"I helped them. It's my fault. I was a fool. I couldn't know, you see that? I couldn't _know_...." Norma was ashen. Herb stood up and crossed to her side and looked down at her. "Out in the desert, they have just finished planting the charge. That's what they came here for. They're going to blow up the world." "The starmen?" "Yes." Norma was on her feet. She was too terrified to ask why. She did not question.... _It was true!_ "We've got to stop them!" "We can't, it's too late," Herb said. "Why not, why is it?" "It's too late." "We've got to stop them." "It's too late. There's nothing we can do. Listen. Get me a gun. I want to--" He loomed wild-eyed above her. She didn't understand what he intended to do: only that some impossible fury was driving him. "You've got to help me stop them. There must be some way." "Get me a gun! Get me a gun!" Every atom of his being cried out to her: he had to have the gun. His thoughts were warped and twisted. With the gun everything would be clear in his mind. Everything would follow step by step. The gun could spout a great, purifying flame. He was alone in the room. He looked down. She had dropped her purse, and it had spilled open. He walked to the gun that had fallen from it. * * * * * Norma ran, wild and terrified. To whom could she turn? Frank! Where was he? Frank.... Bud? No. No, not Bud. He-- There was no one else. Bud. Her breath was fire. He would have to do something. Bud. She hailed a cab. "Bud!" she called as she opened the car door. "The Senate Office Building! Hurry!" Bud, she sobbed under her breath. He can do something to stop it. * * * * * Herb examined the gun carefully. He weighed it in his hand. It would do nicely. He pocketed it. He would need only an instant. A taxi from here to the Senator's office. A trip in the elevator. Perhaps a slight wait: and then Senator Council framed in the doorway. He had--how long? Several hours, he told himself. He touched the gun again. No hurry. No real hurry. Several hours. * * * * * Norma was hysterical when she burst into Bud's office. One of Bud's hands darted for the drawer where he had taken to keeping an automatic. The hand stopped. Norma's lips were trembling uncontrollably. "Bud!" she gasped. "_Bud, they're planning to blow up the world!_" "What are you talking about?" he demanded angrily. "What do you mean?" "The starmen! I saw Herb. He told me. I had to come to you, Bud. You've got to make them stop it!" "Nonsense," Bud said. "You're out of your mind. You're crazy." He surged to his feet. "Where is Herb? I told you to come see me if you found him. Where is he?" "It's true!" Norma cried. "I know it's true! They've been lying to us. They spy on each other. They have hidden microphones everywhere. They want to destroy the world, Bud! Oh, please, please, please, you've got to believe me...."