Morning came before he had completed his work of assembling them. Then, carrying a large and a small degravitor to the roof, he tested them on the remains of Ted’s metal hangar and found that they worked satisfactorily. Hurrying back to his office he set the safety catch on every weapon—then ordered them packed and loaded into one of Ted’s freight-carrying electroplanes. An hour later, with Bevans as pilot, he was on his way to Washington. As he neared the capital he used his binoculars on the surrounding territory, and noticed the havoc wrought by the green rays. At points where the effects of the rays had ended, rivers and creeks were blocked by ice gorges, overflowing the surrounding territory. The vegetation was wilted and lifeless, as if blighted by a heavy frost. In the villages and towns, Red Cross workers were going from house to house, relieving the sufferings of the survivors, followed by undertakers’ cars and large trucks, loaded with the canvas-wrapped remains of those who would suffer no more. On his arrival at the Capitol he sought and gained an immediate interview with the President. The chief executive of the country looked up from the stack of papers on his desk as Roger entered, and greeted him with: “Now, what the devil are you doing here? I thought I ordered you back to Chicago last night. Who is going to look after your plant and radio station with both you and Dustin away?” “Important business,” replied Roger. “I’ll be leaving for Chicago again within the hour, but I’ve something to show you that, for the present, I don’t dare make public over the air.” “What about your code? Afraid someone will figure them out?” “Not at all, but this is something you will have to be shown. I have some new weapons invented by Mr. Dustin, a few of which have been manufactured in his plant under my direction during his absence—weapons with which I believe we can successfully combat the green rays of the moon men.” “Where are they?” “In one of our freight carriers, now on the roof of the Lincoln Hotel under guard.” Without waiting to hear more, President Whitmore seized his hat and said: “We’ll have a look at them right now.” On the way out he gave orders that Secretary of War Jamison and General Marshall meet him on the roof of the Lincoln in fifteen minutes. Once out of the Capitol, they were quickly transported to the hotel roof in the President’s private helicopter limousine. Roger brought out one of the pistol degravitors, unwrapped it, and explained its use to the chief executive. Then he had an old propeller blade suspended on a wire, and proceeded to demolish it before the eyes of the astonished President. At this moment Secretary Jamison and General Marshall arrived, and another old blade was disintegrated for their benefit. Secretary Jamison, a newly appointed civilian, showed wonder and amazement, but General Marshall seemed unconvinced. “What is the effective range of this weapon?” he asked.