se
startled, those stunned faces. Shut up shut up shut up shut up....

* * * * *

I'm certain that those walls had never heard anything above a quiet
murmur before that night. I just shocked Suggs and the rest into a
panicky silence while I ranted. I had to talk fast, because while
volume and violence are a good temporary substitute for brilliance, I
knew I wasn't going to have the floor forever.

"Let's talk straight, Suggs. Get this once, because I'm not repeating
it, and get that silly look off your face--" I'd heard he was
vain--"you and your constituents and your Army and your Navy can go to
hell, as far as I care for any of them. I'm the man you want to keep
your shirt clean while the rest of the world wallows in filth; I'm the
man that's supposed to let you and your type, God forbid, rule the
world; I'm the man--" I leaned over the table as far as I could, as
far as I dared.

"Suggs," and I poured venom down his shirtfront, "the only thing that
keeps me from despising the Government of the United States and the
people in it is the fact that I know you're not typical. You're a
freak, a monster!" And I threw in another to keep him off balance.
"You even _look_ like a fish!

"Remember this, Senator. Remember this one thing; if I ever see, if I
ever hear as much as one word from you about war or bombs, in private
or public, you'll live just long enough for me to hear about it!"

I threw a disgusted glance at the rest of the table. "One thing you
don't know, Senator, is that I can kill you where you sit. Smith!"

The Old Man was astonished as the Senator, who sat with gaping piscine
mouth and pop eyes. "Yes, Peter?"

"Tell him," I snapped. "Tell him how Kellner found out that I can stop
a heart just as fast as I can a truck. And you'd better tell him while
you're at it that Kellner thinks I'm emotionally unstable, subject to
fits of temper. Tell that to the Senator. Tell him what Kellner said
about me."

Smith coughed. "I think you all agree that Mr. Miller is a trifle upset.
You can form your own opinion as to his temper. As to the other ... well,
Dr. Kellner is the top man in his field. He tested Peter--Mr. Miller--very
thoroughly. I would give very careful consideration to whatever he says
about Peter's capabilities."

Now you can see what makes a diplomat. When Smith was finished talking
it sounded as though Kellner had actually said that I could murder
someone. And yet