he key question, of course, was: How soon will Russia be able to mount
an army? Probably not very soon, he decided. That fact gave him time to
ferret out more information; to become completely sure of himself.

One thing you had to realize about the American public--or about any
mass of humanity, for that matter--a thing of importance had to be
presented dramatically. This, in a sense, was the duty of the elected
public servant--to recognize this somewhat childish failing of the
average intelligence and make allowances for it. _You can do this, of
course_, Senator Crane told himself, _when you love the people_.

And, fortunately for their survival, Senator Crane loved the American
people.

So, for a few moments, he o'erleaped the hard work ahead and saw the
goal--envisioned the headlines:

SENATOR CRANE UNCOVERS DEADLY PERIL TO THE NATION

Due entirely to the patriotic, selfless efforts of one United
States Senator, the nation has been warned in time of....

SENATOR CRANE STUNS CONGRESS AND THE NATION WITH HIS REVELATIONS

Standing alone on the rostrum, a heroic figure pitted, as it were,
against all the sinister forces that bore from within, one valiant
United States Senator....

Crane had dropped back into his chair. His eyes had closed, the better
to visualize a grateful nation expending their plaudits.

And because he was a man who used a great deal of energy in pursuing an
objective, he tired at times. He became drowsy now....

... And went gently to sleep.

5

"Doctor Corson. Calling Doctor Corson. Please come to the second-floor
reception room."

Frank Corson got the call as he was leaving the maternity ward. He took
the elevator down and found a rather sloppily dressed, middle-aged man
sitting on a lounge beside a weather-beaten camera that tended to mark
his profession.

"I'm Les King, a free-lance news photographer. You're Doctor Corson?"

Frank Corson's reaction was slightly hostile. He wondered why. "I'm
Doctor Corson."

"I'm on the trail of a patient that came here late last night. Name,
William Matson. They tell me he was your patient."

Frank nodded briefly.

"They say he was released."

"That's right."

"A little over an hour ago."

"Right."

"They say he had a broken leg."

"If that's what they said, it must be a matter of record."

"Well, they're wrong on both counts. He came to see me over three hours
ago--and both his legs wer