Бруно Травен - Aslan Norval

Senator Clifford assumed the position of chair this morning. Without any introductory niceties, he immediately began shooting questions at Aslan: “Miss Norval, the committee members and I are now convinced that it is indeed a possibility—even if it is a very remote one—that a conflict about the Panama Canal Zone might arise, just as it did in the unfortunate case of the Suez Canal several years ago. In the meantime, my colleagues and I have researched the possibility of building a new canal through Nicaragua or the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Have you heard or read about that, Miss Norval?”

“I am familiar with the literature about these plans. Both projects are feasible. Even combined, both projects would barely cost a twentieth of the canal that our company is intending to build. However, both canals would go through land that we do not own. Even if one or both of those countries were to sell or lease the land to us, we would not have any guarantee at all that we would not face the same problems someday that we might unexpectedly confront with regard to Panama. The only solution is to build a canal that runs through land we own in its entire length.”

“Miss Norval, do you admit that a canal directly from New York to San Francisco is not feasible?”

“No, I do not admit that at all. Such a canal is feasible. However, it would go through rich and very expensive areas. You would have to circumvent large cities and important industrial centers, which would make the canal unnecessarily long. The cost of such a canal would be excessively high. However, it is a feasible project. I am convinced of that. I do admit, however, that a trip through that canal would not save a lot of time due to the many sluices.”

“Can the canal that your company intends to build become reality more easily, Miss Norval?”

“It can indeed become reality, and taking all circumstances into consideration, it will only cost about a tenth of the total for a direct canal. Probably a lot less. This canal from Galveston via Houston to the Pacific Coast goes through land that is mostly flat and infertile and partly desert. One would only have to cross a few insignificant rivers, and none of the mountain ranges present difficulties of the kind that we could not overcome relatively easily today.”

“How many nautical miles would a ship save traveling from New York, let us say, to Los Angeles if we assumed that your planned canal was open for traffic?”

Maps and tables appeared behind Aslan.

“From New York to Los Angeles, the distance is four thousand nine hundred thirty-one nautical miles. From New York to Los Angeles via the canal we have planned, it would be approximately three thousand one hundred twenty-five nautical miles. So the canal will shorten the ship’s trip from New York to the Pacific Coast by one thousand eight hundred six nautical miles. That is about half the distance of the sea route from New York to Hamburg, Germany. We can cut this distance by another one hundred fifty nautical miles.”

“How is that, Miss Norval?” interrupted Senator Clifford.

“In order to save another one hundred fifty nautical miles, it would only become necessary to cut through the peninsula of Florida at its narrowest point and to build a canal that would be merely double the length of the Kiel Canal in northern Germany. This canal would also cut the distance of travel from New York to New Orleans by one hundred fifty nautical miles. Let us add these hundred and fifty nautical miles that the Florida Canal saves us to the total savings in nautical miles from New York to the Pacific Coast, and we get approximately one thousand nine hundred fifty-six nautical miles, so about two thousand nautical miles. Without a doubt, you can see how much this would save in terms of time, fuel, delivery times, and wages under normal circumstances. However, every intelligent person can imagine what this enormous shortening of the sea route would mean in times of trouble, catastrophes, and war.”

“You mention wartime, Miss Norval. And what happens if enemies bomb your canal in a war?”

“I will ask you right back, Mr. Senator. What happens if they bomb the Panama Canal? Or what do we do if they sink a few big cargo ships to block the canal? I have an answer to those questions. We can repair a canal that goes through our own country in a time span of twenty-four hours because we can transport ten thousand workers with the best machines to the damaged areas within six hours. However, a similar repair of the Panama Canal would take two weeks, if not much longer.”

Aslan looked from one senator to the other, as if she wanted to read a ruling or decision on their faces. After a few moments of silence, she smiled warmly at them, and the gentlemen could not refrain from smiling back. They felt that Aslan’s smile did not intend to bribe them, nor to influence their judgment; this apparently well-meaning smile hid quite a bit of irony. It gave the impression that Aslan had won and the senators had lost. They could not come up with any argument that would dismiss Aslan’s project as quixotic.

Aslan was exceedingly well prepared, better indeed than the committee, which did not know most of the facts she presented. She had managed to divert the hearing from its original focus—an investigation—to an area that the committee only followed with difficulty.

The numbers, which Aslan juggled so easily as if it were a game, confused the gentlemen. They were used to the slow-thinking processes of career politicians, who never gave a concrete answer and did not have anything better to say than: In some ways, yes—but then in other ways, no .

Numbers can sometimes wield truly crushing power, since they do not seem to have a shape you can attack. In and of themselves, they mean nothing. However, a demagogue or a car salesman can more easily hide his intentions by rattling off numbers than by giving beautiful speeches. Sometimes—not always, but definitely occasionally—you can even conquer a woman just as easily with numbers as with pearls.

The gentlemen of the committee were convinced that Aslan’s numbers were authentic. And you cannot drown out authentic numbers with words. The silence in the chambers began to weigh heavily on those present. With the sure instinct of a woman, Aslan understood the moment correctly: “Gentlemen, I have said what I felt it my duty to say in order to prove that the canal we are discussing here is not only feasible, but that we must build it. I assure you, most honorable gentlemen of the Senate, our company will raise the funds necessary to complete the project.”

The senators put their heads together and began conferring with one another fervently. The cameramen were happy because it finally gave them the long-awaited opportunity to present an interesting new scene to their audience.

Aslan signaled Beckford and her assistants to prepare for a turn in the hearing.

The chairman, Senator Clifford, rapped the gavel. “Miss Norval, you have convinced the committee members and myself that it could be possible to realize your project under certain circumstances and with help from the government. However, that is not the committee’s last word. We will communicate our final decision in a few weeks’ time. However, I have a few important questions for you.”

At this point he blew his nose awkwardly and noisily. Then he continued: “Your company is an entirely capitalist, private enterprise. Its shareholders hope for more or less high profits, or let us call them dividends. Is that correct, Miss Norval?”

“Entirely correct, Mr. Senator.”

“To build such a canal through land that is partially private but also partially owned by Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, you need permission from state governments. Have you begun the process of obtaining said permits?”