The Foundations of Paradise - Arthur C. Clarke [49]
Then, at the height of his powers, he had experienced a religious conversion not unlike Pascal’s, though without so many morbid undertones. For the next decade, he had been content to lose himself in saffron anonymity, focusing his brilliant mind upon questions of doctrine and philosophy. He did not regret the interlude, and he was not even sure that he had abandoned the Order; one day, perhaps, this great stairway would see him again. But his God-given talents were reasserting themselves. There was massive work to be done, and he needed tools that could not be found on Sri Kanda—or even, for that matter, on Earth itself.
He felt little hostility, now, toward Vannevar Morgan. However inadvertently, the engineer had ignited the spark; in his blundering way, he, too, was an agent of God. Yet, at all costs, the temple must be protected. Whether or not the wheel of fate ever returned him to its tranquillity, Parakarma was implacably resolved upon that.
And so, like a new Moses bringing down from the mountain laws that would change the destinies of men, the Venerable Parakarma descended to the world he had once renounced. He was blind to the beauties of land and sky that were all around him. They were utterly trivial compared to those that he alone could see in the armies of equations that were marching through his mind.
23
Moondozer
“Your trouble, Dr. Morgan,” said the man in the wheelchair, “is that you’re on the wrong planet.”
“I can’t help thinking,” retorted Morgan, looking pointedly at his visitor’s life-support system, “that much the same may be said of you.”
The Vice President (Investments) of Narodny Mars gave an appreciative chuckle.
“At least I’m here only for a week. Then it’s back to the moon, and a civilized gravity. Oh, I can walk if I really have to; but I prefer otherwise.”
“If I may ask, why do you come to Earth at all?”
“I do so as little as possible, but sometimes one has to be on the spot. Contrary to general belief, you can’t do everything by remotes. I’m sure you are aware of that.”
Morgan nodded; it was true enough. He thought of all the times when the texture of some material, the feel of rock or soil underfoot, the smell of a jungle, the sting of spray upon his face, had played a vital role in one of his projects. Someday, perhaps even these sensations could be transferred by electronics. Indeed, it had already been done so, crudely, on an experimental basis, and at enormous cost. But there was no substitute for reality; one should beware of imitations.
“If you’ve visited Earth especially to meet me,” Morgan replied, “I appreciate the honor. But if you’re offering me a job on Mars, you’re wasting your time. I’m enjoying my retirement, meeting friends and relatives I haven’t seen for years, and I’ve no intention of starting a new career.”
“I find that surprising. After all, you’re only fifty-two. How do you propose to occupy your time?”
“Easily. I could spend the rest of my life on any one of a dozen projects. The ancient engineers—the Romans, the Greeks, the Incas—they’ve always fascinated me, and I’ve never had time to study them. I’ve been asked to write and deliver a Global University course on design science. There’s a textbook I’m commissioned to write on advanced structures. I want to develop some ideas about the use of active elements to correct dynamic loads—winds, earthquakes, and so forth. I’m still consultant for General Tectonics. And I’m preparing a report on the administration of TCC.”
“At whose request? Not, I take it, Senator Collins.”
“No,” said Morgan, with a grim smile. “I thought it would be—useful. And it helps to relieve my feelings.”
“I’m sure of it. But all these activities aren’t really creative. Sooner or later, they’ll pall—like this beautiful Norwegian scenery. You’ll grow tired of looking at lakes and fir trees, just as you’ll grow tired of writing and talking. You are the sort of man who will never be really happy, Dr. Morgan, unless you are shaping your universe.”
Morgan did not reply. The prognosis was much too accurate for comfort.