“It might not be a bad idea,” said Clarissa evenly. “Why not get a
little return....”
But Paul had launched into policy. We listened attentively. From time
to time, Cave made a suggestion. Iris and I made no comment. Stokharin
occasionally chose to illuminate certain human problems as they arose
and Paul, at least, heard him out respectfully. Clarissa wanted to know
all about costs and her interruptions were always brief and shrewd.
Several decisions were made at that meeting. It was decided that a
Center be established and headed by Dr. Stokharin to take care of those
Cavites whose problems might be helped by therapy. “We just apply
classical concepts to their little troubles,” he said.
“But it shouldn’t _seem_ like a clinic,” said Iris suddenly. “It’s all
part of John, of what John says.”
“We’ll make that perfectly clear,” said Paul quickly.
Stokharin nodded agreeably. “After all it is in his name they come to
us. We take it from there. No more problems ... all is contentment.” He
smacked his lips.
It was then decided that Cave would spend the summer quietly and,
in the autumn, begin a tour of the country to be followed by more
telecasts in the following winter. “The summer is to think a little
in,” were Cave’s words.
Next, I was assigned the task of writing a defense of Cave for certain
vast syndicates; I was also requested to compose a set of dialogues
which would record Cave’s views on such problems as marriage, the
family, world government and various other problems all in urgent need
of answering. I suggested, diffidently, that it would be very useful if
Cave were to tell me what he thought about such things before I wrote
my dialogues. Cave said, quite seriously, that we would have the summer
in which to handle all these subjects.
Paul then told us the bad news; there was a good deal of it. “The
Cardinal, in the name of all the Diocesan Bishops, has declared that
any Catholic who observes the telecasts of John Cave or attends in
person his blasphemous lectures commits a grave and mortal sin. Bishop
Winston came to tell me that not only is he attacking Cave in the
press but that he is quite sure, if we continue, the government will
intervene. It was a hint, and not too subtle.”
“On what grounds intervene?” asked Cave. “What have I done that breaks
one of their laws?”
“They’ll trump up something,” said Clarissa.
“I’m afraid you’re right. They can always find something to get us on.
So far, that is about the worst that can happen.”
“But do you think it will?” I asked. “Free speech is still on the
books.”
Paul chuckled grimly. “That’s just where it stays, too.” And he quoted
the national credo: In a true democracy there is no place for a serious
difference of opinion on truly great issues. “Sooner or later they’ll
try to stop Cave.”
“But they can’t!” said Iris. “The people won’t stand for it.”
“He’s the father of too many now,” said Stokharin sagely. “No son will
rise to dispute him, yet.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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