Hute, standing before the control board, squared his heavy shoulders manfully, jutted his strong jaw out at a dominant angle, and spoke to the silent walls as he had often spoken to the masses. "If I fail to have the courage to do this thing, then the welfare of all future generations will be on my shoulders. The sacrifice of the billion or two now living is a SMALL price to pay, compared to the sacrifice of countless billions of future generations if I weaken. "If I weaken--!" * * * * * The thought of what would happen,--the war crimes trial, the ignomy of death as a war criminal at the hands of fools who couldn't understand the noble, selfless motives that governed his life and caused him to sacrifice the comforts of home and normalcy as a public servant and the purpose,--the goal toward which he strove, gave him the courage to press the first button. With that simple act the fate of Tranx-Yrhl was directly sealed, and with it the retaliation against his own country. That knowledge made easy the pressing of the other buttons. When it was finished he walked stiffly from the room and took the elevator to the surface. His general staff awaited him. They stood awkwardly, faces pale, in this historic moment. He nodded imperceptibly to signify that the deed was done. A few dry throats swallowed loudly in the hush of imminent death. Hute Hitle marched stiffly through the passive group. One after another fell in behind him. The procession marched down to waiting cars. The cars crossed the bridge. There they stopped. As one man the Leader and his general staff looked back at the great city they loved so well. The Sacrifice they were making for the good of humanity pressed heavily on their hearts. With bowed heads they turned back and went down the path to the research building. Carl Grinch and his science aides were waiting. They paled at the knowledge that the deed was done and there was no turning back now. Hute placed a fond hand on Carl's shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" he asked, his voice choked with emotion. "The success of the Plan depends on my staying," Carl replied, his voice shaken with the emotion of the moment. "The time machine is constructed in connection with the tri-matter block so that nothing in either of the other two universes can enter it. After you enter, it must be sealed from this side for the period of time travel, so that nothing can enter from this side until it is time for you to come back. I, and my aides, must remain to do that." "Your sacrifice is greater than mine," Hute said simply. "It is very little compared to what <i>you</i> are sacrificing," Carl said, smiling, with a trace of amused contempt carefully hidden in the back of his eyes.