"--unmarked appropriation if it goes in in TUT's name. No questions asked. National Defense. I couldn't get anywhere near that much for an individual for a year. It gives us a pie to slice. We were talking about it before you came in. How does a quarter of a million dollars a year sound to you?" "When it comes to such matters," Old Tom interjected hastily, "I think first of the opportunities they bring to do good." The General continued, "Now you know, Merle. And this is serious. I want you to listen to me. Because this comes under World Security laws, and I'm going to bind you to them. You know what that means? You'll be held responsible." "Yes, sir," Merle said, swallowing stiffly. "I understand." "Good. Let's have a drink on that." * * * * * "Please be quiet, General," Old Tom said. "Let me explain. You see, Merle, the Interscience Committee was recently directed to consider methods for creating a climate of opinion on Itra--of which I'm sure you've heard--which would be favorable to the proposed Galactic Federation." "Excuse me," General Reuter said. "They don't have a democracy, like we do. They don't have any freedom like we do. I have no doubt the average whateveryoucallem--Itraians, I guess--the average gooks--would be glad to see us come in and just kick the hell out of whoever is in charge of them." "Now, General," Old Tom said more sharply. "But that's not the whole thing," the General continued. "Even fit were right thing to do, an' I'm not saying isn't--right thing to do--there's log-lo-lo-gistics. I don't want to convey the impresh, impression that our Defense Force people have been wasting money. Never had as much as needed, fact. No, it's like this. "We have this broad base to buil' from. Backbone. But we live in a democracy. Now, Old Tom's Liberal-Conservative. And me, I'm Radical-Progresshive. But we agree on one thing: importance of strong defense. A lot of people don' understan' this. Feel we're already spendin' more than we can afford. But I want to ask them, what's more important than the defense of our planet?" "General, I'm afraid this is not entirely germane," Old Tom said stiffly. "Never mind that right now. Point is, it will take us long time to get the serious nature of the menace of Itra across to the voters. Then, maybe fifteen, twenty years.... Let's just take one thing. We don't have anywhere near enough troop transports to carry out the occupation of Itra. You know how long it takes to build them? My point is, we may not have that long. Suppose Itra should get secret of interstellar drive tomorrow, then where would we be?" Old Tom slammed his fist on the desk. "General, please! The boy isn't interested in all that."