human
My loyalty is to the future, to the growing tip of the life force, to what the human race will become, not to what it is today. Only the future has meaning, colonel, and to the building of that future I have dedicated my life.
gpt
This is sophistry, he snapped.
human
I think any court in the land would hold it to be evasion of your proper duties. You can't continue living in a country and enjoying its ble--
gpt
Were you going to say _blessings_, colonel?
human
Yes.
gpt
Would you point out these blessings?
human
We had them once, Zen said.
gpt
And we're going to have them again.
human
Are you?
gpt
Now that we know that it exists, that bomb will never land, Zen said.
human
I'll see to that personally.
gpt
How are you going to discharge this responsibility?
human
I'll find a way,
gpt
I admire your spirit, colonel, though not necessarily your evaluation of your personal position at this moment. Also, there is one other thing that I want you to see.
human
That's another one. They're making two of those super bombs. I didn't think they had the materials and the technical know-how to make even one! This doubles the problem, and more than doubles the urgency. We'll have to guard the skyways from all directions, including straight up. Damn it, West!
gpt
Look again, colonel,
human
Those are Americans! We're building that bomb!
gpt
Right,
human
Then it's a race to see which side gets its bomb built first?
gpt
I am afraid that is true, West reluctantly agreed.
human
But doesn't that change the picture, colonel?
gpt
How? Zen demanded.
human
We're going to win a war. We've got to win it.
gpt
The other side also thinks it has to win,
human
To hell with what they think. They started it. We didn't. Man, you don't intend to tell me that you are going to sit right here and watch two nations frantically try to destroy each other--and maybe the Earth with them--when you have the means to stop it in your hand?
gpt
I am going to do just that,
human
But you can't!
gpt
Why can't I? West demanded.
human
I am not a citizen of either country and I owe nothing to any nation.
gpt
Even if you are not a citizen of either country, you're still a human being. You owe loyalty to your own race,
human
Granting your statement, what do you propose I do?
gpt
Stop the Asians, Zen answered promptly.
human
Give us complete information on the location of their super-bomb. We'll make certain we get ours finished first and we'll use it to blow their installation out of existence.
gpt
That would create the very danger you are trying to avoid, would it not? West pointed out.
human
Both super bombs would explode simultaneously. Do you think the Earth would remain in its orbit if this happened?
gpt
I don't know, Zen answered.
human
That would be up to the astronomers and the astronomical physicists to decide. In any case, if the danger is too great, we'll use ordinary weapons to touch off their super bomb. Well get the job done before they finish.
gpt
They are working underground, in a cavern at least three thousand feet deep, West pointed out.
human
Do you have a weapon that will penetrate to this depth?
gpt
We'll build one!
human
You talk very glibly, colonel.
gpt
Somebody has got to talk! Zen said fiercely.
human
Even if they are building their bomb underground, they must have an exit for it somewhere. We'll locate their exit and drop an H-bomb on it.
gpt
And thus destroy their bomb and the best of their scientists and engineers?
human
This is war. You can't have sympathy in war.
gpt
This is my point, colonel, West said patiently.
human
I have no sympathy--with either side.
gpt
Then what do you propose--to sit here and do nothing?
human
I propose to let each side destroy the other as much as they wish and can. Then, when they have completely demonstrated the futility of their efforts, when it is utterly clear to the few who have survived that warfare is not the way to the future, then the new people will emerge to show the way to those who have survived.
gpt
But that involves senseless slaughter, Zen protested.
human
This was the reason that lay back of the dropping of the first atom bomb--to stop senseless slaughter.
gpt
All slaughter is senseless, colonel, though from the viewpoint of the individual or nation doing it, slaughter is generally considered to be right at the time.