George O. Smith

“ Now you have lost completely, Hohmann, for the radiation from that paper when bombarded with the plutonium radiation, produces a whole string of secondary radioelements in your offices, in your desks, in your bodies, and in your air. The ash from burning is still hot, Hohmann, and the trucks that will carry the deadly paper will be as deadly. Your very country will be subject to slow fission if you start another uranium pile for several hundred years. ”

“ The range of the plutonium radiation is unknown, but it is great enough to bathe the entire country. You will find that most government offices are bulging with reams and reams of correspondence, many of which are over the critical mass. Nothing happens until someone turns on a plutonium-producing uranium pile, lets it run for a few hours, and the accumulation of plutonium starts. Right now, Hohmann, you have about four hours before most of your government offices go sky-high—from their own red tape. ”

“ Therefore it is for the State to—"
"The State is the result of the people," returned the United Nations representative. "Were it not for the people, there could be no State."
"Were it not for the State," thundered Hohmann in a ringing voice, "people could not exist in the luxury they have. Man would still be pitted against man and brother against brother. ”

“ Once the key is pressed and the uranium pile starts, you are a violator and subject to punishment."
Hohmann laughed uproariously. "This starting will be secret," he said. "Just as any starting may be secret. I, give me credit for it, gave warning; otherwise we might have completed our pile of bombs and been ready to attack before your precious, toothless organization could act."
"We may not be toothless," said Hammond. "I ask you to consider, and once again warn you to desist. Building the pile is a misdemeanor. Producing plutonium is outlawed. ”

“ Even to the point of permitting, under democratic principle, the existence of an organization directed against the democracy itself. This, they claim, shows the true strength of democracy, since if it stands even when permitting an outfit to bore from within against it, it is therefore strong. ”

“ A letter giving information that comes from a known correspondent who is helpful in the past will be treated with more respect than the same information coming from someone who has written reams of misdirection, falsity, and ranting notes depicting dire results if we do not release Hammond and behave ourselves. ”

“ Hohmann shrugged.
"Even so, we cannot be shunted aside," he added. "We have plenty of people who can take care of the misdirection, just to see that something isn't happening to us. The rest of us can continue preparing. Which brings me to another point."
Hohmann paused dramatically.
"When I press this key," he said, indicating the diamond-studded telegraph-style key, "the uranium pile will start to go. The key is connected to the restrainer-rod controls of the pile; when pressed, the rods leave the pre-set positions of no-reaction and fall under the automatic controlling circuits. ”