_Success in what? Why? How?_
Blekeke pushed the button on the wall again, and the lights were
suddenly on, and the wall bare.
"No harm tell you now," he said. "Gone soon. No matter."
* * * * *
He leaned against the wall and crossed his fragile arms across his huge
red chest. He said:
"Mars home dying. You know. Need more somewhere. Earth best, but some
Earthmen deciding not want." He shrugged. "Dear Late Doctor--" he did
not bother making the mystic sign--"was brilliant man. Dr. Homer
Reighardt--know name? Psychiatrist. Very old. No, I not kill; death
natural. I wanted live longer, but...." he shrugged again. "Learned much
from, howso. He founded cult. I his servant after joining. He idea very
innocent--cure not really sick with mild 'nosis."
He smiled modestly. "I also brilliant person. Learn tech part much
rapid. Apply own idea, which not so innocent. Fact, very insidious.
Telenize right persons, they _want_ Martian then! Vote to let come,
yups?"
Maxwell broke in: "Then why didn't you start in on the right people at
once? Why not set up your headquarters in Belgrade and telenize the
World Council members, instead of playing around with a bunch of
hypochondriacs here?"
Blekeke held up his hand. "So fast not so. Must work with what got.
Doctor machine very simple, and he telling me not all. Not trusting even
me all way. Needing much work, then. Muchness development. Six months I
working, then need testing. SRI, oaks? So now have proof for Mars
government, which verysome cautious. Demanding evidence."
This time I broke in. "Blekeke," I said, with some of the respect I was
beginning to feel for him, "you're a patriot, I guess, and I have to
admire you for that. But you're also a damned fool. You can't get away
with this--and I think you know it. There are just too many loop-holes."
"Where loop-hole?"
"Well, in the first place, I made a phone call before I got here--while
I was in the car and my defense mech was on. As a result, the police
will be here in a very few minutes--probably before you can get to the
rocket--"