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Though it was only pay day for the second shift the men of all three shifts assembled at
the Station to await Bluemud's speech. There was suddenly much optimism which even
Ursus reflected as he stared unabashedly at the new men from Lettuce. 'Maybe them faeries done some good after all. Seems like they're going to let us out for a day. If they do I'm going way down that river. Find me a place where I can catch some fish.' The Bluemuds arrived in a buggy, wheeling out of sight behind the Station then emerging a few moments later with O'Grady. For the second time Carl saw Elizabeth Bluemud, but this time he knew who she was. 'They're big fellas, them faeries' went on Ursus. 'See them funny eyes and eyebrows. I'm glad I don't look that way.' 'They say how they're not right in the head,' said Willis. 'They're mean sons-of-bitches.' 'I can believe that! See that big 'un there. Look how he stands. I'm glad we don't have no faeries on our shif...' For the second time that day a club descended on Ursus back and he sagged briefly. 'Now will you shut up, Griffon?' said Johnson. Bluemud spoke through a microphone. 'First I want to extend a warm welcome to our new men from the town of Lettuce. I know I speak for all the rest of you when I say we're very pleased to welcome them. We'll do everything in our power to see they find Granite Gorge a good place to live.' 'To be perfectly frank with you, not everything is the way I would wish it at the moment. With the new arrivals you're suffering from a slight overcrowding and, as I'm sure you are aware there are shortages of certain types of food. My daughter Elizabeth, who is responsible for providing food for everyone in this valley will address that problem with you shortly but first let me say something about the overcrowding. Next year we will begin the construction of a foundry further down the valley and then men who are assigned to work there will be given different lodgings. This will then ease the problem for everyone. However, I must also say that, in the meantime, things in the barracks would be much easier if some of you would improve your living habits. I have mentioned this to Mr. O'Grady repeatedly and I know he has passed it on. When you first arrived here you were each given a wash in my personal automatic shower. Some of you have never washed your bodies since! This is just too bad! The facilities are there, it's up to you to use them. You must remember that at Granite Gorge you are members of a new class of men, worthy of more respect. But to gain respect you must earn it! And washing would be a good first step!' Bluemud glowered down from the podium, leaving an extended pause to allow his words to sink in and O'Grady, seated next to Miss Elizabeth, nodded vigorously as if he had in fact already passed on this message. 'Now, in honor of the occasion I am declaring tomorrow a holiday. For those of you who are eligible it will also be one of those Special Day's when you will be able to visit the village to consort with your er... mates. I regret very much sorry this doesn't include more of you but most of you are unfortunately too still new here and Mr. O'Grady needs more time to complete working on your files. Until this process is complete and we can determine your suitability as fathers you will have to wait.' Bluemud paused again, consulting his notes then looked rather irritably first at Elizabeth then at O'Grady. Then he said, 'You must bear with us on this. I assure that our rules have a purpose. In the meantime, I would suggest that those of you who have nothing better to do use your day off to clean up your living quarters. And now my daughter, Elizabeth will address the problem of the food supply.' As Bluemud sat and Elizabeth got up, Ursus stirred angrily beside Carl. 'So much for fishing' he whispered, drawing an angry look from foreman Johnson. Elizabeth spoke nervously and, even with the microphone, her voice was difficult to hear because she stood far away from it. For most of the men however, the sight of her was quite sufficient. 'Thank you, father. Now, the first thing that I would like to say to you is that both father and I feel that all of you men deserve to have the very, very best that we can give you. We are trying very hard but, you know, we really hadn't planned on quite so many people arriving this year and so our stores are low. Not dangerously low, that is, but we must be conservative. I'm sorry to say that I can't promise that things will return to normal until next spring. That is, no-one is going to starve, of course, but...' As Elizabeth spoke Carl felt both enchantment and disgust. Elizabeth was beautiful beyond description. Her beauty was the beauty of perfection in every degree: a beauty that knows its own perfection, that knows that others know and are awestruck by it. At least that is what he believed. And each time she looked in Carl's direction he believed she knew that he was there and was addressing him directly. And why should she not be? Of all the men in this crowd only he understood the problems she was describing. The fact was that Elizabeth was discussing matters which were part of a Shopkeeper's professional interest and that she was describing a situation for which there were obvious remedies which had not been taken up. The more Elizabeth spoke the more these conflicting emotions were aroused and the more Carl felt that it was he who should be giving this speech not her and he imagined himself up there with she beside him, her warm brown eyes, full of admiration and respect, concentrated upon himself rather than her father. She concluded, 'So, I'm sure we'll manage, provided the winter is not too severe. I hope you'll be patient with us and try to understand our problems. Remember that the women in the village who produce your food are in the same predicament. They get no more teat than you do.' By the time Elizabeth sat down Carl's heart was pounding. He felt a tremendous desire to rush up to her, to touch her, to see if she was real. And, at the same time, to shout in her ear: 'And if the winter is severe, what then?' Then she was gone from his sight, hidden by her father who rose to speak again. 'Thank you Elizabeth. I'm sure that every man here appreciates your efforts and the amount of work the good ladies of the village must put in to feed us all.' He turned towards her and smiled then began to applaud her. O'Grady quickly followed his lead and naturally the foremen indicated in unequivocal terms to the assembled men that they too should follow suit, which they did, which turned out to be a quite curious event for many as they had never before done such a thing and especially in praise of such evident beauty. Eventually Bluemud grew irritated at the extended applause. 'Well, enough of that!' he said finally and glowered at O'Grady. As the applause ceased abruptly he went on as if speaking to an academic forum, warming to his favorite topic. 'Now, to let you know what will be happening in the shorter term, I will be leaving Granite Gorge quite soon as will my daughter who will be resuming her agricultural studies at the University for the benefit of us all. Since we'll be seeing little of you this winter I want to make some general remarks concerning the purpose of this enterprise. You men are coal miners. At the moment you aren't producing very much for the simple reason that there's no market for it. As I said year, next year we'll be starting up a foundry and that will use up some of it. However, I hope also to find other markets so we can begin producing in earnest and earn the income necessary to build a thriving, growing community at Granite Gorge. We live in a society going nowhere! The fact is indisputable. What I dispute is the reason.. Those in power say the policies of the Great State which no longer exists have brought the human race to a point where it can go no further. They say we should rest on our laurels, content with what we have. Never again, they say, must man arrogantly assume he is greater than the Universe. Well, I agree with them except to say that this is not living! Nothing continues forever; that is nature's way and only a fool would think otherwise. But, must we settle for a dull, lifeless society based on the most terrible crime ever committed? Can't we learn from our mistakes and try again? Why should we surrender a precious gift because after six hundred years it failed? I look back upon the great capitalist societies of the past: their exploitations, their injustices, the terrible agonies upon which they were founded. But I also look at that great sweep of history called the Industrial Revolution. I see its enormous triumphs, the miracles it wrought, the potential it created for great joy and happiness and I wish desperately to be a part of it. Though many copied it, no other system in the history of the world has ever approached the attainment of Capitalism, bringing knowledge and wealth to so many. The key to that system was the individual, causing instability and disruption and encouraged to do so within a loose framework. And that is what I want to see among you people. Those who will rise up and lead the way. Individuals who will once more return mankind to its most glorious road. The United States of America was a strong republic, vital and alive! Its citizens believed that all men were born equal. They valued the qualities of the individual above all and that individual valued freedom. Now, equality and freedom have been taken from us- freedom of thoughts, of actions, or desires - but freedom cannot be subjugated forever! There will always be some who treasure its virtues above all else, and I am one of those!' Bluemud paused, glowering now at his audience. 'Men such as I am will restore freedom to this land but it will not be easy. I don't expect much from any of you here. Two hundred years of subjugation are not easily erased. And I am an old man. I hardly expect to see it in my lifetime but, by stages, it will come. And the first, the essential first, is freedom of enterprise, the freedom to work and trade. Here in this wilderness is the starting point. We've had enough of guilt, enough of stagnation. I intend to restore the non-equilibrium society of the Industrial Revolution under which mankind blossomed. Then the glory of the human spirit will bloom again at Granite Gorge,' Thus, having completely bewildered all but one of his audience, Bluemud stepped down. The one was Carl. 'What about me?' he thought. |
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