Free Nemesis by Isaac Asimov Page A

then, you and I will be safely dead, and our successors will handle the problem of warning the Solar System—if that should be necessary. I’m trying to be reasonable, not emotional, Eugenia. You are a reasonable person, too. Think about it.”
    Insigna did. She sat there, looking somberly at Pitt, while he waited with almost exaggerated patience.
    Finally she said, “Very well. I see your point. I will get on with analyzing Nemesis’ motion relative to the Sun. Perhaps we can forget the whole thing.”
    “No.” Pitt raised an admonishing finger. “Remember what I said earlier. These observations will not be made. If it turns out that the Solar System is not in danger, we will have gained nothing. We will then merely do what I insist we do in any case—spend a century strengthening the civilization of Rotor. If, however, you find that there
is
danger, then your conscience will hurt and you will be consumed with apprehensions and fears and guilt. The news will somehow get out and it will weaken the resolveof Rotorians, many of whom may be as sentimental as you are. We would then lose a great deal. Do you understand me?”
    She was silent, and he said, “Good. I see you do.” Again, the wave of his hand made it clear that she was to leave.
    This time she left, and Pitt, looking after her, thought: She is really becoming insupportable.

SEVEN
DESTRUCTION?
13.
    Marlene watched her mother owlishly. She was careful to keep her expression flat and meaningless, but within herself she was both pleased and surprised. Her mother was finally telling her of the events involving her father and Commissioner Pitt. She was being treated as a grown-up.
    Marlene said, “I would have checked Nemesis’ motions regardless of what Commissioner Pitt said, Mother, but I see you didn’t. Your guilt makes it plain.”
    Insigna said, “I can’t get used to the notion that I wear my guilt like a label on my forehead.”
    “No one hides their feelings,” said Marlene. “If you really watch, you can always tell.”
    (Others couldn’t. Marlene had learned that only slowly, and with difficulty. People just didn’t look, they didn’t sense, they didn’t care. They didn’t watch faces, and bodies, and sounds, and attitudes, and little nervous habits.)
    “You shouldn’t really
watch
like that, Marlene,” said Insigna, as though their thoughts had taken parallel paths. She put her arm around the girl’s shoulder to prevent her words from sounding like a scolding. “People get nervous when those large dark eyes of yours fix on them soulfully. Respect people’s privacy.”
    “Yes, Mother,” said Marlene, noting without effort that her mother was trying to protect herself. She was nervous about herself, wondering how much she gave away at each moment.
    Then Marlene said, “How is it that despite all your guilty feelings about the Solar System, you did nothing?”
    “A number of reasons, Molly.”
    (Not “Molly,” thought Marlene with anguish. Marlene! Marlene! Marlene! Three syllables. Accent on the second. Grown up!)
    “Like what reasons?” asked Marlene sulkily. (Couldn’t her mother detect the wave of hostility that swept over Marlene each time a kid name was used? Surely it twisted her face, smoldered her eyes, convulsed her lips. Why didn’t people notice? Why didn’t people look?)
    “For one thing, Janus Pitt was very convincing. However odd the points he makes, however hostile you feel toward them at the time, he always makes you see that he has good reasons for his viewpoints.”
    “If that’s true, Mother, he’s awfully dangerous.”
    Insigna seemed to break away from her thoughts to glance curiously at her daughter. “Why do you say that?”
    “Every point of view can have good reasons behind it. If someone can seize those reasons quickly, and present them convincingly, he can argue anyone into anything, and that’s dangerous.”
    “Janus Pitt has those abilities, I’ll admit. I’m surprised you understand