The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov

Author:Chingiz Aitmatov [Aitmatov, Chingiz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Central Eurasia
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 2020-02-15T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

On the Pacific Ocean, south of the Aleutians, it was long past midday. The storm still continued with no let-up, and everywhere the waves were sweeping on in foaming lines, one after the other, forming a boundless watery confusion as far as the eye could see. The aircraft carrier Convention was rolling lightly on the waves. It was still on its former station, at a point strictly equidistant from San Francisco and Vladivostok. All the services of the international scientific programme were on full alert.

At this time aboard the aircraft carrier, the extraordinary session of the special plenipotentiary commissions was in progress, investigating the situation which had arisen as a result of the discovery of the extraterrestrial civilization in the Derzhatel’ system. The parity-cosmonauts 1-2 and 2-1, who had of their own volition abandoned their orbital station, were still on Lesnaya Grud’, but had been warned three times by Obtsenupr not to take any action until they received further special instructions.

These categorical orders of Obtsenupr reflected in reality, not only the confusion of minds, but also the exceptionally complicated and strained situation on board Convention. The deepening disagreement between the two sides now threatened to bring about a complete breakdown of cooperation and, even worse, a full and direct confrontation. That which not long ago had brought the two leading powers together – the Demiurgos programme – had now receded into insignificance compared with the problems posed by the discovery of the extraterrestrial civilization. The members of the commissions clearly understood one thing – that this was a remarkable and incomparable discovery which represented a supreme challenge for world cooperation, for all that had been taught, all the culture that had been handed down, and for all that had been developed in the conscience of generations over the centuries.

Yet dare they take the risky step of establishing contact with an alien planet, and in so doing, perhaps endangering the security of the earth?

Here, once again, as always in critical moments of history, the root contradictions of the two social and political systems on earth were laid bare.

The consideration of the situation had led to heated debate. The differences in approach more and more took on the character of irreconcilable positions. Things were rapidly headed for a collision, towards a conflict, which, if it was allowed to escalate, might turn into a world war. Each side was therefore trying to hold back from the brink, to bear in mind the appalling danger of such a development. But an even greater restraining factor was the unimaginable consequences if the news of the discovery of an extraterrestrial civilization became a matter of public knowledge. No one could be sure what the result of such a development might be …

Common sense won. The two sides came to a compromise agreement – a necessary one, and on a strictly balanced basis. In connection with this compromise, an Obtsenupr coded message was sent to the Parity orbital station in the following terms:

To cosmonaut-controllers 1-2 and

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