“Exactly. But it's something effective, ain't it?”
Hennion paused and felt confused. A man of such sharp analysis and warped performance as this, how was one to get to understand him? He leaned back in his chair and crossed his knees. The sharp analysis might be a trick Hicks had caught from listening to Aidee's speeches. It sounded like Aidee.
“Well, anyhow, Mr. Hicks, in the way of effectiveness, why did you shoot Wood?”
Hicks' eyes were little pin-points of concentration.
“He sold the people to the corporations.”
“Well. But suppose he did. Will the next man do any better? If not, where's the effectiveness?”
“He won't be so sharp.”
“You thought Wood was too sharp to be downed Aidee's way?”
“He was the devil's latest scheme. I sent him to the devil.”
“And shoulder the consequences. I like that. But the next man. Suppose I were the next man.”