credityourself with the downfall of two powerful nations, even if it doeshappen? You think your insane ditherings about an incompetent halfwithas anything to do with anything? You may have bamboozled the President,after all he's only a civilian, but you're not about to fool me! Theseare perilous times and I have no use for you professors and your crazy,useless theories. Now why don't you get out of here and let us do ourjob, trying to keep this planet from blowing up in our faces!"
For the first time in his life Dr. Titus flew into an unreasoning fury.How could this fat, uniformed mountain of stupidity still contrive todeny the facts and dare speak to him the way he did? And after what hehad just accomplished! His rage boiled over and Titus rushed at Fyfe,his fist already striking ahead. He never touched the general.Unaccountably he got tangled in his own legs and fell heavily to thefloor. When he tried to rise hot pain burned in his ankle. He sat therestaring up in astonishment at Fyfe, hulking over him.
It had happened so swiftly no one had yet spoken or moved.
"YOU!" Titus screeched incredulously, pointing directly at Fyfe. "You ofall people!" And Titus sat there on the floor rubbing his injured ankleand he laughed and laughed till the tears came.
THE END
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ November 1959. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
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