Illustrated by EMSH
Strange how often the Millennium has been athand. The idea is peace on Earth, see, andthe way to do it is by figuring out angles.
When Gelsen entered, hesaw that the rest ofthe watchbird manufacturerswere already present.There were six of them, notcounting himself, and the roomwas blue with expensive cigarsmoke.
"Hi, Charlie," one of themcalled as he came in.
The rest broke off conversationlong enough to wave a casualgreeting at him. As awatchbird manufacturer, he wasa member manufacturer of salvation,he reminded himself wryly.Very exclusive. You must have acertified government contract ifyou want to save the humanrace.
"The government representativeisn't here yet," one of themen told him. "He's due anyminute."
"We're getting the greenlight," another said.
"Fine." Gelsen found a chairnear the door and looked aroundthe room. It was like a convention,or a Boy Scout rally. Thesix men made up for their lackof numbers by sheer volume. Thepresident of Southern Consolidatedwas talking at the top of hislungs about watchbird's enormousdurability. The two presidentshe was talking at weregrinning, nodding, one trying tointerrupt with the results of atest he had run on watchbird'sresourcefulness, the other talkingabout the new recharging apparatus.
The other three men were intheir own little group, deliveringwhat sounded like a panegyricto watchbird.
Gelsen noticed that all of themstood straight and tall, like thesaviors they felt they were. Hedidn't find it funny. Up to a fewdays ago he had felt that wayhimself. He had considered himselfa pot-bellied, slightly baldingsaint.
He sighed and lighted a cigarette.At the beginning of theproject, he had been as enthusiasticas the others. He rememberedsaying to Macintyre, hischief engineer, "Mac, a new dayis coming. Watchbird is the Answer."And Macintyre had noddedvery profoundly—anotherwatchbird convert.
How wonderful it had seemedthen! A simple, reliable answerto one of mankind's greatestproblems, all wrapped and packagedin a pound of incorruptiblemetal, crystal and plastics.
Perhaps that was the very reasonhe was doubting it now. Gelsensuspected that you don'tsolve human problems so easily.There had to be a catch somewhere.
After all, murder was an oldproblem, and watchbird too newa solution.
"Gentlemen—" They had beentalking so heatedly that theyhadn't noticed the governmentrepresentative entering. Now theroom became quiet at once.
"Gentlemen," the plump governmentman said, "the President,with the consent ofCongress, has acted to form awatchbird division for every cityand town in the country."
The men burst into a spontaneousshout of triumph. Theywere going to have their chanceto save the world after all, Gelsenthought, and worriedly askedhimself what was wrong withthat.
He listened carefully as thegovernment man outlined thedistribution scheme. The countrywas to be divided into sevenareas, each to be supplied andserviced by one manufacturer.This meant monopoly, of course,but a necessary one. Like thetelephone service, it was inthe public's best interests. Youcouldn't have competition inwatchbird service. Watchbirdwas for everyone.
"The President hopes," therepresentative continued, "thatfull watchbird service will be installedin the shortest possibletime. You will have top