День триффидов
Conference
Thedeductionwasn’tterriblydifficult."
"H’m,"Isaid."Dependsonone’soutlook,Isuppose.Imustsay,itwouldn’thavestruckme.Doyou—"
"Sh-sh,"shetoldmeasaquietnesscameoverthehail.Atail,dark,purposeful-looking,youngishwomanhadrisen.Whileshewaited,sheappearedtohaveamouthnotmadetoopen,butlateritdid.
"Arewetounderstand,"sheinquired,usingakindofcarbon-steelvoice,"arewetounderstandthatthelastspeakerisadvocatingfreelove?"Andshesatdown,withspine-jarringdecision.
Dr.Vorlesssmoothedbackhishairasheregardedher.
"IthinkthequestionermustbeawarethatInevermentionedlove,free,bought,orbartered.Willshepleasemakeherquestionclearer?"
Thewomanstoodupagain.
"Ithinkthespeakerunderstoodme.Iamaskingifhesuggeststheabolitionofthemarriagelaw?"
"Thelawsweknewhavebeenabolishedbycircumstances.Itnowfallstoustomakelawssuitabletotheconditions,andtoenforcethemifnecessary."
"ThereisstillGod’slaw,andthelawofdecency."
"Madam.Solomonhadthreehundred—orwasitfivehundred?—wives,andGoddidnotapparentlyholdthemagainsthim.AMohammedanpreservesrigidrespectabilitywiththreewives.Thesearemattersoflocalcustom.Justwhatourlawsinthesematters,andinothers,willbeisforusalltodecidelaterforthegreatestbenefitofthecommunity.
