DIRK MASTERS, chief engineer of the Standard Broadcasting System, made a last minute check-up of his equipment before handing the ear phones to his assistant.
"We're going to broadcast in about twenty minutes," he said rising to his feet. He was a big man and in the small, apparatus-clustered cabin he appeared almost huge. His hair was black and unruly, but his eyes were as blue as a baby's, although not quite so innocent.
Leaving the cabin which had been converted into a control room, he ascended the companion way to the deck. It was a brilliant day, cloudless and clear. The strong hot sun sparkled on the blue expanse of the Atlantic, shooting lances of dancing light into his eyes.
Larry Winters, Standard's top notch announcer was standing at the rail smoking a cigarette. Dirk joined him.
"Feeling a little nervous?" he asked. "You go on he air in about twenty minutes, you know."
Larry Winters grinned. "Not particularly. In fact I'm looking forward to this broadcast. After all the bloody battles I've been describing for the last eight years I'm fed up with war and misery and death and suffering."
"I know how you feel," Dirk said quietly. "Even though Hitler has been dead four years and his armies smashed to bits, it's still hard to realize it's all over and done with."[1]
"It's all over though," Larry Winters said emphatically. "Or after today it will be forever. When we send all the armaments of the Earth to the bottom of the Atlantic we'll be putting an end to war for all time."
"I'm not so sure," Dirk muttered.
Larry, who had been watching the horizon anxiously, suddenly grabbed his arm excitedly.
"Look, Dirk!" he yelled. "We're coming into sight of the flotilla. Lord, there must be two thousand ships in that fleet."
Dirk watched the majestic fleet which comprised all class ships of all the nations in the world as it slowly rose over the rim of the horizon and as their own fast launch approached it.
The vast fleet represented the navies of the world. Each ship was loaded to capacity with tanks and cannons and shells and powder. Many of them were listing dangerously from the heavy loads they carried. The mighty capital ships formed the outer ring of the vast circle, with cruisers, destroyers and submarines next in order. Inside the circle formed by the battle crafts were hundreds of barges loaded to capacity with machine guns, mortars, grenades and the other grades of smaller arms.
In the precise center of the ring was a solitary black barge, isolated from all other craft. On it was built a raised dais. On this dais rested a heavy, square leaden casket, grimly alone.
"I don't approve of the Tribunal's action in abolishing all armaments," Dirk said, "but one thing I'm glad to see go is that damned death ray. Anything that potentially dangerous should be destroyed."
"I AGREE there," Larry said. He shuddered slightly as his eyes focused on the black barge with its ominous burden, the leaden casket on the
- ↑ In the winter of nineteen forty-one Japan attacked America at Pearl Harbor and, some time later, Germany turned from the east and threw its might in an all-out onslaught on the British Isles. The United States entered the war and the conflict settled down to a long, costly war of attrition. Finally after four years Hitler was defeated, the enslaved peoples of Europe were liberated, and an International Tribunal was established to bring peace and security and democracy to the Nations of the World.—Ed.
