The Fountains of Paradise

"I must talk that over with my accountants. Some of them still aren't convinced it was a good idea, even though the traffic growth rate is ahead of projection. But I keep telling them that money isn't everything – the Republic needed the Bridge psychologically and culturally, as well as economically. Did you know that 18 percent of the people who drive across it do so just because it's there, not for any other reason? And then they go straight back again, despite having to pay the toll both ways."

"I seem to recall," said Morgan dryly, "giving you similar arguments, a long time ago. You weren't easy to convince."

"True. I remember that the Sydney Opera House was your favourite example. You liked to point out how many times that had paid for itself – even in hard cash, let alone prestige."

"And don't forget the Pyramids."

The Sheik laughed. "What did you call them? The best investment in the history of mankind?"

"Precisely. Still paying tourist dividends after four thousand years."

"Hardly a fair comparison, though. Their running costs don't compare with those of the Bridge much less your proposed Tower's."

"The Tower may last longer than the Pyramids. It's in a far more benign environment."

"That's a very impressive thought. You really believe that it will operate for several thousand years?"

"Not in its original form, of course. But in principle, yes. Whatever technical developments the future brings, I don't believe there will ever be a more efficient, more economical way of reaching Space. Think of it as another bridge. But this time a bridge to the stars or at least to the planets."

"And once again you'd like us to help finance it. We'll still be paying for the last bridge for another twenty years. It's not as if your space elevator was on our territory, or was of direct importance to us."

"But I believe it is, Mr. President. Your republic is a part of the terran economy, and the cost of space transportation is now one of the factors limiting its growth. If you've looked at those estimates for the 50's and 60's…"

"I have – I have. Very interesting. But though we're not exactly poor, we couldn't raise a fraction of the funds needed. Why, it would absorb the entire Gross World Product for a couple of years!"

"And pay it back every fifteen, for ever afterwards."

"If your projections are correct."

"They were, for the Bridge. But you're right, of course, and I don't expect ANAR to do more than start the ball rolling. Once you've shown your interest, it will be that much easier to get other support."

"Such as?"

"The World Bank. The Planetary banks. The Federal government."

"And your own employers, the Terran Construction Corporation? What are you really up to, Van?"

Here it comes, thought Morgan, almost with a sigh of relief. Now at last he could talk frankly with someone he could trust, someone who was too big to be involved in petty bureaucratic intrigues – but who could thoroughly appreciate their finer points.

"I've been doing most of this work in my own time I'm on vacation right now. And incidentally, that's just how the Bridge started! I don't know if I ever told you that I was once officially ordered to forget it… I've learned a few lessons in the past fifteen years."

"This report must have taken a good deal of computer time. Who paid for that?"

"Oh, I have considerable discretionary funds. And my staff is always doing studies that nobody else can understand. To tell the truth, I've had quite a little team playing with the idea for several months. They're so enthusiastic that they spend most of their free time on it as well. But now we have to commit ourselves or abandon the project."

"Does your esteemed Chairman know about this?"

Morgan smiled, without much humour. "Of course not, and I don't want to tell him until I've worked out all the details."

"I can appreciate some of the complications," said the President shrewdly. "One of them, I imagine, is ensuring that Senator Collins doesn't invent it first."

"He can't do that – the idea is two hundred years old. But he, and a lot of other people, could slow it down. I want to see it happen in my lifetime."

"And, of course, you intend to be in charge… Well, what exactly would you like us to do?"

"This is merely one suggestion, Mr. President – you may have a better idea. Form a consortium – perhaps including the Gibraltar Bridge Authority, the Suez and Panama Corporations, the English Channel Company, the Bering Dam Corporation. Then, when it's all wrapped up, approach TCC with a request to do a feasibility study. At this stage, the investment will be negligible."

"Meaning?"

"Less than a million. Especially as I've already done 80 percent of the work."

"And then?"

"Thereafter, with your backing, Mr. President, I can play it by ear. I might stay with TCC. Or I might resign and join the consortium – call it Astroengineering. It would all depend on circumstances. I would do whatever seemed best for the project."

"That seems a reasonable approach. I think we can work something out."