nent and enlightened elite is by far the best form of government;
infinitely better than the blundering inefficiencies of democratic rule.
But throughout history, this elite, whether monarchy, oligarchy,
dictatorship or junta, has been unable to perpetuate itself. Leaders
die, the followers squabble for power, and chaos is close behind. With
immortality, this last flaw would be corrected. There would be no
discontinuity of leadership, for the leaders would always be there."

"A permanent dictatorship," Dennison said.

"Yes. A permanent, benevolent rule by small, carefully chosen elite
corps, based upon the sole and exclusive possession of immortality. It's
historically inevitable. The only question is, who is going to get
control first?"

"And you think you are?" Dennison demanded.

"Of course. Our organization is still small, but absolutely solid. It is
bolstered by every new invention that comes into our hands and by every
scientist who joins our ranks. Our time will come, Dennison! We'd like
to have you with us, among the elite."

"You want _me_ to join you?" Dennison asked, bewildered.

"We do. Our organization needs creative scientific minds to help us in
our work, to help us save mankind from itself."

"Count me out," Dennison said, his heart beating fast.

"You won't join us?"

"I'd like to see you all hanged."

Mr. Bennet nodded thoughtfully and pursed his small lips. "You have
taken your own serum, have you not?"

Dennison nodded. "I suppose that means you kill me now?"

"We don't kill," Mr. Bennet said. "We merely wait. I think you are a
reasonable man, and I think you'll come to see things our way. We'll be
around a long time. So will you. Take him away."

Dennison was led to an elevator that dropped deep into the Earth. He was
marched down a long passageway lined with armed men. They went through
four massive doors. At the fifth, Dennison was pushed inside alone, and
the door was locked behind him.

He was in a large, well-furnished apartment. There were perhaps twenty
people in the room, and they came forward to meet him.

One of them, a stocky, bearded man, was an old college acquaintance of
Dennison's.

"Jim Ferris?"

"That's right," Ferris said. "Welcome to the Immortality Club,
Dennison."

"I read you were killed in an air crash last year."

"I merely--disappeared," Ferris said, with a rueful smile, "after
inventing the immortality serum. Just like the others."

"All of them?"