The Ice Moon Explorer
Page 7
“Us? You support this?”
“No, of course not. I think it’s a bad idea that literally won’t fly. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s a nice idea. I think it’s beautiful. It’s what our grandparents promised us, and our parents squandered. This wouldn’t be creating a new hope. It’s renewing one that was lost. It doesn’t get better than that.”
“I really have no idea where you stand on this.”
“You’re my boss. Where do you want me to stand on this? I do my best to talk you out of ideas that I don’t agree with. But if I can’t manage that, then I have to ask myself if I still want your money. Now while I’ve asked you questions, I’ve asked this one of myself. I know the answer. So now, I have one last question for you.”
“Well get on with it.”
“You yourself understand this will likely cost more than any single company or nation can afford. And, I have pointed out that the program would only appeal to a minority. This is however an influential minority, dominating the world’s resources. If it went forward, this program would divert those resources from the people who most need it. Are you alright with this?”
“Yes, yes I am.”
“Take your time with that answer, Daryl. You’re selling your soul here. And a lot of other people’s as well.”
“No, this is how I want to buy my soul, back. The world’s most desperate need hope. However, they are not the only people in the world. We need to invest in our future, but we must also be true to ourselves.”
“Are you sure you’re not really saying that you resent those people? The world’s most desperate? The ones who take resources away from how you’d like to see them used?”
“No, I don’t resent them. But without something to hope in, I think I would start to. I think my attitude speaks for many.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll call you up and see if you still feel this way. If you do, I’ll start drawing up some focus groups.”
“Focus groups?”
“Just in the US. We’ll do every state. If the data for the US is promising, then we can test in the rest of the Big Four.”
“Thank you Sam. Isn’t it a bit early to be doing focus groups though?”
“I don’t think so. The sooner we find out if people would support this or not, the better. It’ll determine the potential budget. Your engineers will want to some idea what that is.”
Spektorov sat back and sighed. “I’m glad you’re onboard with this.”
“We’ll see what you say tomorrow. I want you to have a good think. Would you do that for me?”
“I will.”
“That’s all I can ask.”
“Do you want to meet the team?”
“The designers of this – what’s it called?”
“We’ve been calling it the Pathfinder.”
“Yes, let’s go meet them. Maybe at least I can talk them out of that stupid name.”