raised dais. "It won the war for us undoubtedly, but it's too hellish to remain in existence. Anyway it has the spot of honor in the day's proceedings."[1]
"With that on the bottom of the ocean," Dirk said grimly. "We can all feel safer. If that instrument of death ever got into the hands of another Hitler it doesn't take much imagination to figure out what would happen."
"There'll never be another Hitler," Larry said impatiently. "A dictator rules by force of arms. And with no arms in the world, and every munitions factory under Tribunal surveillance, it would be impossible for a dictator to flourish."
"Let's hope you're right," Dirk said. He glanced at his watch. "Well, it's about time for us to get ready. Churchill and the President have finished their speeches and the radio-controlled planes are on their way now to blow this fleet into the middle of next week. And the public is waiting for you to tell them all about it. I'm going back to the control room now. I'll signal when I get the flash for New York."
"Okay," Larry said. He moved to the microphone which was set up near the rail and adjusted it to his height.
Dirk descended to the control room and took the headphones from his assistant. While he awaited the signal from New York, he made a few last adjustments on the control board.
In a few minutes he heard the first faint thunder of the thousands of radio controlled fighting planes which were heading to meet the vast flotilla in a rendezvous of roaring death.
Dirk felt a peculiar feeling of pride in the people of Earth as he heard the increasing sound of the planes nearing their suicidal meeting with the armada of naval forces. This destruction of the terrible weapons of war was tangible evidence that the people of Earth had learned their lesson and that they were prepared to make a future for themselves in which the horrors of war would be an impossibility. It was proof that civilization was advancing to its ultimate goal, that it was eradicating forever the most malignant cancer spot on the structure of peace and harmony.
As the huge squadrons of planes roared overhead he heard the signal from New York clearing the channels for the broadcast from the sea. With a flick of his ringer he cut Larry Winters in and signaled him to go ahead.
An instant later Larry's clear, dramatic voice was in his ears describing to him and to the anxiously listening world the spectacular, devastating destruction of Earth's weapons of war.
"THE vast fleet of radio-controlled planes is hovering over the mighty circle of ships and barges," Larry's
- ↑ The invention of the devastating weapon which the newspapers dubbed the "Death Ray" was the turning point of the war. Developed in America, it was capable of completely shattering all types of life, whether of vegetable or animal origin. Based on the priniciple that had made possible the discovery of U-235, it destroyed life by splitting the atomic structure of the cell into myriad organisms. It is somewhat consoling to realize that this deadly instrument of death was never actually utilized against humans. Once the knowledge of its existence reached the Third Reich the soldiers of Hiller's armies lost much of their fanatical desire lo fight. Thus, when England and America invaded the continent of Europe they were able to smash the apathetic armies of Germany with comparative ease.
After the war settlement the International Tribunal decreed that all armaments and planes and ships would be destroyed to eliminate for all time the possibility of another costly, futile war.
For some time it was debated whether or not the "Death Ray" should be included in this general destruction of armaments. At least it was decided that its potential destructive power was too dangerous to leave in existence. Along with all other implements of war it was ordered destroyed. It was sealed in a leaden casket, along with the formula for its discovery and operation and towed out to sea on a black barge, to be sunk by radio-controlled planes with the rest of the world's war weapons.—Ed.
