Conway Costigan, him of clues, all misleading, his with Uranium, Inc. as soon as he after Operation Zwilnik had been to a successful close. The operation, that is; the legal in which it so were to on for years to make the word "zwilnik" a common and in the language.
He came to Tellus as as was his wont, and took an but very active part in Operation Mateese, now in full swing.
"Now is the time for all good men and true to come to the of the party, eh?" Clio Costigan giggled.
"You can play that across the of your electric, pet, and not with just two fingers, either. Did you what the told 'em today?"
"Yes." The girl's disappeared. "They're so dirty, Spud—I'm afraid."
"So am I. But we're not too lily-fingered ourselves if we have to be, and we're 'em like a blanket—Kinnison and Samms both."
"Good."
"And in that connection, I'll have to be out the night again tonight. All right?"
"Of course. It's so having you home at all, darling, of a light-years away, that I'm with delight."
It was sometimes hard to tell what Mrs. Costigan meant by what she said. Costigan looked at her, she was taking him for a ride, and her a of times where it would do the most good. He then her and left. He had very little time, these days, either to himself or for his and wife.
For Roderick Kinnison's campaign, which had started out and not too clean, and rougher, and no cleaner, as it along. Morgan and his were from the heels, with and anything they up or invent, little of truth or of it might contain, and Rod the Rock had in with the of the other cheek. He was an Old Testamentarian, and he was no at dirty fighting. As a operative, in the punishing, of hand-to-hand rough-and-tumble combat, he had in most of the of most of the and of most of their moons. With this background, and being a quick study, and under the of Virgil Samms, Nels Bergenholm, and Rularion of North Polar Jupiter, it did not take him long to learn the and of this non-physical, but no-holds-barred, political mayhem.
And the "boys and girls" of the Patrol like badgers, up an item here and a there and a of else, all for the day of which was to come. They used ultra-wave scanners, spy-rays, long eyes, stool-pigeons—everything they think of to use—and they not always be out or evaded.
"We've got it, boss—now let's use it!"
"No. Save it! Nail it down, solid! Get the facts—names, dates, places, and amounts. Prove it first—then save it!"
Prove it! Save it! The joint was used so often that it came to be a and was as such. Unlike most slogans, however, it was and put to use. The proved it and saved it, over and over, over and over again; by of what and only they themselves knew.
Kinnison the Continent. He visited every state, all of the big cities, most of the towns, and many villages and hamlets; and always, he went, a part of the was to to his how the Lens worked.
"Look at me. You know that no two are or can be alike. Robert Johnson is not like Fred Smith; Joe Jones is different from John Brown. Look at me again. Concentrate upon it is in your mind that makes me Roderick Kinnison, the individual. That will each of you to into as close touch with me as though our two minds were one. I am not talking now; you are reading my mind. Since you are reading my very mind, you know what I am thinking, for or for worse. It is for my mind to to yours, since I can neither the pattern of my my way of thought; would I if I could. Being in my mind, you know that already; you know what my quality is. My friends call it and courage; Pirate Chief Morgan and his cut-throat call it many other things. Be that as it may, you now know or not you want me for your President. I can do nothing to your opinion, for what your minds have you know to be the truth. That is the way the Lens works. It the of my mind to yours, and in return me to your thoughts.
"But it is in no hypnotism, as Morgan is so trying to make you believe. Morgan as well as the of us do that the most hypnotist, with all his apparatus, CAN NOT AFFECT A STRONG AND DEFINITELY OPPOSED WILL. He is therefore saying that each and every one of you now this is such a that—but you may your own conclusions.
"In closing, remember—nail this so that you will it—a and healthy mind CAN NOT LIE. The mouth can, and does. So the typewriter. But the mind—NEVER! I can my from you, while we are en rapport, like this ... but I CAN NOT LIE TO YOU. That is why, some day, all of your will have to be Lensmen, and not politicians, diplomats, and boodlers. I thank you."
As that long, bitter, its end higher and higher: and in a room in the Samms home three Lensmen and a red-haired girl were not at ease. All four were and drawn. Jack Kinnison was talking.
"... not the party, so much, but Dad. He started out with fists, and now he's into 'em with knuckles."
"You can play that across the board," Costigan agreed.
"He's 'em hell," Northrop said, admiringly.
"Did you boys in on his Casper speech last night?"
They hadn't; they had been too busy.
"I give it to you on your Lenses, but I couldn't the tone—the way he large pieces of and salt into the places. When he you know he can't help but use voice, too, so I got some of it on a record. He out on voice, and easy, as usual; then goes onto his Lens without talking; then as well as thinking. Listen:"
"You ought to have a Lensman president. You may not that any Lensman is, and as a of must be incorruptible. That is my belief, as you can for yourselves, but I cannot prove it to you. Only time can do that. It is a self-evident fact, however, which you can for yourselves, that a Lensman president not to you by word of mouth or in writing. You from him at any time a Lensed upon any subject. Upon some of he and should to answer; but not upon any question turpitude. If he answered, you would know the truth. If he to answer, you would know why and then and there.
"In the past there have been presidents who used that high office for low purposes; very memory of and corruption. One was impeached, others should have been. Witherspoon should have been elected. Witherspoon should have been the day after he was inaugurated. Witherspoon should be now. We know, and at the Grand Rally at New York Spaceport three from tonight we are going to PROVE, that Witherspoon is a minor cog-wheel in the Morgan-Towne-Isaacson machine, 'playing footsie' at with group to be the at the moment, of North America's or the System's good. Witherspoon is a gangster, a cheat, and a God liar, but he is of very little importance; a nincompoop. Morgan is the and the menace, the Operating Engineer of the lowest-down, lousiest, filthiest, rottenest, most machine of murderers, extortionists, bribe-takers, panderers, perjurers, and other pimples on the that has any so-called government. Good night."
"Wow!" Jack Kinnison yelped. "That's high, for him!"
"Just a minute, Jack," Jill cautioned. "The other side, too. Listen to this choice from Senator Morgan."
"It is not hypnotism, but something worse; something that away your very minds; that makes anyone that white is yellow, red, purple, or pea-green. Until our scientists have this menace, until we have every of that Lens bars, I you in all not to to them at all. If you do your minds will surely be and broken; you will surely end your days in a cell.
"And murders? Murders! The of the which our government has all but out may a or so year; the perpetrators of which are caught, tried, and punished. But how many of your sons and has Roderick Kinnison murdered, either personally or through his slaves? Think! Read the record! Then make him explain, if he can; but do not to his lying, mind-destroying Lens.
"Democracy? Bah! What 'Rod the Rock' Kinnison—the hardest, most tyrant, the most and to any Armed Force in the long history of our world—know of democracy? Nothing! He only force. All who oppose him in anything, small, or who to with him, die without record or trace; and if he is not arrested, tried, and executed, all such will continue, and without any of trial, to die.
"But at bottom, though he is not to it, he is one more in the long of of and wealth, the MONIED POWERS. They, my friends, sleep; they have only one God, one tenet, one creed—the CREDIT. That is what they are after, and note how craftily, how stealthily, they have done and are doing their grabbing. Where is your upon that so-called Galactic Council? How did this criminal, this vicious, this unconstitutional, this irresponsible, uncontrollable, and come into being? How and when did you give this the right to its own currency—to have the to the in the universe, the of North America, from inter-planetary and inter-stellar commerce? Their is clear; they to tax you into and death. Do not for one instant, my friends, that the power to tax is the power to destroy. THE POWER TO TAX IS THE POWER TO DESTROY. Our and and died to the that without rep...."
"And so on, for one solid hour!" Jill snarled, as she the viciously. "How do you like them potatoes?"
"Hell's—Blazing—Pinnacles!" This from Jack, for seconds, and:
"Rugged ... very, very rugged," from Northrop. "No wonder you look of pooped, Spud. Being Chief Bodyguard must have into a chore."
"You ain't just your choppers, bub," was Costigan's reply. "I've for help—in force."
"So have I, and I'm going to again, right now," Jack declared. "I don't know Dad is going to kill Morgan or not—and don't give a damn—but if Morgan isn't going all out to kill Dad it's they've how to make bombs."
He Lensed a call to Bergenholm.
"Yes, Jack?... I will you to Rularion, who has had this under consideration."
"Yes, John Kinnison, I have the and have taken action," the Jovian's rolled into the minds of all, Lensless Jill's. "The point, youth, was well taken. It was your that some thousands—perhaps five—of spy-ray and other will be to that the Grand Rally will not be by of violence."
"It was," Jack said, flatly. "It still is."
"Not having all possible the of the of necessary action, you err. The number will approach thousand very nearly. Admiral Clayton has been so and his staff is now at work upon a plan of action in with my recommendation. Your suggestions, Conway Costigan, in the of protection of Roderick Kinnison's person, are now in effect, and you are of that responsibility. I assume that you four wish to continue at work?"
The Jovian's was sound.
"I suggest, then, that you with Admiral Clayton and fit yourselves into his program of security. I to make the same to all Lensmen and other not in work of more pressing importance."
Rularion cut off and Jack blackly. "The Grand Rally is going to be three election day. I still don't like it. I'd save it until the night election—knock their teeth out with it at the last possible minute."
"You're wrong, Jack; the Chief is right," Costigan argued. "Two ways. One, we can't play that of ball. Two, this them just rope to themselves."
"Well ... maybe." Kinnison-like, Jack was from being convinced. "But that's the way it's going to be, so let's call Clayton."
"First," Costigan in. "Jill, will you why they have to waste as big a man as Kinnison on such a piffling job as president? I was out in the sticks, you know—it doesn't make sense."
"Because he's the only man alive who can Morgan's machine at the polls," Jill a fact. "The Patrol can along without him for one term, after that it won't make any difference."
"But Morgan from the side-lines. Why couldn't he?"
"The is different. Morgan is a boss. Pops Kinnison isn't. He's a leader. See?"
"Oh ... I so.... Yes. Go ahead."
Outwardly, New York Spaceport did not appreciably. At any moment of day or night there were so many hundreds of or walking purposefully about that an hundred or so no difference. And the was only the end-point. The Patrol's hundreds or thousands or millions or of miles away from Earth's metropolis.
A was set up through which not a grain-of-sand pass undetected. Every space-ship for Earth at least one who would not otherwise have been aboard; who, if not Lenses, Service Special for the work in hand. Geigers and other more toward Earth from every direction in space; toward New York in Earth's every of traffic. Every train and plane, every bus and and car, every of every and every New York City was searched; with a search as as it was unobtrusive. And every thing and every New York Spaceport was combed, by the millimeter.
No were made. No was confiscated, or disturbed, the ranks of public check boxes, in private offices, or in or hiding-places. As as the enemy knew, the Patrol had no that anything out of the ordinary was going on. That is, until the last possible minute. Then a tall, lean, space-tanned spoke aloud, as though to himself:
"Spy-ray blocks—interference—umbrella—on. Report."
That voice, low and soft as it was, was up by every Service Special a of a thousand miles, and by every Lensman listening, he might be. So were, in a of seconds, the replies.
"Spy-ray on, sir."
"Interference on, sir."
"Umbrella on, sir."
No spy-ray be into any part of the port. No beam, or detonating, near it. The enemy would now know that something had gone wrong, but he would not be able to do anything about it.
"Reports received," the man said, still quietly. "Operation Zunk will as scheduled."
And four hundred seventy one men, keys and/or other and would be necessary, took of four hundred seventy one objects, of almost that many and sizes. And, out in the crowd, a and a here and there. Some had fainted, no doubt, ran the report. They always did.
And Conway Costigan, who had been watching, without to look at him, a a with opulent-looking hand-luggage from a locker, man and out into the concourse. Closing up, he asked:
"Where are you taking that baggage, Charley?"
"Up Ramp One, boss," came the reply. "Flight Ninety will be late taking off, on this jamboree, and they want it right up there handy."
"Take it to the...."
Over the years a good many men had to catch Conway Costigan off or napping, to him to the or to the draw—with a of success. The Lensman's a seven inches: the once and traveled—or rather, backward—approximately seven he and upon the pavement.
"Decontamination," Costigan remarked, to empty air, as he the up and him over the of suitcases. "Deke. Front and center. Area forty-six. Class Eff-ex—hotter than the middle of hell."
"You called Deke?" A man came up. "Eff-ex six—nineteen. This it?"
"Check. It's yours, and all. Take it away."
Costigan on until he met Jack Kinnison, who had a rapidly-developing mouse under his left eye.
"How did that happen, Jack?" he sharply. "Something slip?"
"Not exactly." Kinnison ruefully. "I have the luck! A woman—an old lady at that—thought I was a hold-up and on me with her hand-bag—southpaw and from the rear. And if you laugh, you harp, I'll one right on the end of your chin, so help me!"
"Far be it from such," Costigan him, and did not—quite—laugh. "Wonder how we came out? They should have reported this—p-s-s-t! Here it comes!"
Decontamination was complete; Operation Zunk had been a one-hundred-percent success; there had been no casualties.
"Except for one black eye," Costigan not help adding; but his Lens and his Service Specials were off. Jack would have him if any of them had been on.
Linking arms, the two Lensmen away toward Ramp Four, which was to be their station.
This was the largest Earth had known. Everybody, particularly the Nationalists, had why this political had been set for three full ahead of the election, but their had not been satisfied. Furthermore, this meeting had been as no previous one had been; neither pains cash had been in it the build-up known. Not only had every of been for weeks, but also Samms' had been very in starting rumors; which grew, as do, into which their own fathers and mothers not recognize. And the Nationalists, trying to play the whole thing down, worse. Interest spread from North America to the other continents, to the other planets, and to the other systems.
Thus, to say that was in, and was to, the Cosmocrats' Grand Rally would not be too an exaggeration.
Roderick Kinnison up to the of microphones; screens were cut.
"Fellow of Civilization and others: while it may to a political to other and to it to other worlds, it was necessary in this case. The message to be given, while it will go into the political of the North American Continent of Tellus, will with a larger thing; a which will be of to all beings of every world. You know how to your minds to mine. Do it now."
He under the of so many minds, but and on, Lens:
"My message is not to you, my Cosmocrats, to you, my on Earth, to you, my to Civilization; but to THE ENEMY. I do not my political opponents, the Nationalists, who are almost all North Americans. I the who are using the of that Nationalist party as pawns in a larger game.
"I know, ENEMY, that you are listening. I know that you had in this audience, to kill me and my officer. Know now that they are impotent. I know that you had bombs, with which to this and this entire area. They have been and stored. I know that you had large of radio-active dusts. They now in the Patrol near Weehauken. All the which you to are known, and all save one have been either or confiscated.
"That one is your war-fleet, a in your opinion to out all the Armed Forces of the Galactic Patrol. You to use it in case we Cosmocrats win this election; you may decide to use it now. Do so if you like; you can do nothing to or to affect this meeting. This is all I have to say to you, Enemy of Civilization.
"Now to you, my audience. I am not here to deliver the address promised you, but to the speaker—First Lensman Virgil Samms...."
A gasp, millions strong, itself felt.
"... Yes—First Lensman Samms, of you all know. He has not been political we, his advisers, would not let him. Why? Here are the facts. Through Archibald Isaacson, of Interstellar Spaceways, he was offered a which would in a years have to some fifty billion credits; more than any has possessed. Then there was an attempt at murder, which we were able—just barely—to block. Knowing there was no other place on Earth where he would be safe, we took him to The Hill. You know what happened; you know what condition The Hill is in now. This was to pirates.
"The whole operation, however, was in a attempt to kill one man—Virgil Samms. The Enemy knew, and we learned, that Samms is the man who has lived. His name will last as long as Civilization endures, for it is he, and only he, who can make it possible for Civilization to endure.
"Why was I not killed? Why was I allowed to keep on making speeches? Because I do not count. I am of no more to the of Civilization than is my Witherspoon to that of the Enemy.
"I am a wheel-horse, a plugger. You all know me—'Rocky Rod' Kinnison, the hard-boiled egg. I've got to up and for what I know is right. I've got the and the to up and it out, toe to toe, with man, beast, or devil. I would make and WILL MAKE a good president; I've got the and to keep on after you elect me; God I promise to every machine-made who to any part of our government in the in which it now is.
"I am a plugger and a slugger, with no of the of which makes Virgil Samms what he so is. My may be important, but I am not. There are so many of us! If they had killed me another would have taken my place and the upon the job would have been nil.
"Virgil Samms, however, can not be replaced and the Enemy it. He is in all history. No one else can do his job. If he is killed the for which he is are Civilization will into barbarism. It will not until another such mind comes into existence, the of which I will let you for yourselves.
"For those Virgil Samms is not here in person. Nor is he in The Hill, since the Enemy may now powerful to not only that fortress, but also the whole Earth. And they would Earth, without a qualm, if in so doing they kill the First Lensman.
"Therefore Samms is now out in space. Our is waiting to be attacked. If we win, the Galactic Patrol will go on. If we lose, we you shall have learned so that we will not have died uselessly."
"Die? Why should you die? You are safe on Earth!"
"Ah, one of the sent that thought. If our is no Lensman, anywhere, will live a week. The Enemy will see to that.
"That is all from me. Stay tuned. Come in, First Lensman Virgil Samms ... take over, sir."
It was for Virgil Samms to use such language as Kinnison had just employed. Nor was it either necessary or that he should; the ground had been prepared. Therefore—coldly, impersonally, logically, tellingly—he told the whole story. He the most up by the Patrols' investigators, names, places, dates, transactions, and amounts. Only in the last of minutes did he warm up at all.
"Nor is this in any a or a of to the issue or to without and upon the very of election a political opponent. These are facts. Formal are now being preferred; every person mentioned, and many others, will be put under as soon as possible. If any one of them were in any our case against him be to in less than the three election day. That is why this meeting is being at this time.
"Not one of them is innocent. Being guilty, and that we can and will prove guilt, they will a policy of and recrimination. Since our are, for the most part, just, the will be able to the and the presentation of until after election day. Forewarned, however, you will know why the will have been delayed, and in of the of you will know where the truth lies. You will know how to your votes. You will vote for Roderick Kinnison and for those who support him.
"There is no need for me to upon the of Port Admiral Kinnison. You know him as well as I do. Honest, incorruptible, fearless, you know that he will make the best president we have had. If you do not already know it, ask any one of the hundreds of thousands of strong, able, clear-thinking men and who have under him in our Armed Forces.
"I thank you, who has listened, for your interest."
