Free Alan E. Nourse by Trouble on Titan Page A

square on the Colonel's face. "How well do you know the
history of this colony?"
    "Quite well, I should
say—"
    "Security Commission
records, no doubt."
    The
Colonel reddened. "Among other source materials. What are you getting at?"
    "It
was started as a prison, this colony," Torm said. "That was a hundred and fifty years ago. A place where criminals
against Earth society were sent, a deathtrap, a modern-world Devil's Island if
you wish— You've heard of that place, I presume? Not a fair comparison,
really—at least those poor creatures had Earth sky and Earth sea—" The big
man's eyes grew wistful for just a moment. "But back when the colony here
was started, ruthenium wasn't so critical to Earth economy. As time went on,
Earth authorities began to realize that they didn't dare leave the mining of their ruthenium up to criminals and cutthroats, so
they recruited workers, made the mines a free colony, and started the mining
system that we have here now—"
    "This
is all very interesting," the Colonel said. "But I repeat—what are
you driving at?"
    Tuck
watched the colony leader closely. He felt the awkwardness between the two men
quite acutely. And strangely, as he listened, the doubts which had been
creeping into his mind since his first sight of the big man's face on the ship
became stronger. It seemed incredible that this quiet voice, this stern face
with the lines of worry and compassion engraved over the years, could be the
voice and face of an outlaw and a liar. And yet he knew, even thinking it
otherwise was foolhardy. There had been two vicious attacks, there was violence
in the very air of this strange colony, and this big, sandy-haired man was the
leader here. Or at least, he claimed to be—
    Torm held up his hand. "Patience, Colonel.
Think about history for a minute. Earth made Titan a free colony, which was
very fine—except that the people on Earth could never forget that it was
originally a prison colony. Ruthenium became more and more necessary to the
growing luxury on Earth, and this colony became more and more vital—and the
people on Earth grew more and more afraid of us who worked in the mines. They
were afraid of the power we might assume, they were afraid we might someday
grow too strong. So, you see, they took steps to see that we would never grow
too strong. Very gradually, very skillfully, they turned propaganda on Earth
against us —propaganda deliberately planned to degrade us as human beings,
planned to lower our status, planned to make people on Earth more afraid of us,
to make them regard us as slaves, half-animals, rebels—'
    Colonel
Benedict stared at the colony leader. "You're expecting me to believe
this?"
    "You
should believe it," Torm replied softly.
"Your own Earth Security Commission has engineered it for years—"
    "The
Commission is responsible for the security of people on Earth—nothing more.
They hardly have the time to set themselves up as persecutors. There's been
trouble in this colony for years—you know that as well as I. Time after time Earth delegations have come out here, trying to reach a
ground for peace and co-operation. Time after time they've been met with
treachery and hatred."
    "That
is not true, Colonel. You have been afraid of us, and naturally we have grown
to fear you, too. After all, Earth has the power to starve us, to smother us,
to slaughter us, if they wish." The colony leader stood up, walked back and forth in the still room. "We know that. We're helpless out
here, alone, utterly dependent on Earth's regular supplies. But we have always
known how much Earth needs ruthenium. Of course they have never done us
physical harm—but there are other things that can destroy people, Colonel. Men
must be able to keep their self-respect, and the respect of the people they
live with. And slowly, over the years, we've been down-graded in the eyes of
Earth people. Oh, nothing deliberate or premeditated—but we've lost our status
as citizens in the Solar System.