Page:Astounding Science Fiction (1950-01).djvu/21

 green." He hesitated. "I regret to inform the lady that her husband will never be able to return to his work. Why? Because so little while is left to us that no time remains for either work or play."

An excited uneasy murmur swept around the coliseum that rose to a sharp peak then hastily died away as the chairman selected another card. "Our second question is from a man in Pomona who signs himself ‘Taxpayer'. His letter is too long to read in full so that I must confine myself to his inquiry at the end. ‘If scientists knew light was going to be extinguished, then why didn't they get busy and do something about it a long time ago? The government makes me pay taxes so scientists can sit in their laboratories and hatch these wild theories. But when danger comes along they're just as helpless as the rest of us.'"

The letter provoked a good deal of laughter mingled with a surprising amount of handclapping. The humor of the situation, however, was wholly lost on Friedmann. "What would Mr. Taxpayer have the scientists do?" he demanded in a voice that was openly contemptuous. "Does he think they deliberately create the lightning that destroys a tree? Or the earthquake that engulfs a city? Well, I can assure him that these are nothing compared to the force that threatens us now. But before he criticizes science let him first learn something about it—go back to grammar school or read some little children's book."

There was a timid scattering of applause that was soon drowned in a chorus of boos and catcalls from all sides. One could sense the rising tide of resentment and frustration underneath.

"What did I tell you?" Arnold shouted. "They aren't going to take it."

Stoddard hunched down farther in his seat. "If you ask me all hell's going to break loose here in another minute."

Two members of the committee could be seen apparently expostulating with Friedmann, who stood listening to them indifferently with folded arms. The chairman was doing his best to restore order but it was nearly a minute before he was able to proceed. "Quiet please. Quiet," he entreated. "We have many more questions on the program of vital interest which I am sure you are all anxious to hear. Now here is one from a schoolteacher in Lynwood which goes straight to the point. ‘Dear Dr. Friedmann, can you tell us what course of events we may expect from the Xi effect in the immediate future?'"

"There can be no doubt as to the course of events up to a certain point," Friedmann replied, speaking more slowly than usual and evidently weighing his words with care. "Beyond that point there is no knowledge, only speculation and conjecture.

"But in the immediate future the course of events is very clear. The i