“But to get back to our early troubles. We had to find the right blend of ‘P’ and scientific talent. We got it only two years ago. Meanwhile we had been going ahead with the others, testing and refining, harnessing the ‘P’ factor to our needs, learning more and more about it, with the object of putting it, as it were, on tap.
“So, when we found the combination we were looking for, we knew just how to deal with it. The aim we had set ourselves was of bringing back a blueprint of the greatest weapon in the world a hundred years from now. That meant the boy had to be taught the essentials of draughtsmanship. And he had to be tried out on the nearer future. We rehearsed him over periods from one to ten years ahead. The results were excellent. We found that he could be put in a hypnotic trance with the command to filch a particular idea from a particular future, and he would deliver the goods every time.”
The professor paused and let his gaze roam round our little gathering.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “today is the day of our success. We are so confident of it that we have invited you all here to see it with us. An hour ago the boy, Rudolf Leyton, was left in the adjoining room under the hypnotic instruction that he was to draw in full detail the weapon that will dominate the world in 2064. We shall now go in and inspect the result.”
Someone muttered something about “Security”. The professor held his hand up.
“You need not worry about security. Remember what we are seeking. It will take trained minds possibly months to comprehend fully what you are going to see now. You might call this a ceremonial occasion. Are we all prepared?”
There was a general murmur of agreement. Professor Norwood came down from his dais and moved through us towards the door at the end of the room. He nodded amiably as he came abreast of me.
“I hope this is going to put you and your colleagues finally out of business, General. You don’t mind my saying that, do you?”
I said: “That’s perfectly all right, Professor. Sometimes I wish something might happen to put you and your colleagues out of business. I don’t think either of us can be very hopeful, though.”
“Oh, I am!” he replied. “I really am, you know. Generals need a state of affairs where the two sides are fairly equally matched. With this, you will all have to resign and join the police force.”