Guy tapped the thought-beam on his belt. "Thought-reading gadget," he
said quietly, and then proceeded to read Neville's thoughts to him,
saying them word for word as Neville expressed them in his mind.
* * * * *
"Now," said Guy, "Sol is in for trouble. That is, unless we get Ertene
in here too. That'll mean invasion. But, Neville, I don't want Ertene
overrun like we did on Mephisto. Ertene is like Terra, but its culture
is just enough different and its physiology different enough to make a
separate entity in the System. They think somewhat differently, too, as
you'll see later. But, Neville, getting Ertene here as a prime power
will entail much work."
"Why must she be a power?"
"Because this projector is a final weapon. With it, I alone in a tiny
fighter, can lay every living thing down on Terra, and then proceed
onward to Mars, Ertene, the inhabited planetoids, moons, asteroids,
meteors, spacecraft, and anything else I've forgotten to mention. The
planets of Sol must be stripped of their militant attitude. Otherwise
any progress we might make is stopped. With Mars and Ertene, Sol may
have the combination to the long-sought space drive. Centauri lies
beyond the horizon, Neville, and we may reach it if we forget our petty
quarrels."
"Why couldn't Terra get that herself?"
"Because Ertene and Mars hold certain keys. Neither will work for
Terra, either freely or under duress. If this war is fought to the
finish, there'll be no great minds left to carry on the research.
Remember that."
"What do you intend to do?"
"I intend to conquer them all!"
"You deluded idiot--"
"Look, Neville, I've got this," and Guy slapped the mind instrument.
"I've got this," and Guy waved a hand at the field, teeming with its
workmen, awakened from the vortex-induced sleep. "And, I've got this!"
and Guy pointed outside to the great vortex projector that stood on the
ordnance field. "Do you think I can be beaten?"
"Eventually, you will. No dictator ever held out against the entire
System."
"I don't intend to hold out. All I want to do," said Guy pointedly, "is
to set up this mind-reading, thought-beam instrument on every planet,
in every congress, in every voting booth, and in every home! Then we'll
see what happens to warmongers, hate-raisers, and petty politicians!
The will of the people is to work in peace, and peace they will get
when each knows the will of the other, alien races. Fear drives men to
fight, Neville, and if any group decides to get up and run things, the
vast majority will know it first."
"It'll destroy our privacy," whispered Neville.
"With everyone wearing one, the effects cancel pretty well," said Guy.
"Except when the wearer intends to have his thoughts read. And the
larger models, set in voting places and congressional groups, will be
used to broadcast on frequencies open to anyone who cares to listen. I
don't intend that this thing will be used to deprive people of their
right to think as they please, but it can be used wisely and well
to prevent criminal cliques, ill-advised minorities, and individual
criminals."
"It won't work."
"That I want to see for myself. At any rate, either we put a stop to
this warfare that will leave Sol lifeless or we will never be able to
look up into the sky ourselves."
"Far too much time and wealth is spent," said Neville slowly, "in
fighting or preparing for war. The research--could use some of that
money. No one has even got the first inkling of a defense against the
vortex--you're right, if all have it, it will wind up in death to all.
I'll help Maynard."
"Because you think that Terra is unable to accomplish her purpose
alone?"
"No," answered Neville. "It's because you are sincere. You let me read
your mind--and I know."
"If used for nothing else," grinned Guy, "we can assume right now that
any candidate for high office must use this machine. Any who do not
will find their qualifications and intentions up for argument. The
graft it will kill will be wonderful."