'm having
one installed tomorrow."

After they left John said with a sparkle Philon had never seen before,
"You know, Phil, those are the most interesting kids I've ever met.
All the others I know are bored stiff. They've been everyplace and
they've done everything.

"But Jimmie and Jean ask more questions about things than anybody I
know. They're really interested. Every time I drop in on them they're
studying history beginning with the middle of the Twentieth Century.
They're absolutely fascinated and read it like fiction."

With more on his mind than his neighbors' unusual behavior Philon
said, "Mmm." He stood looking at the boy for a long moment until John
finally shifted self-consciously.

"What's the matter, Phil?"

Philon ended his musing. "Tomorrow night we're all going to call on
the MacDonalds. And while we're there I want you to slip that copy of
the _Smyth Report_ out of their library."

For a moment the young boy's smooth face was a blank mask. Then it
filled in with shocked surprise, then resentment and finally anger.
"You mean--steal?"

"Of course. If they're too innocent to realize the value of the book
that's their hard luck."

"But, Phil, I can't imagine myself stealing from...."

Impatiently, Philon said, "Since when did you suddenly get so
holier-than-thou? Life is harsh, life is iron-fisted and if you don't
keep your guard up you're going to get socked in the kisser."

John said slowly with a certain tone of shame, "Yes, I know. As far
back as I can remember you've told me that. But in spite of it I can't
help feeling it isn't right to treat the MacDonalds that way. They're
too nice, too good."

"Look, John. You might as well learn the hard facts of life. All the
high-sounding arguments for a moral world and all the laws on the
books implementing those arguments are just eyewash. Sure, the
President swears that he will uphold the constitution and enforce all
the laws.

"Then we carefully surround him with counterspies--wire his rooms with
dictaphones, slit his mail, install secret informers on his staff. All
because no matter who the party is able to elect we don't trust
him--because the society he represents does not trust itself."

"Is that why we have more and bigger jails than ever?"

Philon shrugged. "All I'm trying to tell you is don't go soft-headed
or the world will take your shirt."

The next day before leaving for the office Philon said to his wife,
"Call up the MacDon