"I still say, easy. There's certainty it will be at least by 1960, and probably sooner. That's terrifyingly close enough, isn't it, when you're speaking in terms of the inevitable?" "I see." "The world is a pretty desperate place right now, wouldn't you say? Worse even than five or six years ago." "Desperate, desperate--yes of course it's desperate. And you--you're going to make something of it, is that it? Doug, you're not being very original. I never thought--I never honestly thought the day would come when I'd hear you--" "Give me a chance, Carl." "If I do I don't think I'll ever broadcast another word of what you have to say." "I'll take that chance. But first I'd better clear some things up. First of all, I'll tell you how much I've explained to the committee. I've pointed out to them that there is but one way open--and one way only--of offsetting the Soviets' superiority in arms production, and that's to shock the living daylights out of them. Shock them so that they'll be convinced we're--we're a nation gone mad, perhaps. As you think I've gone mad, this moment. But--what stomach would any foreign enemy have for fighting a madman, armed to the teeth with atomic weapons? They say a lunatic with a gun is a great deal more deadly than a sane man similarly armed. "So--we shall shock them, Carl. We shall, perhaps before the year is out, not only double our own production regardless of cost, but register every kid in the country down to the ten-year age level. And have a gun ready for each one, too. As I explained to the committee, it won't be even their tremendous numbers that will be frightening. It will be the seemingly crazed desperation of the country that would consider calling them to arms that would throw the scare. And then, of course, we'll take advantage of the scare. We'll produce A-weapons as we never have before. Hell, every parent in the nation will be breaking his back at a defense plant--not just for the ridiculously high wages that a riveter gets, but to insure the safety of their kids' skins." "Doug, you're either really nuts or--or--" "So much the committee knows, as of now. And, I've sold it to them. I sold it to them by simply asking them which was less desirable, my plan, or the end of civilization in a few short years. And, by asking them what other solution they had." "Any straw--any straw at all." The reporter was not speaking to be heard, but Blair heard him. "You've hit it precisely, Carl. It's come finally to that. Any straw at all." * * * * * For a few moments there was silence in the small office, and Carl Grayson just sat, staring at the floor. At length he put a fresh cigarette between his lips, lit it, and smoked automatically. It was half consumed before Doug said, "Now, I want to discuss the rest of the plan with you. The part I've not broached to the committee as yet." "The--rest? Doug, what are you talking about?"