Happiness: A Planet by Sam Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

system — when the old system was perfectly adequate and understood by all. And no sooner had those, who had to use that indexing system, adapted themselves to it, than someone else felt that they had to justify their salary by doing something and the system was again, according to the foibles of the latest newcomer, re-indexed. So we had change for change’s sake, until the whole edifice collapsed under the weight of superfluous innovations. Thus, learning from history, in our Service emphasis is placed on uneventful tenure rather than on accomplishment; and proposals to alter any aspect of Service life or working procedures are met with a staunch conservatism.
    Within our civilisation the only criteria, justifying the continued existence of any institution or practice is — does it work? As an intelligence we were late arriving at such a rule by which to govern ourselves. Of course there have always been those among us who have owned just such a criteria. Artists, for instance, in the creating of an effect, whether in music, literature or drama, readily abandon outdated methods or stick stubbornly with traditional techniques, providing they get the desired results. So long as the methods employed are effective then they don’t attempt to change them. So too, at long last, our entire civilisation. Although, of course, effectiveness is not the sole consideration; morality and ethics also come into the running of a civilisation. But it is of no use having a practice which is ethically sound if it doesn’t work. So if it works is the predominant criteria — and the majority are happy to abide by it. Though a sizeable minority, like Tulla, would appreciate just a few more exceptions to Service’s general rule of inactivity.
    Realising that the squabble was getting them nowhere, Tulla bent her mind to Happiness and to its missing moon. Munred too controlled his temper. The interview was on record and, aware of Tulla’s low opinion, he saw with painful lucidity what a sorry petulant figure he must be cutting.
    “Look,” he sat down. “It’s such a peculiar situation. One that normally never arises. Something can’t have gone wrong with every transmitter on the planet. I’ve checked back. Not a day goes by, but there’s one radio message coming up for relatives in Space.”
    “What about the reports?”
    “Machine of course. Daily again. Weather conditions, seismic activity, census updates... All on record. Hold on,” he pulled a code book to him, “if the moon was going out of orbit wouldn’t it have affected the tides?”
    “If it was, but it wasn’t. The disappearance of the moon and the break in communications needn’t necessarily be connected.”
    Munred tapped at keys, was disappointed to find that tidal levels were average for the month preceding the moon’s disappearance.
    “The absence of the moon,” Tulla followed her own train of thought, “could have affected the orbit of its radio satellites. I think it unlikely though. One at least would still function.”
    “But it could have destroyed all its satellites?”
    “As I don’t know what has happened to the moon, yes, anything’s possible. I’ll check the satellites later, let you know. Have they any nuclear devices down there?”
    “Why?”
    “Nuclear explosions create electromagnetic fields, wipe out all transmissions.”
    “I’ll check.”
    “About its moon...”
    “What about it?” Munred was again busy at his keys.
    “The long term consequences of its absence, which is why I came to see you...”
    “Look,” Munred interrupted her, “I’ve lost contact with over three million people. What does one small moon matter compared to that?”
    “One small moon? You can’t be serious,” Tulla was flabbergasted, “I helped on someone’s thesis for this. One planet had three small moons. We overmined one of those moons. It was a star with only one planet. All three moons went out of orbit, the planet went out of orbit, altered the