Free The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke by Arthur C. Clarke Page A

they would declare war, or anything crazy like that? What good would it do to smash up Earth?’
    ‘The Federation’s much too sensible to try anything of the sort. Remember, I said they were idealists. But they may feel that Earth hasn’t been taking them seriously enough and that’s the one thing that reformers can’t tolerate. However, the main cause of trouble is this haggling over the uranium supply.’
    ‘I don’t see what that’s got to do with us ,’ said Wheeler. ‘If there is a fight I hope they leave the Moon out of it.’
    Molton said thoughtfully, ‘Haven’t you heard?’
    ‘Heard what?’ asked Wheeler, an uncomfortable sensation creeping up his spine.
    ‘They say uranium has been found on the Moon at last.’
    ‘ That story! It’s been going around for years.’
    ‘I think there’s something in it this time. I’ve had it from pretty reliable sources.’
    ‘So have I,’ put in Jamieson unexpectedly. ‘Isn’t it something to do with Johnstone’s theory of satellite formation?’
    ‘Yes. You know Earth’s the only planet with any appreciable uranium—it’s connected in some way with its abnormally high density. Most of the uranium’s a thousand miles down in the core where no one can get at it. But when the Moon split off it took some of the core with it—and the remnant’s quite close to the surface here. The story’s going round that it’s been detected by lowering counters down drill-holes and they’ve found enough uranium to make all the deposits on Earth look like very small stuff.’
    ‘I see,’ said Wheeler slowly. ‘If that’s true the Federation will be asking for increased supplies.’
    ‘And those nervous old women down on Earth will be afraid to let them have any,’ interjected Jamieson.
    ‘Well, why should they?’
    ‘Surely that’s easy enough to answer. Earth’s requirements are static—while the Federation’s are increasing with each new planet that colonised.’
    ‘And you think the Federation might try to grab any lunar deposits before Earth could get there?’
    ‘Exactly—and if we are in the way we might get hurt. That would upset both sides very much but it wouldn’t be much compensation to us.’
    ‘This is just what used to happen a hundred and fifty years ago back on Earth, when gold and diamonds were valuable. Claim-jumping, they used to call it. Funny thing, history.’
    ‘But supposing the Federation did seize a bit of the Moon—how could they hold it so far from their bases? Remember, there aren’t any weapons left nowadays.’
    ‘With the legacy of the two World Wars it wouldn’t take long to make some, would it? Most of the finest scientists in the Solar System belong to the Federation. Suppose they took a big spaceship and put guns or rocket torpedoes on it. They could grab the whole Moon and Earth couldn’t push them off. Especially when they’d got hold of the uranium and cut off Earth’s supplies.’
    ‘You should be writing science fiction, Doc! Battleship of Space and all that sort of thing! Don’t forget to bring in the death-rays!’
    ‘It’s all right for you to laugh but you know perfectly well that with atomic power it is possible to put enough energy into a beam to do real damage. No one’s tried it yet as far as we know—because there wasn’t much point. But if they ever want to…’
    ‘He’s right, Con. How do we know what’s been going on in the Government labs for the last generation? I hadn’t thought about it before but it rather frightens me. You do think of the nicest things, Doc.’
    ‘Well, you asked for my theories and you’ve got ‘em. But I can’t stand here all day talking. Some people in this establishment have work to do.’ The old astronomer picked up his plates and wandered off toward his office, leaving the two friends in a somewhat disturbed frame of mind.
    Jamieson gazed glumly at the telescope while Wheeler looked thoughtfully at the lunar landscape outside the dome. He ran his