Jupiter Read Free

color of a lion's, Grant realized. He was staring at Grant the way a lion watches a gazelle.
    'I mean, economically, socially—'
    'The world was a cesspool!' Beech snapped. 'Corruption everywhere. No moral leadership at all. The politicians gave in to every whim that any pressure group expressed. They took polls and strove for popularity, while the peoples' real problems festered.'
    'The gap between the rich and poor got wider,' Grant recited, recalling his high-school lessons.
    'And that led to terrorism, wars, crime,' Beech agreed, his voice rising slightly. 'Civil wars all over the world. Terrorists with biological weapons.'
    'The Calcutta Disaster,' said Grant.
    'Three million people killed.'
    'And Sao Paolo.'
    'Another two million.'
    Grant had seen the videos in school: piles of dead bodies in the streets, emergency workers in spacesuits to protect them from the lethal biological agents in the air.
    'Governments were paralyzed, unable to act,' Beech said firmly. 'Until the spirit of God was returned to the corridors of power.'
    'It was something of a miracle, wasn't it?' Grant muttered.
    Beech shook his head. 'No miracle. Hard work by honest, God-fearing people. We took control of governments all around the world, the New Morality, the Light of Allah, the Holy Disciples in Europe.'
    'The New Dao movement in Asia,' Grant added.
    'Yes, yes,' said Beech. 'And why were we successful in bringing moral strength and wisdom into the political arena? Because religion is a
digital
system.'
    'Digital?'
    'Digital. Religious precepts are based on moral principles. There is right and there is wrong. Nothing in between. Nothing! No wiggle room for the politicians to sneak through. Right or wrong, black or white, on or off. Digital.'
    'That's why the New Morality succeeded where other reform movements failed,' Grant said, with new understanding.
    'Exactly. That's why we were able to clean up the crime-ridden streets of our cities. That's why we were able to put an end to all these self-styled civil rights groups that actually wanted nothing less than a license to commit any sinful acts they wanted to. That's why we could bring order and stability to the nation — and to the whole world.'
    Grant had to admit that from what he'd learned of history the world was far better off with God-fearing, morally straight governments in power than it had been in the old, corrupt, licentious days.
    'We are doing God's work,' Beech went on, sitting even straighter than before, his hands splayed on the desktop, his eyes burning. 'We are feeding the poor, bringing education and enlightenment to all, even in the worst parts of Asia and Africa and South America. We have stabilized world population growth, without murdering the unborn. We are raising the standard of living for the poorest of the poor.'
    His mind spinning, Grant heard himself ask, 'But what does this have to do with Jupiter… and me?'
    Beech eyed him sternly. 'Young man, there comes a point in everyone's life when he must make the choice between good and evil. You've got to decide which side you're on: God or Mammon.'
    'I don't understand.'
    'The scientists out at Jupiter are up to something, something that they want to keep secret. We
must
find out what they are doing, and why they are trying to hide their actions from us.'
    'Shouldn't that be a task for the IAA?' Grant asked. 'I mean, they're the organization that directs the scientific research.'
    'We have representatives on the International Astronautical Authority.'
    'Then shouldn't you leave it to the IAA?'
    With an almost pitying expression, Beech said, 'The price of great power is great responsibility. In order to maintain stability, to make certain that no one — no scientist or revolutionary or terrorist madman — can threaten all that we've worked so hard to achieve, we must
control
everyone, everywhere.'
    'Control everyone?'
    'Yes. Those scientists at Jupiter think they are beyond our control. We must teach them otherwise.