"Somebody has got to talk!" Zen said fiercely. "Even if they are building their bomb underground, they must have an exit for it somewhere. We'll locate their exit and drop an H-bomb on it." "And thus destroy their bomb and the best of their scientists and engineers?" "This is war. You can't have sympathy in war." "This is my point, colonel," West said patiently. "I have no sympathy--with either side." "Then what do you propose--to sit here and do nothing?" "I propose to let each side destroy the other as much as they wish and can. Then, when they have completely demonstrated the futility of their efforts, when it is utterly clear to the few who have survived that warfare is not the way to the future, then the new people will emerge to show the way to those who have survived." West's voice was calm. He seemed to be considering a situation often pondered and to be stating a conclusion firmly and definitely reached. "But that involves senseless slaughter," Zen protested. "This was the reason that lay back of the dropping of the first atom bomb--to stop senseless slaughter." "All slaughter is senseless, colonel, though from the viewpoint of the individual or nation doing it, slaughter is generally considered to be right at the time." Zen started to comment on what the craggy man had just said, then changed his mind. Was he dealing with a madman? This seemed possible. West's words certainly did not fit any pattern that Zen knew. The act of sitting by and letting two nations commit suicide went beyond the bounds of rational thinking. "I beg you, let me report this to the high command," Zen said, making one last plea. "In reply, I want to ask one question," West answered. "What would happen to the people here, and to me, if I revealed the existence of this instrument?" "You would be a hero," Zen said promptly, and knew he was lying as he spoke. "Your people would be protected." "I dislike calling you a liar, colonel, but that is exactly what you are," West answered. "We would all be taken care of, as long as all of us did exactly what the high command wanted. The instant I tried to do anything else, my actions would be called treason and I would be considered a traitor. My equipment would be confiscated, '_for the convenience of the government_,' and I would be lucky if I did not face a firing squad. Tell me honestly, colonel, would not this happen?" For the first time, West's words had a tinge of anger in them. Or was it sorrow? "Sam--" Nedra said. "Something--" Her voice was a whisper from some far-off land. "What is it, Nedra?" West asked. In an instant, he had forgotten all about Kurt Zen. The nurse sat up straight and stiff. All color fled from her face. "Something--" Her voice was the faintest whisper of sound in this quiet room. "Nedra, what is it?" West's tones had alarm in them. Instead of answering, the nurse slid from her chair to the floor, in a faint. Dim and distant in the silence that followed came a popping sound.