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Perhaps because of his baldness, his weariness from the long session, Simmons suddenly looked sixty, rather than forty. "I hate the word!" he said. Simmons had spent all his adult life in study of Eastern Europe, which meant study of Russia principally. He had served two tours of duty at the embassy in Moscow. He explained, "You cannot know a people very well--any people--without finding much to admire in them. I hate to say war between my country and Russia but I have to say it. War. Oh, they haven't made the decision yet. They'd much rather have us appease them. But that we'll never do and so they move towards war. I don't know why this insanity, just when things seemed to be shaking down."

"If we'd had another depression," said Walback, "war wouldn't be necessary. I think they counted on a depression. We cut down on production of aircraft and guns, but we built roads and schools instead. We fooled 'em."

Fromburg, who as usual had said little, and who was so inconspicuous it was hard to remember whether or not he attended meetings, spoke up. "I want to ask a question." Fromburg was their skeptic. While others concocted adventures, military and political, for the enemy to attempt, Fromburg decided whether such moves were feasible. "Just one question--why war now?"