After the recognition speech George accepted humbly the following sums, not listing gifts under $10,000: $10,000 from Home Builders Assn. $12,500 from Construction Union, Local 256. $15,000 from Last Bank of America. $11,276.88 from Unified Steel Corp. $20,00 from Chicago Furniture Mart. $10,000 from Congress in Series E Bonds. George also received the following appointments: Special Adviser to Mayor on Senseless Destruction, with nominal yearly income of $75,000 tax free. Vice-President of Trojan Life & Casualty Co. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sunnydale Game and Wood Preserve. Honorary Supreme Commander of Juvenile Senseless Destructionists, to be organized. * * * * * A year later George sat wearily in the control room of his chateau on Indian Rock overlooking the town. Snookers buzzed over rooftops like flies. Clouds of dust rose prosperously everywhere. In the streets construction gangs raced in speed trucks. George had begun to wonder how it would all end. After the novelty had worn off, Senseless Destruction became more monotonous, more depressing than the Installment Way of Life before it. People worked harder than ever now and had less to show for it. Of course, it was unpatriotic to have anything to show for it. Nobody in his right senses would argue against Round-the-Clock Employment for All. And if you didn't go around grinning and saying how happy you were with your seventh mortgage, people began to suspect you. George had talked it all over with Rosy and she agreed. Sure, it was all right for _them_--for the time being. But George had begun to despise himself. He had to keep sharp control over the snookers. Some of them showed a tendency to sneak off course, looking for some nice fresh target--like the chateau, maybe. The butler came in and presented a calling card on a silver platter. "Vernher! Show him in at once." Vernher von Wissenschaft marched in, cracking his Rommel whip. He looked worried. "Bad news," Vernher said, shaking hands. "Chust come from the President." "How _is_ Charlie?" "Goot. But too much work. And trouble. These snookers." Vernher strode to the window and looked out over the town. "They're doing a fine job," George assured him. Vernher turned. A grim smile slashed his face. "Too goot. Russian economy caught up with ours. They vant snookers too. Must have snookers or they go kaput." "What's so bad about that? Let them go kaput. Cold war will be over at least." Vernher shook his head. "They threaten atomic war if they don't get snookers. This time for real." * * * * * George gave a low whistle. "_Ja_," Vernher sighed. "Charlie had secret cabinet meeting. We cannot take chance. You must go teach them how." "Can't you go?" "I'm leaving for Johannesburg tonight. United Africa also caught up." "As it is our economy barely keeps ahead of the Russians!" "_Ja._ But cannot be helped."