Desperate Games by Pierre Boulle Page B

informed of it.
    They consulted the
Nobels
again, who followed the same intellectual train of thought and all finally agreed. A prototype of the banner was immediately created by a renowned painter. An actress famed for her beauty allowed her body to be used as a model, and the first version was accepted with unanimous enthusiasm.
    Thus it came about that Fawell went up Fifth Avenue between two lines of banners representing Truth, completely naked, to which a light breeze lent graceful and at times sensual undulations. At the same time in Moscow, Yranne, whose task wasto preside over the ceremony there, was studying Red Square, which was decorated with the same emblems, while Mrs Betty Han, who was in Paris for the same purpose, was assessing the effect produced on the Champs-Elysées. Fawell was trying to read in the eyes of the crowd their reactions to the symbol on the new flag. To tell the truth, it seemed to him that he could detect a feeling that resembled more astonishment than emotion. He was upset, but consoled himself with the thought that some time was needed to become accustomed to the innovations of progress.

10.
    The departure of the main parades was signalled by the setting off of giant rockets, the bases for which were sufficiently near the cities for their roar to be audible and even deafening and suitable therefore for awakening in the people the collective enthusiasm necessary for the display of important audio-visual processes.
    Some of the peace
Nobels
had protested about a din which was reminiscent of the deadly machines of former times. It was easy to appease them by pointing out to them their actual symbolic meaning. In fact, while these rockets were certainly missiles bearing death, they were not intended to fall back to earth. Once they had reached the height of their trajectory, beyond the atmosphere, they were made to disintegrate by a remotely fired explosion. All that remained was a harmless dust, which was gradually diluted in the immensity of space, while our planet was kept clean, freed from so many evil germs.
    About a hundred of these devices were launched in this way in the area around New York, from where one could see the network of their white trails losing themselves in the sky, while their roars made the earth tremble and some hearts began tobeat hard. Then the din quietened down and the first sections of the parade appeared, and were soon passing in front of the official platform, where Fawell was sitting beside his daughter, who had come to join him there, and the majority of the
Nobels
.
    The first groups consisted of the former national academies, who were here presenting themselves separately, in the expectation of being unified into one world organisation. At the head was the French Institute, which had made a great success of itself and for which people were not sparing with their applause. For the French Institute was taking part in the ceremonies in New York along with many other scientific bodies from distant regions. In the same way the most famous American associations went on parade in Moscow and Beijing, the English in Ireland and the Israeli ones in the former Arabic states. Fawell had decreed this to confirm the truly international character of the festival and the definitive abolition of frontiers. The French notables were moreover flattered and honoured to present themselves before the leader of the government.
    Their participation was very important, involving not only the scientists but also the entire Académie Française and others. The Académie Française had protested furiously against the authorities’ initial intention to keep them out of the event. The
Nobels
of literature had supported them and the organisers had finally admitted that men of letters and of the arts could, if it was deemed necessary, play a role in the festival as they had played a modest part in the spiritual development of the world.
    Listening to the cheers which greeted the French