Page 91 - The Myth and the Moment

Evening

“‘If you, the inheritors of our remains, have developed along
parallel lines, then your situation may be similar. If your race became
unified prior to the invention of weapons of planetary destruction,
then you have at least escaped our fate. Nevertheless, you may have
done so under the banner of a dominant group’s mythology. If so,
then you have yet to come to terms with the moment; that is, your
flexibility may be impaired in ways you have not recognized. You
may have conquered and united all the members of your own species,
but other perils remain: self-destruction through ignorance or abuse
of your environment, and defeat by aggressors from outside your
present sphere of influence. Unless you have purged the false
mythologies from your minds, you will not recognize the moment of
danger when it arrives, and you will perish as we have.’”
“‘You should bring this message to the attention of your leaders
and to the awareness of your citizenry at large. Attempt to analyze
the content of your culture, the structure of your language, the basis
of your morality, the assumptions of your philosophy; all with this
principle in mind: the myth and the moment cannot coexist.
Intelligence is its own worst enemy when it builds an opaque shell
around perception. Finally, prepare your own version of this message
and place it where it can be found by the next race of thinkers. Good
luck!’”
“Good luck? Is that the end, is that all of it?”
“Yes.”
Boy, that was an effort.
“And that is what you have devoted your life to, putting this
speech on a piece of metal inside a time-capsule?”
“Yes.”
Getting dizzy again.
“I don’t know if I understand you better or worse than before.
What an incredible story: Nate Evangelino, author of Archimedes’
Lever, finally produces his masterpiece!”
“Look, Aestheria, it’s getting late. You promised to call Phil. Please
do it.”
She’s not laughing, not even smiling. Anyone who wants to marry
an actress deserves what he gets.
“All right, Nate; a deal’s a deal. Why don‘t you go sit down on the
sofa? It’s more comfortable than that kitchen chair.”

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