Suggs opened his mouth like a thirsty carp and closed it again as Morgan went on. "Call it what you like, Senator; General Legree will agree with me that this perfect defense--if defense is the word--is equally well the perfect weapon. Right, General?" Legree pursed pontifical lips for a reply and was annoyed when Morgan paused only momentarily. "Perfect defense means the nullification of an opposing weapon. Obviously, a weaponless army is no longer anything but a disciplined mob. In correlation, Senator, _our_ arms and weapons are still effective, and--you mentioned the distrust (or dislike, or hatred, or whatever you will) held for us by Europe and Asia. Now, Senator, think of yourself and your constituents: is it not far better that Europe and Asia and the world be solaced and comforted by the announcement that we would use our ... Iron Curtain only in our own defense? Would it not be better--how many years, Senator, have there been recorded of universal peace? How many years?" Some men can sit poker-stiff, yet give the impression of teetering slowly on their heels, slowly counting the horses' teeth. Suggs was a horse trader from away back. He said, "Mr. Morgan, I say I can appreciate your viewpoint. I can even appreciate the fact that you mean exactly what you say. But--!" Sharks must have teeth like that; broken and yellow, and razor-keen. The smile of the Senator fascinated me. "But--! Mr. Undersecretary, who's been doing all the fighting, and who's been starting all these wars? The United States? No, sir! We just get in them too late to do anything but pay all the bills!" He leaned forward and fixed the tabletop with a piscine stare. "Look at it this way, the only way. When this whatshisname dies, all these countries look at the map and start mobilizing the Guards. How do we know how long he's going to live, or how long he's going to keep this magic head of his?" My magic head itched, and I rubbed it. "Now, here's what I've said before, and here's what I say now--we can't let the world get away with murder--'murder' is what I said, Mr. Undersecretary, and 'murder' is what I mean. Didn't you say--now, tell us the truth, now--haven't you always said that it would be just a question of time until just about anyone has the secret of the atomic bomb? Didn't you say that?" Morgan nodded. "Quite often I've said that, Senator. Too often for some." Suggs was triumphant. "All right, now. You've hung yourself on your own rope and you don't know it. Answer me this; now, what's to prevent anyone who has the bomb from coming over here and using it on us? What's to prevent them?" * * * * * They had been all through that before, and Morgan knew it was no use to answer.