"Bear with me now. I do not doubt that visual interference is already being used to disrupt this session of Congress. Do you understand? I have a blinding headache, brought about externally, I am quite certain. I can no longer read the notes in front of me. If what I say is still sense, I insist I want a vote, immediate vote, to make this thing illegal--illegal, and let the New York City police or the Militia or the Army--the Army...." * * * * * In sudden silence, she clung to Brooks' sleeve. "Ladies and gentlemen," said the piping voice from within the hospital, "the House of Representatives is still far from approaching a vote. We will tune in debate on the Senate floor, being broadcast by another network." "... alleged that Patent Number 90,732,440B has something to do with national safety. I assure you, gentlemen--ladies and gentlemen--that American business ethics will prevent such dangerous use of technology now as in the past, and that any weapons application will be confined strictly to that sphere where weapons are themselves a safety factor--the sphere of national defense against foreign aggressors. "It has further been alleged that there is some connection between Patent Number 90,732,440B and the hospitalization of Mr. William Barger of Barger Electronics Company, Incorporated, who is currently afflicted with"--the Senator breathed a chuckle--"laryngitis. "It has even been supposed by certain Senators that the non-fatal stabbing of Nathan Bonaparte, a part-time employee...." Silence. "Ladies and gentlemen," the voice from within the hospital said, "we will tune in again when the matter is brought to a vote. And now--Dr. Hamilton." A long pause filled with buzzing. "People," said the Director, and the buzzing ended. "There is no war. Let me repeat: there is no atomic war going on." He paused. "Now there has been a lot of fuss over a steel tower on a factory across the river. I want to make it clear that no advertising gimmicks will change our job here. All hospitals--public, like ours, or even our esteemed allies, the private hospitals--are bound by medical and staff ethics to pay no official attention to the world of advertising. "I am especially amazed by rumors that Nat Bonaparte, or 'Boney,' who does clean-up work here from time to time, was silenced because he 'knew something' about this wonderful advertising gimmick. Nothing can be sillier. It just happens that the fellow left _my_ office shortly before he must have been wounded by delinquents from the nearby slums. He was giving me 'inside information,' as he called it, about light-ray guns, and mechanical hypnotism, and plots against the patients. These, apparently, are the things which Boney 'knew,' and he has been talking endlessly about them since I first came into office, and presumably before." Brooks struck two cigarettes against his pack and handed one to Miss Knox. Their first puff obscured his puzzled frown.