Downbelow Station

What happened this far remote would have little political impact on Earth. What the visual media could not carry into living rooms, the general public could not long remain exercised about. Statistically, a majority of the electorate could not or did not read complicated issues; no pictures, no news; no news, no event.

“I frankly doubt that.”

“Ah. That is your privilege. But doubt doesn’t alter fact, sir.”

“You’ve behaved very highhandedly, Captain Mallory. Is that the custom out here?”

“The custom is, sir, that those who know a situation handle it and those who don’t watch and learn, or get out of the way.”

People ask where writers get ideas.

Take my advice. Some cool, clear night, drive to a country place where city lights don’t block your view. Turn off the car lights. Get out and look up. And see our real neighborhood.

She was a student of history, valued the lessons of it. The worst atrocities began with half-measures, with apologies, compromising with the wrong side, shrinking from what had to be done.