elements at its disposal. So it employed their lower homologues and in
that manner successfully produced an almost identical model. In fact,
the only significant difference is that such a gun, if it had been a
complete model, could not possibly have been fired." He smiled briefly.
"But that, I think you will agree, _is_ a significant difference! We
knew as soon as the so-called Geest gun was examined that it could only
have been made by human beings."

"Then," Commissioner Sanford said soberly, "its apparent discovery on
Roye during our visit was a deliberate hoax--"

Cranehart nodded. "Of course."

Ronald Black said, "I fail to see why you've kept this quiet. You
needn't have given away any secrets. Meanwhile the wave of public
criticism at the government's seeming hesitancy to take action on the
discovery--that is, to rush protection to the threatened Territorial
Segments--has reached almost alarming proportions. You could have
stopped it before it began two months ago with a single announcement."

"Well, yes," Cranehart said. "There were other considerations.
Incidentally, Mr. Black, we are not unappreciative of the fact that the
news media under your own control exercised a generous restraint in the
matter."

"For which," Black said dryly, "I am now very thankful."

"As for the others," Cranehart went on, "the government has survived
periods of criticism before. That is not important. The important thing
is that the Geest War has been with us for more than a human life span
now ... and it becomes difficult for many to bear in mind that until its
conclusion no acts that might reduce our ability to prosecute it can be
tolerated."

Ronald Black said slowly, "So you've been delaying the announcement
until you could find out who was responsible for the hoax."

"We were interested," Cranehart said, "only in the important men--the
dangerous men. We don't care much who else is guilty of what. This, you
see, is a matter of expediency, not of justice." He looked for a moment
at the politely questioning, somewhat puzzled faces across the desk,
went on, "When you leave this room, each of you will be conducted to an
office where you will be given certain papers to sign. That is the first
step."

* * *

There was silence for some seconds. Ronald Black took a cigarette from a
platinum case, tapped it gently on the desk, put it to his mouth and lit
it. Cranehart went on, "It would have been impossibl