etings, human' is one, like a
rabbleman says when somebody softens up."

"Spies?"

"Maybe a whole network. I don't see how they could get them through the
Wall, but--maybe it's not so hard. Antarctic's open, as he pointed out."

"What can we do about it, John?"

Smith stopped pacing, popped his knuckles hard, stared at them.
"Assemble Congress. Security-probe. It's the only answer. Let the
'Rabble's Parliament' run their own inquisition. They were always good
at purging themselves. Start a big spy-scare, and keep it in the
channels. I'll lead with a message to the rabble." He paused, the
tragedy mask gaping at them. "You won't like this, but I'm having the
Stand-ins probed too. The Presidency is not immune."

A muttering of indignation. Some of them went white. No one protested
however.

"No witch-hunt in this group, however," he assured them. "I'll veto
anything that looks unfair for the Primaries, but--" He paused and rang
the word again. "--_but_--there will be no leniency tolerated from here
on down. If Congress thinks it's found a spy, it can execute him on the
spot--and I won't lift a finger. This has got to be rooted out and
burned."

He began to pace again. He began barking crisp orders for specific
details of the probe, or rather, for the campaign that would start the
probe. The rabble were better at witch-hunts than a government was.
Congress had not been assembled for fifteen years, since there had been
nothing suspicious to investigate, but once it was called to duty, heads
would roll--some of them literally. If some innocent people were hurt,
the rabble could only blame themselves, for their own enthusiasm in
ruthlessly searching out the underground enemy. Smith couldn't worry
about that. If an Asian spy-system were operating in the continent, it
had to be crushed quickly.

* * * * *

When he had outlined the propaganda and string-pulling plans for them,
he turned to the other matter--the Red leader's boast of ability to
conquer the West.

"It's probably foolish talk, but we don't know their present psychology.
Double production on our most impressive weapons. Give the
artificial-satellite program all the money it wants, and get them moving
on it. I want a missile-launching site in space before the end of the
year. Pay particular attention to depopulation weapons for use against
industrial areas. We may have to strike in a hurry. We've been
fools--coasting this w