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diff --git a/37572-h/37572-h.htm b/37572-h/37572-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3910af2 --- /dev/null +++ b/37572-h/37572-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1591 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Way of Decision, by M. C. Pease. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr.r15 {width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquote{margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + .blockquotetn{margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + .extraspacetop {padding-top: 2em; } + .extraspacebot {padding-bottom: 2em; } + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Way of Decision, by M. C. Pease + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Way of Decision + +Author: M. C. Pease + +Release Date: September 30, 2011 [EBook #37572] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAY OF DECISION *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacebot"> +<img src="images/sfs1953001_1.jpg" width="400" height="566" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop"> +<img src="images/sfs1953030i_1.jpg" width="400" height="595" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="blockquote center extraspacetop extraspacebot"><i>History records numerous small colonies, based upon unusual +ideas of the family unit and social group. Most of these have +failed in practice, but usually because they were based upon +idealistic notions which had little to do with the economic or +social necessities of their times. But what of a new theory of the +family and social unit which is designed to conform with actual +conditions? And what is such a group likely to face when a new +member, a person without any understanding of the actual conditions, +has to be accepted as a member?</i></p> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h1><i>The Way Of Decision</i></h1> + +<p class="center"><big><i>by</i> M. C. PEASE</big></p> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> TOM VORD sat on the porch of his clan's house with his feet +on the railing. Across the valley, he could hear the muted roar +of the commuter track that led south to New Haven; but all +he could see were the sprawling rows of private houses that strung +along the belt. And behind them, more isolated from each other, the +larger structures of the homes of other clans. The bright greenness +of spring lay over the land, and it was fresh and sparkling. A typical +suburban scene in this year of 2013, Tom thought. Even the mixture +of private houses and clan was symbolic of the time. And in a way, +symbolic also of the problem he had.</p> + +<p>Tom's face was brooding. His was a nature not easily satisfied, or +content with half-solutions—and he took the problems of the clan +seriously. Partly as a consequence of this, but also because he had the +self-control to avoid crises, he was the unacknowledged leader of the +clan, and its chief administrator. His age was hard to guess. He was +not old; his face was unlined, and his hair both present and dark; his +eyes showed an enthusiasm that indicated youth. And yet he was not +young; there was a maturity in his glance, an acceptance in his attitude +that made him seem older than he was. And so he sat there, relaxed, +idly looking out over the countryside, even as he wondered if the +present crisis was enough to disrupt the clan.</p> + +<p>Below him Ricky Vord came toiling up the steps to the house. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>Ricky was the opposite of Tom. Young and intense, with a devil-may-care +attitude, he was the born salesman. His enthusiasms came bubbling +out, and he had the ability to carry with him anyone who might object. +And if he did not have the deepness of thought fully to understand the +implications of all that he said or did, he was the better salesman for it.</p> + +<p>With a wave, Ricky entered the house. There were muffled sounds +from the interior, and it was not for several minutes that the boy +appeared on the porch. Then it was with two tall glasses in his hands. +"I consider this Tom Collins weather," he said. "I suspect you do, too, +only you're too lazy to mix your own." He handed Tom the second +drink and sat down beside him.</p> + +<p>"Possibly," Tom said with a smile. "I certainly won't refuse. What +do you know?"</p> + +<p>"A lot of things," Ricky answered. He took a long drink. "Ah, that's +good," he said. "You know, I been down talking to Graves again. We +got that thing in the bag if we want it." His voice was off-hand, +deliberately so, Tom knew.</p> + +<p>"We have?" Tom's voice also was careful. "Do you mean with or +without the girl?"</p> + +<p>"Well ... You can't blame Graves for wanting to see his daughter +settled. He figures that if she gets into a clan, maybe she'll calm down. +And he could be right. Maybe she will; who knows? After all, she +does want to come in. That must mean something."</p> + +<p>"Sure, it means something," Tom agreed, his voice slightly sardonic. +"It means she wants to collect a whole clan. And as far as I am concerned, +she's welcome to it—as long as it isn't the Vord one."</p> + +<p>"Look," Ricky swung up onto the edge of his chair, turning to face +Tom and leaning towards him, "you're only seeing one side of this. +You think Marcia's just looking for a thrill, for something new, and +different—and that that's why she wants to join us. Maybe it is; I +won't deny it. I don't happen to think that's the reason, but it could be. +But what if it is? Why do we have to rear back and stand on our dignity? +Why can't we take her in, let her have her thrill, and then get out. If +a thrill is all she's looking for, she'll get out quick enough. Unless she +gets converted—that could happen, too. What do we lose?</p> + +<p>"And look what we lose if we do sit blindly on our dignity," he +went on with a rush. "The job at Midland's running out. Times are +tough. There's not many openings for a bunch of wiring-assemblers. +As it stands now, the choice is between Eltron Electric and Universal. +Universal we can get with no strings, except that we have to go to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>Detroit—and except that it doesn't pay very well.</p> + +<p>"Eltron, on the other hand, is Graves; and Graves doesn't like the +clans. He's never had anything to do with them. A Free-Laborite +from way back. Only he's got a daughter, Marcia; and Marcia, bless +her sweet little soul, wants to join a clan. So the old man's willing to +take another look at things; he'll give us a contract when Marcia's +a Vord, and it'll be a good contract. In fact, he'll damn near let us +write it. What can we lose?"</p> + +<p>"You think we should take her in," Tom said.</p> + +<p>"Yes I do," Ricky answered. "Otherwise, we have to pull up stakes +and move, and that job out at Universal is no picnic. We won't do +much more than break even on it, and maybe it'll only last a few +months; it's that kind of a thing."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> TOM smiled suddenly. "You are not quite consistent," he said. "You +are worrying about Universal being temporary. And yet you brush +aside the fact that Marcia may pull out. What would happen to us +at Eltron if she did?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Ricky answered, unabashed. "Maybe by that time +we'd have Graves convinced. Most guys who run companies get to +like the idea of contracting the clans, when they give it a try."</p> + +<p>"They should," Tom grunted. "It's the answer to their labor +problems."</p> + +<p>"Sure," Ricky answered. "Only there are still guys like Graves +around who don't see it. His pet topic of conversation is the Iltor Clan; +he mentions it every time anyone suggests that the clans bring +stability."</p> + +<p>"But the Iltor clan was wrong from the first," Tom said. "The guys +who put it together were unstable themselves; they tried to make the +clan a small-size empire of their own—almost a bunch of slaves.</p> + +<p>"So, eventually, they had a revolt. It had gotten to be a large +outfit, since they were willing to accept anybody who would be a slave—and +there are always lots of those—so the revolt was extensive +and bloody. That's not typical of the clans. Not of the better ones; not +of those that are really clans—and not empires. With any new idea +like the clans, you are bound to get some bad results. But do you hang +the good examples for the bad ones?" He sounded irritated.</p> + +<p>"Don't argue with me," Ricky said. "I'm just telling you what Graves +has in mind. Of course, actually, there's more to it than that. The thing +is, he took over Eltron Electric when it was practically on the rocks; +he salvaged it, built it up, made it what it is today. All by himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +Using his own wits and his own guts. It all came out of him. Oh, sure, +he had help—some pretty able guys were in with him. But they were +the same type: Each of them knowing his own value, depending on +himself and not on any others. They worked together because that +was where their self-interest lay. A bunch of Free-Traders in the best +tradition of the word. Free-Trading's been their life-blood; naturally +none of them are apt to welcome the clan idea, and Graves least +of all."</p> + +<p>"Do they really think they can hold out indefinitely?" Tom asked. +"They must know they are being left behind, that they're getting out +of step."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," Ricky said. "Graves says that the world is off on a +cock-eyed binge with this clan idea, and I'm quoting his words. He +figures it's going to come to its senses, eventually. At least that's +what he says; what he really believes deep down in his heart, I don't +know. Maybe, underneath, he's convinced; maybe if you could get him +to admit the truth, he knows he has to accept us if he's going to +survive. Maybe that's why he's letting Marcia twist his arm; it +could be."</p> + +<p>Tom nodded. "In any case, we're in the middle," he said. He looked +sardonic. "Caught between the hammer of present reality and the +stubborn anvil of Graves." He finished off his drink. "What do you +propose to do?"</p> + +<p>"I propose to let Graves pay our bills, in spite of his opinions," +Ricky said. "And if that includes Marcia, why I don't really mind. One +has to put up with some inconveniences; and when the inconvenience +is a dish like her, I don't really mind at all." He leered in an exaggerated +way.</p> + +<p>Tom chuckled. "Yeah," he said, "I know what you mean." He became +serious. "But that's my point; the girls will hardly take this point of +view."</p> + +<p>"They don't seem to object particularly," Ricky said. "Why should +they? They're only six to our seven—so Marcia will just round things +out, nice and even-like.</p> + +<p>"Marcia, as you say, is a 'dish'," Tom agreed "and I can't quite see +her rounding anything out to make it come out even. I think you're a +damned optimist. Besides, I'm not so sure the girls don't mind. They +joke about it, yes, but some of the jokes bite. I think maybe they +hope they won't have to object. Afraid we'll call them jealous. After +all, what would you do in their place?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know," Ricky said. "But if that is a factor, then I think +they ought to argue their own case. Where are they?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Betsy and Rita have taken the kids down to the beach. Sandy +is out shopping for food. She figured she'd go down to Mark's Place, +so she'll be a bit late. Esther went over to see about shoes; she thinks +she may get a better bargain at a place she heard of down the line. +Polly and Joan went in with the boys to work; they're trying to wind +up the contract with Midland by this week. Decided there's no point +in stringing it out. Get it wound up and then take a vacation. I've been +over at Midland finishing up the legal details. Also had to go downtown +this morning to see the Income Tax people. When do you suppose +they're going to get a system set up that's reasonable for the clans?" +His voice betrayed a chronic irritation.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> RICKY shrugged. "When the clans carry most of the votes. The +whole idea of a clan is too new in society for the law to have +caught up with it. If the clans had a majority, they could force things—and +eventually they will. But not yet. Particularly, since the most vocal +part of the non-clan majority considers us immoral. Destroyers of the +family, mockers of the sacrament of marriage."</p> + +<p>The sarcasm was heavy in his voice. "Someday, they'll see we've +saved the home and the family—not destroyed it. We've brought it +into line with the social facts of today, rescued it from the perennial +frustrations that filled the divorce courts. Aye, and the insane asylums, +too. Damn few people used to get out of marriage anything like what +they ought to. Take the average Free-Trader and Monogamist: His +family is just one small part of his life. Separate, distinct. It should +be a solid rock on which he can build his life outside. But it isn't, +except maybe in a very rare case. Mostly, it's just a thing that occupies +some certain hours of his day, with no relation to the rest. He is left +without an anchor. And the girl? She is boxed into a small sphere of +activity, bound by her duties to an inexorable frustration of limited +horizons."</p> + +<p>He jumped up and started pacing up and down, gesturing with his +arms. "Is this the great and beautiful thing they want to preserve? Or +will they admit the realities? Will they admit the truths of anthropology? +Realize that the idea of the family unit has had real meaning only +when it has been the economic unit as well? And that in the modern +world the economic unit is larger—and, therefore, the family must +be, too? In the modern world, the economic unit is a team of workers;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +therefore, the family must be large enough to include the team. What's +immoral about this? It gives the family meaning in the modern world, +and it gives the individual something to live by. It gives him a reality +that he could not have alone."</p> + +<p>"Clear, concise, and possibly illuminating if I didn't know it already," +Tom smiled at the younger one's missionary instincts. "Why don't +you tell Graves this? Maybe we would not have to absorb his daughter."</p> + +<p>"What do you think I've been telling him?" Ricky asked. He looked +a trifle abashed, knowing that his enthusiasm had run away with him. +"He hit the ceiling when Marcia first started talking up the clan idea, +vowed that no daughter of his would ever disgrace the family name. I +managed to talk him out of that, anyway. But, I'm no magician; he's +still a Free-Trader of the old school. So my convincing him meant that +he was willing to use his power to get his daughter what she wants. +Which is us."</p> + +<p>"In other words," Tom said, "you talked him out of thinking the +clans are immoral, so he decided to <i>buy</i> one." He bit the sentence off.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," Ricky admitted; "that's one way of looking at it. But +let's look at it another way. The rules of the clan are that a new +member is provisional for a year. Any time in that year, we can always +throw her out if we have to. And even afterwards—when we can no +longer throw her out, and it could be we won't want to—there'll +still be no reason why we should have to bow down to the old man. +We can walk out on him, at least, any time. If Marcia doesn't want +to come, then she can stay behind; and neither Graves nor anybody +else can stop us."</p> + +<p>"It sounds good," Tom said. "It's just that I don't believe it. The +strength of the clan is its independence. We thirteen, and our children, +against the world. One unit, free, and in a sense, complete. If we let +anyone else decide who shall be in us and who shall not, then we are +less free by that much. And by that much we are less strong. Maybe +I'm a stubborn fool, Ricky, but that's the way I see it."</p> + +<p>Ricky leaned against the porch railing. His face was thoughtful. "I +wish I could convince you," he said. "The trouble is, I haven't got +time. Graves has to have his answer now, to plan his production. Anyway, +Marcia's getting restless; I think I'll have to tell them yes or no +tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow?" Tom looked startled. "What are you going to do? +Caucus it tonight?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ricky nodded. "I have to, Tom. It isn't that I want to bull it +through you. But if we don't get a vote on it tonight, then we've given +up. Graves has said he has to know, so he can plan; we can't keep it +in the air any longer. And I think the clan has a right to vote on the +problem." He looked apologetic.</p> + +<p>Tom sighed. "We seem to have agreed to disagree," he said. "So +maybe it's better to get the showdown over with." He got up, walked +over to Ricky, and punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Let's break +clean and come out fighting at the bell." And he walked back inside +the house to his room.</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>2</h2> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> IT WAS only a short time later that Tom heard the sound of tires +on the drive. He went out to find that it was Sandy in the beach-wagon. +The name Sandy fitted her, even if it was short for Sandra. +Blonde, with something of a tendency to freckle, she had a quick +alertness that was almost tomboyish. Almost, but not quite, for she +was very much a woman.</p> + +<p>"Need help?" Tom asked, giving her a quick kiss and moving to the +back to start unloading the bundles. "How did you make out?"</p> + +<p>"Not bad," she said; "In fact, it was fun. I don't know whether it +was worth it or not; it's a long drive down there. Maybe I saved enough +to pay for the gasoline. But they're more used to dealing with the clans. +The stores around here play both sides of the fence. Much more +congenial atmosphere down there."</p> + +<p>Tom could guess what she meant. The clans, buying in semi-quantity +for their groups of people, could demand and get preferential treatment +of a sort. But a number of the stores that still wanted the business +of private individuals—many of whom were bitterly anti-clan—did +their best to balance the issue with a lack of courtesy. He looked at +the girl with sympathy but she seemed cheerfully unconcerned. She +was, he thought, the kind to take that kind of treatment without a +murmur of complaint, and without giving any overt recognition to it. +And yet she was also the kind to feel it deep inside her.</p> + +<p>When the car was unloaded, they sat down at the kitchen table to +rest a moment. Tom sat back in his chair, eyes brooding. It was not +for several minutes that he noticed that Sandy was watching him, her +chin on her palms, her elbows on the table. And he knew that she knew +he was troubled and was waiting to see if he wanted to talk about it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +"Ricky thinks we ought to decide about Marcia, tonight," he said, +his voice sounding blunt even to himself.</p> + +<p>"You mean whether we should take her in or not?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," Tom answered. "He thinks we should, whether she fits or +not—just so we can get the contract with Eltron Electric. Because +otherwise we would have to pull up stakes and go take that thing at +Universal."</p> + +<p>"And you don't think we should?" she prompted.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," he said. "It seems to me like we'd be selling out if +we did that. Maybe I'm being a purist about it, but damn it all...."</p> + +<p>"But you can stop it easily," she said. "According to the charter, a +vote of membership has to be unanimous. All you have to do is say no."</p> + +<p>"Yeah—well, that's true," he said. "Only this is more than that. +That rule is just about ordinary members, the idea being to keep +feuds out. If somebody isn't going to be able to get along with a new +member, why let's find it out at the start. And, since the old member +is more important than the new one, let's block the new one.</p> + +<p>"But this thing's different; this isn't just a case of whether she's +compatible or not. I have nothing against Marcia, personally; I just +don't like this way of doing business. But this ties up our whole future, +economic and everything else. If I blackball her, I'm blackballing our +contract with Eltron; and matters of contract, or economics, or whatall, +are not supposed to be subject to veto. No ... I won't vote against +her all by my lonesome. If the clan is pretty well split, maybe I will +pull a technicality. But I won't just up and blackball her all by myself, +just because I think I'm right."</p> + +<p>Sandy was thoughtful. "What about this job at Eltron," she asked, +finally. "Can we swing it? It's bigger than the job here at Midland, +and bigger than the one at Universal. Is it too big?"</p> + +<p>"No," Tom said. "We can handle it. Oh, we may have to hire a few +private citizens, but we can do most of it ourselves. If we can average +nine people a week, we'll be all right. And we can' do that if we leave +two to take care of the kids, one to manage the house and cook and all, +and one to fill in, taking care of other outside matters, having babies, +and whatnot. But even if we can only average eight ourselves, it is still +reasonable with a couple of private citizens. No, I'm not afraid of the +job."</p> + +<p>"It'll be funny working alongside of private citizens," Sandy said, +musingly; "I hope we pick better ones than those guys at Sanford +Radio."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> TOM laughed. "We will," he said. "The trouble there was that we +didn't hire them; the company did. And the guys were good enough—they +just didn't like the clans."</p> + +<p>"That's one way of putting it," Sandy said. "They just had some preconceived +ideas as to what kind of woman would join a clan. Happens +they were wrong, but it took a bit of jiujitsu to convince them."</p> + +<p>"Well, that won't happen here," Tom said. "We'll be hiring them +ourselves, and we'll probably be able to pick up all we want from the +other assembly clans. Times are rough all over, and they're not too +loaded with work, either. Of course, the rest of the plant is another +matter; but I don't think there'll be any open trouble. Things have +gotten a little better since those early days. People know a little more +about the clans, even if they don't approve."</p> + +<p>"So there is just the question of whether we want to do it, or not," +she said. He nodded but said nothing. "And you would much rather we +didn't want to.... Tell me, what's she like? I've only seen her the +couple of times that Ricky's brought her to lunch."</p> + +<p>"That's about all I have," Tom answered. "Oh, I've seen her out at +her old man's place a couple of times, too, but then I was working on +the old man. As far as I know, she is what she seems to be. Beautiful in +a way. A bit of a mantrap. Probably spoiled. I don't know. What did you +think of her?"</p> + +<p>"That's a damning sketch if I ever heard one," Sandy said. "I wonder +if that's all there is to her. Is she just a spoiled brat with a well-developed +body? Is that all she is? What's her background like? I mean +aside from money?"</p> + +<p>"Background?" Tom hesitated. "Well, she went through college, +somewheres or other. She's traveled in Europe a bit Generally circulated +around. Cultured, I guess you'd call it.</p> + +<p>"Certainly her old man knows what it's about. He's quite a character, +you know. Very dignified, very polished. Fine oak paneling in his +study. Lots of books, and he's probably read them, too. Quite a collection +of classical music, and he knows his way around it too—at least +he knows more about it than I do. The very picture of a cultured +gentleman. And it is with a perfectly gentlemanly manner that he tears +you apart into little pieces."</p> + +<p>"Oh?" Sandy raised her eyebrow. "What happened?"</p> + +<p>Tom smiled ruefully; "We had an argument." He shrugged. "The +clans versus Free-Trading. He has a fine and delicate hand with sarcasm. +No, I take that back. I don't know whether it was sarcasm or not;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +maybe he was just leading me out. Anyway, I came out of there feeling +as if I'd been wrung dry."</p> + +<p>He was silent a moment, and Sandy made no move to break his +thoughts. "The logical question here, of course, is to what extent this +makes me think the way I do. And maybe it does, I don't know. I'm +afraid of the guy; I got the feeling he knows exactly what he's doing +and why. And I think he may be too strong for us."</p> + +<p>"You think we might end up as his puppets?" Sandy said, her voice +neutral.</p> + +<p>"Something like that," Tom admitted. "Oh, I know that's probably a +foolish thought. In fact, now that I look at it, I know it is. The guy just +impressed me; frankly I came out feeling somewhat awed by him. I'm +not used to the feeling. I guess it's just that he comes from a background +that I don't know anything about."</p> + +<p>Sandy pursed her lips and nodded. There was a pixyish gleam to +her eyes as she got up and started towards the door. As she left she +asked him: "And Marcia, is she anything like her old man?" She was +out the door and gone before he realized what her question meant.</p> + +<p>He sat there, staring after her for five full minutes before he got +up and started to put the food away.</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>3</h2> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> HE HAD put the food away and prepared himself a cup of coffee, +when he heard the clatter of the bus. That would be Betsy and +Rita with the kids, he knew, back from the beach. By the noisy +commotion, he gathered they had enjoyed themselves, with no more +than the usual number of cuts and bruises and hurt feelings. Eleven +kids, the oldest eight years, could not conceivably go to the beach for +the afternoon without some crises; but, at least, they seemed to have +gotten back in a happy condition.</p> + +<p>Tom smiled as he thought of them, picturing the throng, but he made +no move to join them. When Sue, aged four, stuck her head in the door +and grinned to see him there, he just said "Hi." This she took as an +invitation, and hopped on in to begin telling him in disconnected fragments, +all about the day. He let her ramble for a moment until the first +flush of her enthusiasm was over. Then, with a kiss on the forehead +and a poke in the stomach, he sent her out, suggesting that she tell him +all about it later.</p> + +<p>When she had gone, he sat there, thinking about the girl. Sue was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +very much like her mother, Polly. Dark-haired with light bones, she +had the quick and easy movements of a born dancer. And her eyes +sparkled with dancing lights. Sue, like Polly, was a born flirt, but a flirt +out of sheer interest in life. She was so much the image of her mother, +both in face and build and also temperament, that he wondered who +her father was. Certainly there was not much of any of the men +visible in her.</p> + +<p>What would Marcia mean to the children? With a start he came back +to his problem. There was nothing apparent of the maternal instinct in +her. But then, neither was there in Joan, either; and Joan was a perfectly +good member of the clan.</p> + +<p>Oh, sometimes they laughed at Joan for being much too serious +about her part. She was the artist and the self-acknowledged arbiter of +good taste, the monitor of the proper way. She was the gracious hostess +when visitors were at hand. To her the clan had conceded the job of +deciding the arrangement of the rooms. To her the girls turned for +advice in how to dress. And her advice was good. With some real +though limited talent as an artist, she had the touch of instinct, the +sense of rightness, and the drive to be unsatisfied with anything but +what was right. And she, conceding that children were necessary and +even desirable in their places, still deplored the havoc they could +wreak. She was not a good manager of the children.</p> + +<p>But then, he thought, why should she be? The clan had other purposes +than to raise children; that was one of the important needs the +clan fulfilled, but it was only one. In fact, it was one of the strengths +of the clan that the different members had separate talents they could +bring to it. Each with his own value, each unique. With the separateness +that let them complement each other to form the whole. This was +their strength.</p> + +<p>No, Marcia was not greatly maternal, certainly—but this was not +important. But he could not quite decide what was important.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> HE WAS still puzzling over it when Betsy bounced into the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Whew," she said, giving him a light kiss, "what a day!" She +pulled out a mirror from her pocket and looked into it. "I think I'm +going to have a red nose. That sun was bright and hot; I hope none of +the kids got too much. But they <i>will</i> keep dashing into the water, and +it's hard to catch them again to get them to put their shirts on. I think +Timmy's back is a little red, but I guess it won't be too much." She +collapsed violently into a chair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tom smiled at her. It was refreshing to see anyone who could be +tired in such a dynamic way. "You look as if you had a day," he said.</p> + +<p>"We did," she said, looking happy. She heaved herself up to get a +cup and saucer and to pour herself a cup of coffee. Then, sitting down, +she looked at him. "And what have you been doing?" she asked him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, buzzing around town," he told her. "And brooding."</p> + +<p>"Brooding?" she asked. He explained to her what the situation was, +telling her that they must soon decide what to do about Marcia—whether +to accept her as a member of the clan or not. He told her that +only by accepting the girl could they get the job at Eltron Electronics +that they wanted. And he told her Ricky's thinking that the thing must +be decided that night, and warned her of the coming caucus. The words +boiled out of him; when he was through, he slumped down, suddenly +tired.</p> + +<p>Betsy cocked her head and studied him. There was a soft look in +her eyes of the sort she usually saved for the children. "Why has it +upset you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Upset me?" Tom seemed surprised. "Well, yes, I suppose it has. +Sue was in here, and I got to thinking of the kids. What this'll mean to +them."</p> + +<p>"The kids?" She looked surprised. "Why should this mean anything +to the kids? Anything special, that is?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if we turn her down, we got to take the Universal job," he +explained. "And that means moving. Moving's always hard on kids. And +if we accept her, then the kids'll have a lot to do with her."</p> + +<p>"I assume she won't roast them live over the coals," Betsy said. "And +I think the kids are tough enough to take almost anything else." She +snickered. "You don't see them as much as I do. If you did you'd know +they were a lot tougher than they look, the delicate little things!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not talking about that," he said. "I don't expect her to bat +them around or anything. But I just wonder how they'll take to <i>her</i>."</p> + +<p>She shrugged. "If they don't like her, they can always come to me. +Or Rita. Or Polly or Esther or Sandy. Or even Joan, providing they +don't mess up the livingroom while they do it. The kids will get along, +don't worry.</p> + +<p>"As a matter of fact," she went on, "that's a funny thing. One of the +chief arguments against the clans is that it doesn't single out a man +and a woman as the parents of a child. This is supposed to do something +to the child—make him insecure, somehow. But as far as I can +see, it makes him more secure. In the first place, he's got that many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +more parents to choose from, and he can usually find one at least in +the mood and with the time to give him what he needs at the moment. +Then, too, the clan can afford to have one or two of its people completely +concentrated on the children at any given time. And that job +can get sort of passed around so nobody gets fed up with it.</p> + +<p>"Or, rather, if a person does get fed up with the kids, she doesn't +have to force herself to be halfway decent to them; she doesn't have +to have anything to do with them at all until she gets over her blues. +So most of the time, the kids get the kind of attention they ought to get, +and they get it from a person who's in the mood to give it. Personally, +I think that they're a lot better off under this system, and you'd have +a hard time telling me any different."</p> + +<p>"They do look healthy and happy," he said.</p> + +<p>"They sure do." She looked proud and satisfied. "I'd hate to be the +one to try to keep up with them if they were any healthier. Or any +fuller of ideas."</p> + +<p>"That's why I hate to risk it," he told her. "Everything's going so +well now.... The kids are so obviously.... But I take it you don't think +there's much risk?"</p> + +<p>"No." Her tone was incisive. "Any storms she can cook up, the kids +can stand better than you and I can."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you're right," Tom conceded. "But what about yourself? You +think she is apt to make 'storms'?"</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> BETSY shrugged. "There's always storms when you take in a new +member. You have to adjust; and, even more, the new one has +to adjust. And adjustments aren't ever easy. I remember when I came +in. I had some bad times—and I was brought up in a clan, too; I knew +what I was getting into. But still there were times when it hurt. When +I felt lost. When I didn't know what you people were like. When I felt +like a stranger, not knowing your private jokes and unconscious language. +When I felt out of place and alone.</p> + +<p>"There were plenty of times when this happened, but I stuck it out. +And I learned. I learned what made you people tick, and why you did +some of the things you did. I grew into being a part of you. Now I am +one of the clan, legally, socially, and in my inmost self.</p> + +<p>"That's <i>my</i> story. Marcia will have a lot harder time; she doesn't +even know what a clan is. She's not only never been a part of one, but +the people she has been with have sneered at them, and made no effort +to understand. She hasn't even been able to get along with one husband;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +she's going to have a hard time learning to get along with seven. +Not to mention six co-wives. Chances are she's been spoiled, made the +center of things without due cause. She was an only child, wasn't she? +She's going to have it awfully tough."</p> + +<p>"Do you think she can take it?" Tom asked.</p> + +<p>"Not knowing the lady, that's guessing too hard," Betsy answered. "I +think it's possible that she can learn. And maybe it's not entirely against +her that she doesn't know anything about the clans except what's +wrong. She'll soon find out she doesn't know a thing, and then she can +start from scratch—learn like the kids do. Maybe that's easier than +the unlearning of the 'almost-right' that people like me have to do. At +least she's got no preconceived ideas that will stand more than a day +or two of actual experience." She shrugged.</p> + +<p>"The thing that I'm worried about," Tom said, "is that she may be +able to split us—divide us up into factions and set us against each +other. I hope she can't, but what happens if she does?"</p> + +<p>"Then we split," Betsy answered. "But so what? I don't think she +can do it; but even if she can, so what? I wouldn't want it to happen +but it wouldn't be a disaster. We'd all land on our feet somewhere. I +know I'd head out for the nearest clan and I'd get into that clan just +as soon as I could. When I got into it, and got accepted as a real part +of it, then I'd think of the rest of this as just an unhappy incident. A +tragedy, but not the end of life. But as far as I'm concerned, this is too +remote a possibility to worry about."</p> + +<p>"You are quite unafraid, aren't you?" Tom said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered simply, her voice calm and cool. "I'm not afraid +of Marcia—not of what she can do to the kids or to myself. I think the +kids are strong enough emotionally to stand anything. And I think I am, +too."</p> + +<p>There was a quiet confidence in her voice. She reached out and +patted his hand. Then, getting up, she started to get out the food for +the evening meal while Tom continued to sit there, thinking. And when +Tom got up and walked out, she still said nothing but looked after +him with a look that had something warm and tender in it.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> AS HE walked through the livingroom, he saw Rita stretched out on +the couch. He looked questioningly at her wondering if the day had +been too hard for her, being, as she was, six months along towards the +twelfth child of the clan. But she smiled at him and shook her head. +"Don't be worried," she said; "I'm just a little tired but not too much."</p> + +<p>"Anything I can get you?" he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, thanks," she said, her voice cheerful. "I just need to get off my +feet."</p> + +<p>He started to say something about Marcia, but then stopped. What +good would it do? he asked himself. Rita, with the instinct of birth +close upon her, was too absorbed in herself and the life she carried. The +problem, to her, would exist only if it threatened herself or her child. +And by all the signs, she felt no threat. Her calm acceptance of the +daily life, her quiet absorption in the now and here, measured a confidence +in the clan that was complete.</p> + +<p>No, to talk of Marcia could do no good. If he succeeded in impressing +her with the importance of the problem, it would be because he +made her realize that Marcia was a threat. It would be at the expense +of her feeling of security, the security that let her wait her time out in +calm acceptance and assurance. And if he did not persuade her of the +problem's significance, she could not contribute to it. Under normal +circumstances, she was not one to deal with abstract questions. She +had an acute awareness of personalities that transcended logic. She had +an instinct, a sixth sense, almost, for responding to the needs of others. +But she was not a philosopher, and neither could she handle abstract +problems.</p> + +<p>And so he smiled at her and told her: "Call me if you do want anything. +I'll be outside." And he passed on through and out the door.</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>4</h2> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> AS HE walked out the door, he saw, coming in the gate, the rest of +the clan returning from work. The children were rushing to meet +them, whooping their greetings. The whole scene was one of +happy chaos. Out in front was Paul, his round, cherubic face beaming +with delight. He bent down to whisper something in little Randy's ear +which sent that boy off shrieking with delight. Behind him was Sam, +Polly, and Herb.</p> + +<p>Sam's face was dark and his eyes deepset. Generally, he looked sullen +and dour. But those who knew him, could also see the twinkle in his +eye and knew that he had a subtle and penetrating sense of humor. The +kids liked him, and both Alice and Ken, aged five and six, were crowding +around him now while he gravely asked them something.</p> + +<p>Polly, beside him, was peering around delightedly, sparkling with +the general excitement. Her eyes were darting all around looking, Tom +knew, not for any one thing or person, but simply to absorb it all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>On Polly's other side was Herb. The mechanic of the crowd, he had +an eager interest that was somewhat boyish. His happiest moments +were spent under the car or bus with his face all smeared with grease. +With people, he lacked the touch that he had with machines. There +was an awkwardness, almost an uncouthness, that would have been +tragic, Tom thought, anywhere but in the haven of a clan.</p> + +<p>Behind them, Joan walked with Mike. Her face was still earnest and +intense, and Tom thought that she was probably expounding some +theory of the art. He felt sorry for Mike, but, then, Mike was a chap +that invited that sort of thing. He seemed to be chronically unable to +express a disinterest in anything and, as a consequence, was the one +on which most of them poured out their troubles and their ideas. But, +then, perhaps he was interested. Maybe he was interested in the people +even when he was not in the ideas.</p> + +<p>Finally, there came Esther and Pete. Esther was the feminine organizer +of the clan. She it was that planned the details of what should +happen when, and who should do what. The others were just as glad +to leave these matters to her. She had a passion for fairness that made +them trust her distribution of the chores. And she had the will to get +things organized, the wish to see things settled long in advance. Tom +saw she was talking earnestly to Pete; he wondered what project she +was working on.</p> + +<p>Pete was the philosopher of the clan. With a somewhat pixyish +mind, he was afraid of no thoughts, and took nothing at all for granted. +As to whether he was a really deep thinker, or just one who liked to +play with logic and semantics, Tom did not know. Perhaps it was too +soon to tell. Philosophers are not made at the age of twenty-five, +but only when they have lived their lives, and are ready to profit +fully by its experience. At the moment, Tom saw, he was looking +rather bored by Esther, and seemed to welcome the onrushing crowd +of kids.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> TOM looked at them all. Whom should he talk to? he wondered. Or +should he talk to any of them? There was no longer in him the +same drive about the problem. In some way he did not yet understand, +his talks with Sandy and with Betsy had boiled off some of the urgency. +And yet, the problem still was urgent. Ricky still meant to bring it up +at caucus, and Tom still had to know what his own response would be. +It was with something of a shock that he realized that he did not know—but +the fact was that he did not. And he did not even know why he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +uncertain. The problem had seemed so clear when Ricky had first +mentioned it; but now, now it was not clear at all.</p> + +<p>Tom waited until they all had washed off the dust of the road and +combed their hair and changed their dresses. In the meantime, he +mixed them cocktails ready for their return. And when they had once +more assembled, he let them trade around the items of the day's news. +It was not until he saw Pete wander off to gaze out the window at the +gathering sunset that he made any move.</p> + +<p>When he saw that Pete was alone, he went over to stand beside him. +"What do you know, Pete," he said.</p> + +<p>Pete turned to face him. "Hi, Tom. You look puzzled tonight. Not +your usual fatherly self. What's up?"</p> + +<p>Tom shrugged. "It's this Marcia business that's bothering me," he +said. "Ricky's going to caucus it tonight, and I been trying to figure it +out."</p> + +<p>"What's his rush?" Pete asked. "Or is Ricky just being impetuous?"</p> + +<p>"No," Tom said. "There's a reason for it. Graves has got to make his +arrangements soon, so he's been putting the pressure on for us to decide +quick. If we don't decide tonight, we are apt to be left out."</p> + +<p>"Oh?" Pete's voice was noncommittal.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of it?" Tom asked. "Should we take her in or +not?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," Pete stalled. "The reasons why we should are +pretty obvious. It will solve some of our worries if we do. What are the +reasons why we shouldn't?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Tom said. "It just seems wrong to me. Seems like +we'd be giving up too much of our ... well, our ideals. Maybe I'm being +old fashioned, but it just seems immoral to me, somehow."</p> + +<p>Pete leaned against the window frame. "You mean it's like marrying +a woman for her money? Sort of gigolo-like?"</p> + +<p>Tom nodded. "Yes, I guess that's it," he said. "I suppose what's +bothering me is that the idea of the clan is to make the family the +same thing as the economic unit; but this seems like it's being too damn +economic about it, too mercenary. It just doesn't seem right."</p> + +<p>Pete said nothing for a long moment while he meditated. "Well, +that's one way of looking at it," he said, finally. "But on the other hand, +maybe you got to stop and think this thing through. Why is it bad to +marry a woman for her money? It occurs to me that a monogamistic +marriage of that sort is bad—and I think it probably <i>is</i> bad—because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +it inevitably leads to living a lie. You got to fool the woman, because +otherwise she doesn't get anything out of the marriage. If the marriage +is to mean anything, both the man and the woman have got to get out +of it some sense of belonging; that's what the marriage is for. Now the +man may get the belonging, the security, from the money. But the +wife—she can't get anything out of it unless he can fool her. She's +already got the money, so that doesn't mean anything to her; and she's +got what the money can buy.</p> + +<p>"Unless he can fool her into thinking that he really loves her for +herself alone, she doesn't get anything at all out of it. So, he's got to +fool her. And the worst of it is that, if he doesn't succeed, she'll walk +out on him with her money; then he'll lose what he's after, too—so +he's got good reason for being afraid. The situation is necessarily unstable; +it's almost bound to lead to grief of one kind or another. So, +that kind of a marriage is bad."</p> + +<p>"Why's this any different?" Tom asked.</p> + +<p>"For one thing, because we can't live a lie," Pete said. "Living a lie +of that sort requires great concentration and continuous effort. With +the clan, no one person can concentrate on any one other. The lie, if it +ever got started, would be a very short-lived one; and I don't think it +would ever get started. Not only is it pretty obvious when a new girl +is added to a clan, that we can't all be so desperately in love with her; +it isn't necessary. A person joins the clan. She's getting a new way of +life, and a whole new group of friends. Until she's been in the clan +a while, these are not more than friends; it takes time really to integrate +a person into a clan. But, at least they are friends—people who will +help you to stand against the world.</p> + +<p>"So she does get something out of the clan. She gets a sense of belonging, +and it doesn't depend on any one person but on the group-structure +of the clan. The clan is there to belong to, regardless of any +one individual. But with a monogamistic marriage, the structure is lost +when either person pulls out. So this thing means that, in the first place, +the clan can't live a lie, and, in the second, that there is no need for +the lie, anyway. Finally, this means that the situation is quite different +from a monogamistic marriage for money. Even if, by chance, the thing +is unstable, there is still no reason for fear."</p> + +<p>"You think this thing's all right, then?" Tom asked.</p> + +<p>"Didn't say that," Pete smiled. "I don't think it's particularly immoral, +but that doesn't say it's all right; I don't know. I haven't really thought +it out. But what I am saying is that you can't just take over the old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +ethics into the clan. We got to create a new code and we got to start +from the bottom."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right," Tom said. He stared thoughtfully out the +window for a moment. Then he shrugged and turned away. "But it +doesn't help much," he added to himself as he wandered toward the +dining room.</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2>5</h2> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> IT WAS after supper, when the dishes had all been washed and the +children packed off to bed, that the clan gathered in the livingroom. +They had chatted for a short time, but all fell silent when +Ricky got up. He went to the mantlepiece and, turning, announced: "I +find that there are problems before the clan that require the mature +consideration of the clan. I therefore request a caucus." The words were +the ritual of the process, established through long custom, and the +clan's by-laws.</p> + +<p>Tom stood up and, with some ostentation, counted the people present. +He then announced: "I find that there is present the full membership +of the clan that is adult, and that has been accepted into responsibility +for the clan. Also, there are no strangers present. I believe you may call +a caucus." He sat down.</p> + +<p>"We have the word of Tom," Ricky said. "Does anyone doubt that +I may now call a caucus?" He looked around carefully. "Since no one +seems to have a doubt, I do now declare that the clan is assembled in +caucus, and ask Sandy to operate the recorder." Sandy reached over +to a box sitting on a table and flipped a switch. She spoke into a microphone, +giving the date and time, and then announced that the recorder +was on.</p> + +<p>Paul bounced up out of his chair. "What is the purpose of this caucus?" +This, too, was ritual.</p> + +<p>"I have called this caucus," Ricky said, "to ask the clan to consider +the application for membership of Marcia Graves. It is my opinion that +this question must be decided now, since various collateral problems of +some urgency will be determined by our decision on this matter. Does +anyone question this, or feel that the matter should not be considered +at this time for any reason?" Although this was part of the established +pattern of a caucus, he looked at Tom since the latter could, if he +wished, protest the matter. Tom, however, smiled and barely shook his +head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Since there is no objection," Ricky continued, looking slightly relieved, +"I will summarize the situation as I see it.</p> + +<p>"Marcia has requested admission to the clan. She has been instructed +in what this means both legally, and—in so far as it can be described +or codified—socially. I do not think it can be said that she does not +know what she is doing. As regards the girl herself, all of you have met +her, I think, several times. This, of course, is not sufficient to determine +her fitness or compatibility. However, it is as much as can reasonably +be done before decision.</p> + +<p>"In accordance with the custom and the law, then, it is proposed that +she be admitted on a conditional basis for a period of one year. During +this time the clan may, by a majority vote in caucus, refuse her further +membership. At the end of one year, in the absence of such a vote, she +will be admitted to full membership and reciprocal obligations with the +clan established. Subsequent severance of this relation can be accomplished +only through the courts for due cause, and with due consideration +of the equity of both parties." His voice was almost a monotone as +he recited the formula.</p> + +<p>"In the present case," he continued, his voice coming alive, "there are +certain collateral problems. Marcia is the daughter of Mr. Graves, +president of Eltron Electric. Mr. Graves has long been a Free-Trader, +and Eltron Electric has never contracted with the clans. However, it is +clear that, if his daughter becomes a clanswoman, then he can no longer +maintain this aloofness towards the clan. Specifically, he has indicated +he will be willing to contract the Vord clan for a desirable piece of +work if we accept his daughter. It is my opinion that, if he can once +be persuaded to contract a functioning clan, then he will find this the +desirable way to operate, and will therefore stop opposing the clans. +He has had a continued history of labor-troubles, with strikes, absenteeism, +high turnover, and all the rest. Once he has tried the clans, he will +find they solve his worst headaches; he may well end up our best +friend, almost no matter what happens to Marcia."</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> RICKY continued, "It is this matter of Graves that makes this matter +urgent. Graves must decide in the next day or two how to handle +this piece of work. He will either give it to us, or set up his own supervisory +organization in this time. So we have to decide quickly. This, +however, is not the only basis on which we should decide. It is one +of them, and, I think, is a legitimately important one. But it is only one; +we must also consider Marcia and the clan. She is one whose background<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +is not in this direction. Her father, as I said, is rather vigorously Free-Trading +and Monogamistic. She is poorly prepared, psychologically, for +clan life.</p> + +<p>"And yet, she is sincere in wanting to join the clan. She has tried the +other life and had it fail her. She hopes, in the clan, to find what she +needs; and I think it quite possible that she may. I would not advocate +this unless I thought she had at least a reasonable chance of succeeding.</p> + +<p>"As regards the clan, this, I suppose, is something each of us will have +to decide for ourselves. Personally, I think she has a lot to contribute. +She is intelligent, well-educated, and she has had a lot of cultural experience +that none of us have had. I think she could add much to the +clan, if we can only integrate her in. But that 'if' is the question. And +each of you will have to decide yourself what is the answer to it.</p> + +<p>"But I think I have talked enough, here," he said. "I've told you my +own point of view. I think it is time to listen to the other side." He +looked at Tom, and waved his hand as if presenting him the floor.</p> + +<p>Tom got to his feet. He looked around at all these faces so familiar +to him. What should he say? he wondered. What did he want to say? +He did not know; he felt confused. And this surprised him.</p> + +<p>He looked at Ricky, and remembered their argument that afternoon. +What was Ricky really after? he wondered. Was he just asking the clan +to be opportunistic? To take Marcia in, just because of what the contract +could do for them?</p> + +<p>Or did he really think Marcia could fit? That she could learn to be a +real part of them? Or, again, as he remembered Ricky's comment that +she was a 'dish', had Ricky gone overboard about her? Was he so taken +by her looks and all that he was forgetting the clan? Not consciously, +of course; he would not, could not, do that consciously. But perhaps +unknowing? Using the other arguments as rationalization?</p> + +<p>Somehow, Tom doubted this. Ricky might not be too deep a thinker +but, Tom thought, he was generally extremely level headed. No, he +thought, Ricky was probably quite serious in thinking the clan should +accept Marcia, that she, in one way or another, would be good for +the clan. And that left only the question of whether he was right or not.</p> + +<p>Tom's eyes swung to Sandy, and he remembered his discussion with +her. And he remembered her parting shot which had asked him if he +was afraid of Marcia. If, perhaps, he did not resent her for being better +educated than he, and if, maybe, she might awe him. Was that it? he +wondered. Did he feel awe at her? He did of her father, certainly. He +remembered his talks with Mr. Graves, and remembered coming out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +of them feeling beaten and bedraggled—something of the way he might +feel towards Marcia.</p> + +<p>Yes, he had to admit it, there was that feeling there. She was from a +background he did not know and it did, in truth, somewhat scare him. +How much did this influence him? He did not know.</p> + +<p>He looked at Betsy, thinking of his talk with her. He remembered +how she had brushed aside any thought that the kids might be harmed +by Marcia. Was she right? Were the kids so stable emotionally that +nothing Marcia could bring into their world would seriously harm them? +Remembering Sue who had come to flirt with him with her four-year-old +eyes, it was not hard to believe that Betsy was right.</p> + +<p>Also there was Betsy's discussion of what might happen to Marcia. +Betsy had argued, Tom remembered, that Marcia might well learn to +fit, that she would find all the old rules by which she had lived outside +the clan so completely inadequate that she would be forced to learn +from scratch. Was that right, he wondered. After the initial period when +she would be learning how little she knew, would she then be able to +learn like a child, without undue prejudice, just because her background +was so different? It was possible, he had to admit.</p> + +<p>And finally he looked at Pete. Pete had argued that it was not +immoral to take in Marcia for economic reasons, that it was not like +marrying a girl for her money. Economics were an integral and avowed +part of the clan idea; and certainly the moralities of a clan had to be +different from those of a monogamist marriage. Yes, he had to admit +that he thought Pete's arguments sound. There was a different ethics +here. There had to be. What the true ethics would say of the case of +Marcia, he did not know. But at least he could not lightly dismiss it all +as simply and obviously immoral. It could not be that simple.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="cap extraspacetop"> AS TOM looked at them and pondered what he should say, the answer +suddenly came to him. It came to him like a revelation, and +he felt as if something inside of him had broken, something that had +hampered and restricted him, even without his knowing it. He felt free, +suddenly, free and exultant.</p> + +<p>He smiled at them and said: "When Ricky told me this afternoon, I +was afraid; as I talked to several of you since that time, I continued to +be afraid. And I was afraid when I came here tonight. But now, as I look +at your bright faces, I am no longer. You and I are the clan, and the +clan is stronger than anyone outside. Not Marcia, nor Graves, nor anyone +else can break it; only we can break it—only we, by losing faith<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +in it. I know now that I have not had the faith that I should have. The +faith in you, and in us, and in our relations to each other. As I stood +here looking at the faces of those I talked to, and remembering what +you said, it came to me how foolish I have been.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether this thing is right or not; I don't know what +its ultimate result will be. Maybe it will be good, and maybe bad. But +if it's bad, it won't be so bad as to be a disaster. The clan will survive +anything that may come of it, and may even be the stronger for +it. And if the results are good, why then of course everyone will be the +winner for it. No, I don't know what the results will be, but now I am +willing to face whatever they are without fear, and with confidence in +the clan.</p> + +<p>"My vote will be to accept Marcia." He sat down feeling quite at +peace with himself for the first time in what seemed like a long, long +time.</p> + +<p>As Ricky came forward to take the floor again, and ask for further +discussion, Tom looked around. Sandy, he saw, was looking at him with +a smile in her eyes. She approved, he knew. And so did Betsy. She was +watching him with a warm look that spoke her feelings. Pete was +staring off into space, no doubt following down some logical train.</p> + +<p>The others were each reacting in their separate ways. Paul was interested +but probably had no idea of what it really was about. Rita, in her +maternal self-absorption, was not really concerned. Polly was watching +him with sympathy for him as a man, but not with any basic understanding. +Sam, with his dead-pan face was hard to read. His penetrating +eyes saw deeply, but what they saw was hard to tell. Herb was looking +around him with awkward movements; he was probably feeling very +shy at the thought of a new member. Marcia, Tom thought, might well +be good for him, teach him a greater social finesse.</p> + +<p>And there was Joan, leaning forward intently, no doubt wondering +how Marcia would affect the artistic balance of the group. Mike was +looking interested but not concerned. And Esther was sitting back in +her chair with a vague smile on her lips. Probably, Tom thought with +a mental chuckle, she was already planning some suitable induction +ceremony.</p> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p>From here on out, Tom sensed, it was only a matter of formality. +Other discussion there would be; arguments, perhaps. But in the end, +Marcia would be admitted by unanimous vote. And he was content +that it be so.</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> + +<h2>Transcriber Notes:</h2> +<p class="center blockquotetn">This etext was produced from Science +Fiction Stories 1953. Extensive +research did not uncover any evidence +that the U.S. copyright on this +publication was renewed.</p> + +<p class="center blockquotetn extraspacetop"> +Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected.</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Way of Decision, by M. C. Pease + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAY OF DECISION *** + +***** This file should be named 37572-h.htm or 37572-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/5/7/37572/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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