To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [94]
“On Earth we have a saying that equates technology with magic, if that technology is far enough beyond the understanding or experience of ordinary people. I myself have seen more than one old story where an explorer, captured by primitive tribesmen, becomes their god by showing them the great magic he can perform with something as simple as a cigarette lighter.” “A what?” Counsellor Troi inquired.
Picard smiled briefly. “An antique fire-making device, small enough to conceal in the palm of your hand. Think of what that must have looked like to people for whom fire-making was long, hard labor!
How will the devices Ne’elat brings to Ashkaar be received if not as miracle machines? And then, what if some unprincipled personmNe’elati’an or perhaps an Ashkaarian who proves to be a quick study—chooses to take advantage of the people’s fear? No, the Ashkaarians will only be comfortable with higher technology if they are able to develop it for themselves, not have it handed to them.” “And how are we to do that, shiplord?” one of the Na’amOberyin demanded. “I have not seen the world these illspeakers come from, yet I can imagine the wonders they command. See, before us stands one of their number who walked among us for years!” He pointed at Avren, who had recovered his fallen hat and was once more twiddling the brim. “How did he come to our world if not by one of their own vessels?
If even now they can sail from world to world, how can we ever hope to equal their accomplishments on our own?” His fellow council members set up a hum of angry agreement.
“Their accomplishments stem from the same root as will your own,” Hara’el said confidently. “You are no less intelligent than they, and some among you are capable of greatness.” “That’s for certain,” Avren said. “Those were the ones we plucked away.” The glares of the Masra’et compelled him to add, “Well, it’s true! If she had had a head full of air instead of a mind full of curiosity, I’d never have stolen her off to Evr—Ne’elat.” He indicated Ma’adrys.
“Maybe that’s the answer,” Geordi mused aloud.
“What did you say, Mr. La Forge?” Picard asked.
“I was just thinking, the Ashkaarians who are still on Ne’elat—they’ve seen Ne’elatian technology up close, grown accustomed to it. If we could repatriate them, no one on Ashkaar would be all that surprised if they brought back a few… souvenirs.” “And what’s to stop them from setting themselves up as their people’s new gods?” “You know, sir, no one who’s handled a magician’s props ever sees his show with quite the same degree of belief afterward,” Riker remarked: “I trust you’ll explain that, COmmander?” “My suggestion is that we make sure the Ashkaarians see where their new technology comes from, or will come from once they develop it for themselves.
Their repatriated friends and relatives are a start, but remember, we’re not making them an outright gift.
We’re going to give them”mHis boyish grin lit up his face—”a kit. Build your own advanced technology, some assembly required.” “A kit?” Geordi repeated.
“A kit that’s a clue. The Ashkaarians and the Ne’elatians came here together, one people on one starship. That was the same ship that kept up communications between the two worlds until it was lost.
What do you think would happen if somehow the wreckage of that starship could be ‘found’ on Ashkaar?” “Commander, are you proposing that we create this convenient wreckage? Starfleet regulationsw” “We wouldn’t create it,” Riker said. “They would.” He smiled at the massed members of the Masra’et.
“It might work,” Udar Kishrit admitted. He looked at Ma’adrys. “And with you and the others there to help your people see that these devices are no great magic, my child, but things that they can come to understand, re-create, build for themselves, then given timere” “But my people cannot wait to reinvent all the work