. I am to chair the board meeting in Tokyo this morning. I will leave word to make a plane available for your flight to Tahiti .”
    “Tetiaroa,” Dan corrected glumly.
    “Wherever. Goodbye.” Nobuhiko left without a bow, without a handshake, clearly furious and not even trying to hide his emotions.
    Dan stood at the table, thinking, great way to start the day. I’ve just made an enemy out of my old friend’s son.
    Jane had not slept well, either. She suppressed the memory of her dreams, recalling only vague images of scenes from her childhood, and of Morgan, her dead husband. I pushed him into politics, Jane said to herself as she showered. I made him president. I killed him. But not before Morgan himself had killed the love that they had shared. I pushed him