Montaro Caine A Novel - By Sidney Poitier Page 0,119
as well.” Not a flicker of a reaction appeared on the faces of Hargrove or his associates and clients; their confident smiles remained frozen on their faces.
Spreading his arms wide, as if to embrace everyone present, Caine continued. “Each of us has experienced the state of tranquillity, a peaceful state of being that comes at times of its own choosing. Very often it comes when we are most in need. It calms our thoughts and nurtures our body for a time—then passes on. We also know turmoil. We are frequently distressed by it, very often ravaged by it. Tranquillity and turmoil are, fundamentally, opposites, but in some configurations, they are as close as next-door neighbors. Though they can be light-years apart, they very often dwell in the same house.
“On this little planet we call home, we struggle for survival among an astonishing variety of other life-forms, among which we perceive ourselves to be the preeminent force—the force in charge. Is that not the way it is for us? We live here. We die here. Are we alone in this galaxy? In this universe? In this solar system, we seem to be the only human beings. But in the galaxy, in the universe itself, I believe there may well be countless other forms of life. Among us here today are signs suggesting that we are not alone in our galaxy. In fact, some of these life-forms might even be similar to ourselves. In a distant future, a thousand generations from now, if we are lucky enough to still exist, our science will provide the children of the future with answers to profound questions that have not yet been formulated by the greatest thinkers of our own time. Science must bear witness on our behalf; it must question our greatest thinkers, listen to them, challenge them, support them, and, most of all, demand answers from them. Science and education are the only forces that can, one day, take us to places not yet dreamed of. Under no circumstances should these coins be shut away in the dark reaches of steel vaults and iron safes, or on the shelves of museums or private collections before we have had a chance to uncover the purpose behind their existence. That is, of course, if they allow us to examine them.
“Here, now, is our offer to you, Hargrove, and to those you represent. Let us create a foundation to which the coins will be entrusted. If Kritzman, Richard, and Roland choose, they may all be on the board of that foundation, and so may Franklyn and Whitney. The board’s purpose will be to support the growth of science and education. Why science? None of us in this room knows for sure whether we human creatures are, or are not, alone in the universe. Only science can lead us to such answers. Only science, over time, will be able to take us to the nearest sun, point us toward the center of the galaxy, guide us within safe range of a black hole. If, on the other hand, we discover that we are alone in the galaxy, then science will be our best tool as well for learning how to cope and survive.
“As human beings, we are imperfect creatures who will spend our lives reaching for that better self we so often see in the mirrors of our minds. We are unable to accept the fact that the real self and the better self together are who we really are. We are unending opposites, made up of both good and evil; capable of love and hatred, kindness and cruelty. With the help of our better selves, we can invigorate the strength of this great country and, in turn, the world at large.”
Caine stopped speaking and a long silence prevailed. All eyes were on Hargrove and those at his table. Suddenly, a roar of laughter came rumbling out of the lawyer. “Not only have you rejected our offer, you’ve come with a proposal of your own,” he said. He turned to Matthew Perch, who was standing near the door.
“Mr. Perch,” Hargrove said. “Unlike the rest of us, you are perceived to be an extraordinary human being by some who are present here. Before we respond, would you care to offer your thoughts on the issues we’ve been discussing?”
“My thoughts?” Perch asked, then said simply, “They echo Mr. Caine’s.” The room fell quiet once again as Hargrove and Perch stared at each other.