Desperate Games Read Online Free

divide themselves into two groups of a dozen each and play at pulling the ends of a rope, to the applause of a delirious crowd. And when –’
    ‘That’s enough, old friend,’ said Yranne, interrupting him. ‘We told you that we’ve understood it all and that we share your indignation. So, in one word, what’s your conclusion? What do you think of it?’
    ‘Intolerable!’ yelled Zarratoff.
    The guests burst out laughing.
    ‘So we are all agreed,’ concluded Fawell, ‘Calm down and finish your drink. You arrived just at the right moment.’
    They brought him up to date with the project which was taking shape and the discussion continued.

4.
    ‘As I was saying,’ continued Fawell, ‘today it is our urgent duty to put a stop to this situation. We do not have the right to let the world go to ruin. In this country all men of science will agree with this.’
    ‘In France as well,’ declared Yranne, ‘I can guarantee it.’
    ‘And in England also,’ said the British man, ‘but will they be of the same opinion in the Soviet Union?’
    Zarratoff made no hesitation in replying: ‘Only about thirty years ago, one would have hesitated to reply to that question. As you know, the fact of being regarded with suspicion by a part of the world, caused us to maintain a dangerous spirit of nationalism, with which even our greatest scholars were infected. Today, now that this mistrust appears to belong to the past, after we have confirmed, as you have done, the incompetence of our leaders, I can guarantee that it does not exist anymore, and that all the men of science who are worthy of the name are supporters of a rational world organisation. I would add that there is nothing surprising about it. Weren’t we the pioneers of internationalism?’
    Everyone applauded his words. Without prior consultation they came to a common conclusion: at the current stage of evolution, a scientific government of the world had become a vital necessity for humanity. But objections did occur to them, as was natural for minds trained to analyse objectively all the data relating to a problem.
    ‘All the world’s scholars desire it. That’s fine,’ said Yranne, ‘but what about the peoples of the world? What about young people?’
    ‘Ruth would agree,’ asserted Fawell, ‘and all her friends as well.’
    ‘So would Nicolas,’ said Zarratoff, ‘we have often discussed it.’
    ‘Ruth and Nicolas may have been influenced by the intellectual milieu in which they have lived… But can we really be sure about all the scholars? The Chinese, for example?’
    ‘Betty, you can answer that one.’
    ‘I think I can reassure you on this point,’ said the Chinese woman, screwing up her eyes, so that her eyelids were stretched.‘I meet the most eminent of my compatriots fairly often, and I have had the opportunity to sound out their opinions cautiously on the appropriateness of such a revolution, for your plan outlined this evening is not new to me. I have anticipated for a long time that you would be inevitably forced to take action some day. The result of my enquiries is that they all think the same as you do, that is to say that an international organisation is indispensable. This is not new, and they also think that the only viable plan is yours. It is their opinion too that the only central government capable of establishing itself and worthy of running the earth is a scientific government. Believe me, they have had enough, like you, of the childishness of their leaders. Stupidity is, I’m afraid, also international.’
    ‘I am delighted to hear you say such things. But what about the peoples? As a psychologist, what is your opinion on the matter? Will they accept this revolution?’
    Mrs Betty Han took her time before replying, and she screwed up her eyes even more, which in her was a sign of intense thought.
    ‘It’s possible,’ she said finally. ‘It will be difficult. I would like to know first what kind of action you envisage.