The desert patrol officer nodded questioningly to the men and said, "_Bonjour_," to Hélène Desage. Johnny went on. "Yes, there's tomorrow. And by the time we run out of _Lebensraum_ in Brazil and Alaska, in Central America and the Argentine, in Texas and Saskatchewan, we're going to need the three million square miles of the Sahara." She said in ridicule, "It will take you a century at least to reforest the desert." "At least." Johnny nodded agreeably. "And we're willing and able to look that far ahead. Possibly by that time our opponents will also be looking for new lands for their expanding peoples. And where will they find them? The advantage will be ours, Miss Desage." Mohammed Mohmoud looked from one to the other, frowning. "What are we discussing?" he said. "I should be getting back to my men." Derek yawned and said, "Forget about it, pal. You're never going to be getting back to your men again." * * * * * The desert patrol officer's eyes widened. He turned his glare on Johnny McCord, "What is all this?" Johnny said, "I'll tell it, Derek." Hélène Desage was as surprised as the Malian. "What is going on? Are you trying to whitewash yourselves by casting blame on this gentleman?" "Let me go on," Johnny said. "Needless to say, there are conflicting interests. The Soviet Complex obviously would as soon we didn't succeed. However, wars are impractical today, and the Russkies and Chinese are taken up with their own development. The Southeast Asia bloc wouldn't mind taking over here themselves, they desperately need land already. But they aren't our biggest opponents. There's another group even more involved--the _colons_ of Algeria and Morocco and those of even such Mali cities as Dakar. I suppose it is this last element that you represent, Miss Desage." She was staring unbelievingly at him now. "Their interest is to get the Sahara Reforestation Commission out of the way so that they can immediately exploit the area. They are interested in the _now_, not the potentialities of the future. They resent the use of the Niger for reforestation, when they could use it for immediate irrigation projects. They would devote the full resources of the Mali Federation and Algeria to seeking oil and minerals and in the various other ways the country might be exploited. Finally, they rather hate to see the western schools, hospitals, and other means used to raise the local living standards. They liked the low wage rates that formerly applied." Johnny nodded. "Yes, I imagine that's your angle." Hélène Desage stormed to her feet. "I don't have to listen to this!" Derek said, "Honey, we sure aren't holding you. You're free to go any time you want. And you can take this pal of yours along with you." He jerked his head contemptuously at Mohammed Mohmoud.