A Reasonable World

14

That spring the drought in Africa entered its second year. Streets and buildings in Frascati were covered with cinnamon-colored powder so fine that it seeped in around window-frames; Julie hired a second housecleaner, who did nothing but dust and vacuum all day. Grain, flour, milk, eggs and meat were in short supply; there were lines at all the food stores. At Julie’s insistence, Stevens gave generously to famine relief, but he knew it was futile: it would take billions of dollars to feed all those who were now starving to death.

Foreseeing even more severe shortages to come, he had taken steps to ensure a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, shipped directly to him from Calabria, and he had also vastly augmented his stockpiles of dried and irradiated food, medicines, bandages and other necessities. He kept these goods in the cellar of the villa and in other places within walking distance of Frascati; he had considered establishing caches near other world capitals, but had given up the idea because he believed that when the crash came, transportation would become difficult or impossible. Meanwhile he went on with what he was doing.

In April he met Palladino again in Geneva and proposed a partnership, to which Stevens would contribute capital and organization, Palladino his knowledge and services. Palladino wept with gratitude. The papers he signed had been carefully drawn up: every scrap of Palladino’s writing now belonged to Nuovo Orizzonte, S.A., of which Stevens was president and managing director. The board of directors, at the moment, consisted of Julie and Stevens’ lawyer.

At his next meeting with Palladino he said, “Maestro, as you know, I believe in my heart that you are right. All the same, I must bring up certain objections so that I can know how to meet them when others bring them up.”

“Certainly, of course.”

“Very well, then, imagine that I am a very young man. I have no job, or else I have a job that pays me very poorly. What I like is expensive automobiles and fashionable clothing, but I can’t afford them. Now your moneyless society comes into being. Suddenly everything is free; I put myself on the waiting lists for Bugattis, Mercedes, Torinos, or I enter the lotteries, and while I am waiting I watch holos and go to restaurants with girls. Eventually I will get everything I desire. Why should I work?”

Palladino looked grave. “My friend, have you no desire to create anything or to master a skill, or to be useful to society?”

“None whatever, and there are thousands like me.”

“Then, my boy, you should not work. But I think you may change your opinion when you are older.”

“But in the meantime,” Stevens said, “here I am enjoying all the good things of life and contributing nothing. When I pass those who are working, in my new Alfa-Romeo with the top down, I laugh.”

Palladino shook his head. “What you are describing will certainly happen,” he said, “but it will not destroy the moneyless society. Let me suggest an even more extreme case. There is a young man or woman who is afflicted with greed. Whatever is given, he takes. He fills his house with furniture, clothing, food, far more than he can use, and he takes so much that there is not enough for others. What do they do?” Without waiting for a reply, Palladino said, “They go to his house and take away all the things he does not need. If he persists, they do it again, as many times as necessary. And they shake their fingers at him when they see him, they show their disapproval. Eventually such a person becomes well known. The shops and restaurants will not serve him. He must change his ways or he cannot live in the community, because they will make him ashamed.”

He looked at Stevens earnestly. “Do you see? Now imagine that you are a young boy growing up in the moneyless society. You see how they are treating this young man because of his idleness and greed. Your parents talk to you about the rewards of work. You are not living any more in a world where you can work and still go hungry. There is work for everyone. Young people are encouraged to find the sort of work they like and do it. What will you do?”

“I think I’ll go to work,” Stevens said. “Thank you, Professor.”

“It’s nothing. I know some of these things are hard to see, even for people who believe in the moneyless world. That’s because we are so used to our present world, with all its ugliness and irrationality, that we believe it is natural and cannot be changed. But it is unnatural and must be changed. Wait and see.”

Palladino’s remarks about the education of young people for the moneyless society gave Stevens an idea or two. There ought to be an instruction manual for parents to use with their children; yes, and there should be demonstrations, regular meetings at which the members could play at being in a moneyless world. Palladino accepted both ideas with enthusiasm, and they planned the demonstrations together. They would be family social events, held in school auditoriums or similar places; the parents would bring food to share with each other, and the products of their labor; the children could bring handicrafts, perhaps, little trinkets they had made. Each family would have a card table or two piled with its gifts (gift certificates, for services?). If they had brought enough for everybody, people would simply take whatever they wanted, or if not, there would be raffles. And music. There should be songs about the moneyless world; when they sang them, they would feel united and proud of themselves. What about special costumes to be worn on these occasions, or at least badges and ribbons?

These were heady days. Maria and Carla designed and made the ribbons in Kelly green, for men to wear on their lapels, women on their bodices. Bruno contributed the idea for the badges: a red lira sign with a green slash through it. Signora della Seta even wrote a song. It was hopelessly inept, but Stevens praised it, making a mental note to hide it at the back of the first hymnal.

After a month or two Stevens began to notice a change in Palladino. Regular meals, well-tailored clothing, and a little comfort had improved not only his appearatnce but his attitude. He was more confident, more positive; he seemed to stand taller. In his public lectures and on holovision, he looked and talked like someone of importance. It became easier and easier for Stevens to get him on major talk shows. Attendance at the lectures was booming; people were signing up for seminars; the contributions were rolling in.