The Disestablishment of Paradise by Phillip Mann Page A

make a final statement should she so choose. He then invited Mr Diamond to begin.
    Diamond rose to his feet and in a deadpan voice outlined the details of the audit that had just been completed. Hera listened with her head on one side. How different, she thought, was
Diamond’s account of the process from her own perception, and yet factually he was correct and she could not fault him there. And somewhere between it all was the truth, she supposed. She
found her attention wandering, looking at the mosaic pattern formed by the acoustic tiles on the wall.
    ‘Now, Dr Melhuish, do you recall making the following statement? “We must not confuse culture with civilization. Hunter-gatherers were just as clever as we are and probably had a
more coherent view of the universe, and their place within it, than we have. By and large they did not damage the landscape, taking only what they needed, leaving Nature to regenerate of her own
accord. It was with the coming of agriculture that the damage started. The first farms led to enclosures, to selective breeding, to the damming of rivers, the moulding of hills and ultimately the
desire to manipulate Nature rather than cohabit with her.” ’
    Hera had to think hard. ‘Yes, I think those were my words. We were on a panel. Me and some others. We were students at the Institut des Hautes Études. Over thirty years ago. You
have
been digging deep.’
    ‘It would seem, then, that from an early age you were critical of farmers, indeed of agriculture in general.’
    ‘That panel, if I remember rightly, was dealing with environmental issues, trying to get at why things had gone wrong on Earth. I was merely pointing out a significant but sometimes
overlooked revolution that took place in the prehistory of Earth.’
    ‘I repeat. “It was with the coming of agriculture that the damage started.” Your words, Dr Melhuish. Moving on.’ Diamond picked up a sheaf of notes. ‘The following
is an extract from the founding charter of the Observation, Regeneration and Botanic Expansion project on Paradise. “The ORBE project undertakes to make its scientific expertise available to
help the settler agricultural sector in its efforts to create sustainable agriculture on Paradise.” You signed this document when you accepted the position, Dr Melhuish. We note that in your
application for a position with ORBE, you state that you can support “all aspects of the charter”. In view of your later record, Dr Melhuish, it would seem that you were being
circumspect with the truth, presumably in order to gain employment and, perhaps, to be near your mentor, Professor Shapiro.’
    ‘Objection.’ It was Tania. ‘Mr Diamond’s presumptions are misleading and irrelevant.’
    ‘Sustained. Mr Diamond, please restrict yourself to the facts.’
    This kind of exchange set the tone for the inquiry.
    Little by little, by cutting and pasting together comments made by Hera, Diamond was able to create the picture of a tyrannical wasp-tongued woman who was intolerant of the problems faced by the
descendants of the settlers and interested only in her own projects.
    At first Hera tried to defend herself, pointing out the importance of context. But Diamond was not to be drawn; he simply ignored her and moved on. ‘Here is Dr Melhuish writing to an ORBE
project worker who answers to the name Pietr Z. It was written shortly after she had taken over the leadership of the ORBE project from her mentor and friend, Professor Shapiro. “No wonder
they call them aggies,’ she says. “Aggravating, agoraphobic, aggrieved and aggressive.” ’
    ‘That was a joke,’ said Hera wearily.
    ‘Yes, but at whose expense? And who was laughing?’ snapped back Diamond. ‘Or were you merely trying to continue the tradition established by your predecessor, Shapiro?’
Hera merely shook her head. There was hissing in the auditorium.
    Tania leaned close. ‘Why does he keep making these digs about old Shapiro?’
    ‘No