"What are we to do about it? That is why I have called you here. Consider that the science of the intelligences in the domain that spawned this thing could not destroy it. What chance has our feeble science and powers against such a force? Hydrogen bombs would probably serve only to feed it the energy for which it is starved. "We must cease our lunar exploration program at once. We can hope that it is not too late. If it is not, this thing may relapse into the dormancy from which it has been shaken. We can only hope. "But if we persist in our explorations and our probings of the moon we are certain to loose upon ourselves a living force that our entire world of science will be helpless to overcome. "We must stop the moon program now!" * * * * * They kept him for another two hours with questions and demands for further information. He gave them everything he knew, and when they finally left, he felt that a sane and correct story of his findings would be published. He waited for whatever results would be published by the news services the following morning. He waited. There was nothing. Eddie Fry called him two days later. Eddie was the reporter who knew him best. "They killed the story," said Eddie. "We had to clear it with government sources, and they persuaded every press association and newspaper that knew about it to kill it. They said it would destroy the national economy that was being built up on the space program. We tried to make them believe it, Jim, but we couldn't do it. It was hard enough to be convinced when we were listening to you. Second hand, it just wouldn't go over. You really can't blame them. "They're doing something else, too. They're really going to nail you for this thing. A story is being released about your dismissal. It is said that you were released for fantastic and unreliable theories and for incompetence that resulted in the loss of the Prospector. I'm sorry as hell, Jim. I wish we could kill that one, but there's not a thing we can do for you." "It's o.k., Eddie," said Jim. "I know how it is." Crackpot. He was finished. He called Allan at his base that night. His brother-in-law's voice was icy as he answered. "What do you want, Jim?" "Come down over the weekend, can you, Allan? I've got something important I want to talk to you about." "Listen, Jim. Stay away from me! Don't call; don't try to see me. Don't send me letters or telegrams. Nothing! Do you understand that?" "What the devil--?" "They're investigating me. Because of you. They want to know how much I've been listening to your crackpot notions. They're afraid maybe it will produce an instability that will make me unfit for the moon trip. If I lose out, it will be because of you!" "That's what I want to talk to you about. Allan, you've got to listen to me! You won't get off the moon alive--"