"Then you'd be wrong," the other said. "Progress had been made but
often in spite of the bureaucracy, not because of it. In the early
days it wasn't so obvious, but as we develop the rule of the political
bureaucrat becomes increasingly a hindrance. Politicians can't operate
industries and they can't supervise laboratories. To the extent our
scientist and technicians are interfered with by politicians, to that
extent we are held up in our progress. Surely you've heard of the
Lysenko matter?"

"He was the one who evolved the anti-Mendelian theory of genetics,
fifteen or twenty years ago."

"Correct," Georgi snorted. "Acquired characteristics could be handed
down by heredity. It took the Academy of Agricultural Science at least
a decade to dispose of him. Why? Because his theories fitted into
Stalin's political beliefs." The underground spokesman snorted again.

Hank had the feeling they were drifting from the subject. "Then you
want to overthrow the Communist bureaucracy?"

"Yes, but that is only part of the story. Overthrowing it without
something to replace the bureaucracy is a negative approach. We have
no interest in a return to Czarist Russia, even if that were possible,
and it isn't. We want to profit by what has happened in these years of
ultra-sacrifice, not to destroy everything. The day of rule by
politicians is antiquated, we look forward to the future." He seemed
to switch subjects. "Do you remember Djilas' book which he wrote in
one of Tito's prisons, "The New Class"?"

"Vaguely. I read the reviews. It was a best seller in the States some
time ago."

Georgi made with his characteristic snort. "It was a best seller
here--in underground circles. At any rate, that explains much. Our
bureaucracy, no matter what its ideals might have been to begin with,
has developed into a new class of its own. Russia sacrifices to
surpass the West--but our bureaucrats don't. In Lenin's day the
commissar was paid the same as the average worker, but today we have
bureaucrats as wealthy as Western millionaires."

Hank said, "Of course, these are your problems. I don't pretend to
have too clear a picture of them. However, it seems to me we have a
mutual enemy. Right at this moment it appears that they are to receive
some support that will strengthen them. I suggest you co-operate with
me in hopes they'll be thwarted."

For the first time a near smile appeared on the young Russian's face.
"A ludicrous situation. We have he