Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction September 1963. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Ever think how deadly a thing it is
if a machine has amnesia—
or how easily it can be arranged....
BY WINSTON P. SANDERS
ILLUSTRATED BY LEO SUMMERS
ell, yes," Amspaugh admitted, "it was a unique war in many ways,including its origin. However, there are so many analogies to othercolonial revolutions—" His words trailed off as usual.
"I know. Earth's mercantile policies and so forth," said Lindgren. Hefancies himself a student of interplanetary history. This has led toquite a few arguments since Amspaugh, who teaches in that field,joined the Club. Mostly they're good. I went to the bar and got myselfanother drink, listening as the mine owner's big voice went on:
"But what began it? When did the asterites first start realizing theyweren't pseudopods of a dozen Terrestrial nations, but a single nationin their own right? There's the root of the revolution. And it can bepinned down, too."
"'Ware metaphor!" cried someone at my elbow. I turned and saw MissyBlades. She'd come quietly into the lounge and started mixing a ginand bitters.
The view window framed her white head in Orion as she moved toward thelittle cluster of seated men. She took a fat cigar from her pocket,struck it on her shoe sole, and added her special contribution to theblue cloud in the room after she sat down.
"Excuse me," she said. "I couldn't help that. Please go on." Which Ihope relieves you of any fear that she's an Unforgettable Character.Oh, yes, she's old as Satan now; her toil and guts and conniving makeup half the biography of the Sword; she manned a gun turret at Ceres,and was mate of the Tyrfing on some of the earliest Saturn runs whenmen took their lives between their teeth because they needed bothhands free; her sons and grandsons fill the Belt with their brawlingventures; she can drink any ordinary man to the deck; she's one of thethree women ever admitted to the Club. But she's also one of the fewgenuine ladies I've known in my life.
"Uh, well," Lindgren grinned at her. "I was saying, Missy, the germ ofthe revolution was when the Stations armed themselves. You see, thatmeant more than police powers. It implied a degree of sovereignty.Over the years, the implication grew."
"Correct." Orloff nodded his bald head. "I remember how the GoverningCommission squalled when the Station managers first demanded theright. They foresaw trouble. But if the Stations belonging to onecountry put in space weapons, what else could the others do?"
"They should have stuck together and all been firm about refusing toallow it," Amspaugh said. "From the standpoint of their own bestinterests, I mean."
"They tried to," Orloff replied. "I hate to think how manycommunications we sent home from our own office, and the others musthave done the same. But Earth was a long way off. The Station bosseswere clo