"I've asked you four men because you were probably the richest men on Earth. I've asked you because I thought perhaps you would see the significance of such a project. To reach the Moon." Saunders' eyes gleamed with an intense light. "To reach the Moon." "And when we reach it?" Peterson asked. "Then what?" "Unlimited space," Saunders answered with feeling. "New worlds, worlds beyond the imagination of man. The Moon is only the first step, the experimental step. From there, Mars ... or Venus ... or a new solar system." * * * * * Bragg said, "Rubbish. Even if this should work--I'm not at all convinced it will, but even if it should--what's on the Moon for us? Bare crags and lonely craters. Cold, bleak atmosphere. Nothing." "Nothing that would bring in money, true," Saunders said. "But look at Copernicus and Galileo. Look at Pasteur and Edison and Curie. Look at ... oh, I could go on all night. What these men contributed to mankind can never be measured in terms of gold or silver. Can't you see that?" "Who wants to go to the Moon, anyway?" Thorpe asked, passing a hand over his bald head. "We've got troubles of our own right here on Earth. Plenty to settle right here, man. Plenty. In a little while perhaps. Sometime in the future. Twenty, twenty-five years. But now, unthinkable." "We've been saying that too long," Saunders snapped. "Now is the time! Not twenty or twenty-five years from now, but _right_ now! Science has given us the means; it's up to us to take the opportunity and use it." "It couldn't be done profitably," Peterson said drily. "Profitably," Saunders said bitterly. "Are your wars profitable?" he suddenly shouted, bringing his bony fist crashing to the table top. "Let's not get violent," Slade said. It was the first thing he'd said all night. Saunders somehow had the feeling that a corpse had spoken. "Exactly," he said, "Let's not get violent; let's spend some of the money that's been buying munitions and lives. Instead of razing cities to the ground, let's go up into the skies. Let's spend that money for a project that's worthwhile. For once, forget the profit and think of the meaning to mankind." He paused and his voice grew lower. "We've been ravaged by too many wars, gentleman. Can't we stop this useless butchery and devote our time and energy to something constructive? Can't we? I know my rocket will work. It's scientifically sound. I know, too, that I can get a crew of scientists and technicians to take it to the Moon and back. All I need is the money and a little time. Just a little time." "There's a war going on, Saunders," Bragg reminded him. He had lit a cigar with a gold lighter and was sitting now, puffing leisurely, blowing smoke at the ceiling.