"It was. It doesn't seem to mean a thing to them. We have abandoned the idea of attempting propaganda contrary to a biological drive." "So if you work _with_ a biological drive--?" "I know of none which is consistent with inhibition of fertility." * * * * * Barlow's face went poker-blank, the result of years of careful discipline. "You don't, huh? You're the great brains and you can't think of any?" "Why, no," said the psychist innocently. "Can you?" "That depends. I sold ten thousand acres of Siberian tundra--through a dummy firm, of course--after the partition of Russia. The buyers thought they were getting improved building lots on the outskirts of Kiev. I'd say that was a lot tougher than this job." "How so?" asked the hawk-faced man. "Those were normal, suspicious customers and these are morons, born suckers. You just figure out a con they'll fall for; they won't know enough to do any smart checking." The psychist and the hawk-faced man had also had training; they kept themselves from looking with sudden hope at each other. "You seem to have something in mind," said the psychist. Barlow's poker face went blanker still. "Maybe I have. I haven't heard any offer yet." "There's the satisfaction of knowing that you've prevented Earth's resources from being so plundered," the hawk-faced man pointed out, "that the race will soon become extinct." "I don't know that," Barlow said bluntly. "All I have is your word." "If you really have a method, I don't think any price would be too great," the psychist offered. "Money," said Barlow. "All you want." "More than you want," the hawk-faced man corrected. "Prestige," added Barlow. "Plenty of publicity. My picture and my name in the papers and over TV every day, statues to me, parks and cities and streets and other things named after me. A whole chapter in the history books." The psychist made a facial sign to the hawk-faced man that meant, "Oh, brother!" The hawk-faced man signaled back, "Steady, boy!" "It's not too much to ask," the psychist agreed. Barlow, sensing a seller's market, said, "Power!" "Power?" the hawk-faced man repeated puzzledly. "Your own hydro station or nuclear pile?" "I mean a world dictatorship with me as dictator!" "Well, now--" said the psychist, but the hawk-faced man interrupted, "It would take a special emergency act of Congress but the situation warrants it. I think that can be guaranteed." "Could you give us some indication of your plan?" the psychist asked. "Ever hear of lemmings?" "No." "They are--were, I guess, since you haven't heard of them--little animals in Norway, and every few years they'd swarm to the coast and swim out to sea until they drowned. I figure on putting some lemming urge into the population." "How?" "I'll save that till I get the right signatures on the deal." * * * * *