From The Man Who Counts (1958) by Poul Anderson (b. 1926-11-25, d. 2001-07-31):
"It was your idea that we make all this newfangled apparatus instead of fighting as our males have always fought. Now, how do we get it down to the lowlands without demoralizing the army?"
"Oh, that!" Van Rijn shrugged. "You have sports -- contests -- nie?"
"Of course."
"Well, you explain these cars must be brought with us and, while it is not necessary we leave at once --"
"But it is! We'll starve if we don't!"
"My good young friend," said van Rijn patiently, "I see plain you have much to learn about politics. You Lannachska do not understand lying, I suppose because you do not get married. You tell the warriors, I say, that we can wait for a south wind all right, but you know they are eager to come to grips with the foe and thereofre they will be invited to play a small game. Each clan will pull so and so many cars down, and we time how fast it goes and make a price for the best pullers."
"Well, I'll be accursed," said Srygen.
Trolwen nodded eagerly. "It's just the sort of thing that gets into clan traditions--"
"You see," explained van Rijn, "it is what we call semantics on Earth. I am old and short with breath, so I can look unprejudiced at all these footballs and baseballs and potato races, and I know that a game is hard work you are not required to do."
Happy birthday to
keith-m043
and
dianec42!