"Who wants to go to the Moon, anyway?" Thorpe asked, passing a hand over his bald head. "We've got troubles of our own right here on Earth. Plenty to settle right here, man. Plenty. In a little while perhaps. Sometime in the future. Twenty, twenty-five years. But now, unthinkable."
"We've been saying that too long," Saunders snapped. "Now is the time! Not twenty or twenty-five years from now, but right now! Science has given us the means; it's up to us to take the opportunity and use it."
"It couldn't be done profitably," Peterson said drily.
"Profitably," Saunders said bitterly. "Are your wars profitable?" he suddenly shouted, bringing his bony fist crashing to the table top.
"Let's not get violent," Slade said. It was the first thing he'd said all night. Saunders somehow had the feeling that a corpse had spoken.
"Exactly," he said, "Let's not get violent; let's spend some of the money that's been buying munitions and lives. Instead of razing cities to the ground, let's go up into the skies. Let's spend that money for a project that's worthwhile. For once, forget the profit and think of the meaning to mankind." He paused and his voice grew lower. "We've been ravaged by too many wars, gentleman. Can't we stop this useless butchery and devote our time and energy to something constructive? Can't we? I know my rocket will work. It's scientifically sound. I know, too, that I can get a crew of scientists and technicians to take it to the Moon and back. All I need is the money and a little time. Just a little time."
"There's a war going on, Saunders," Bragg reminded him. He had lit a cigar with a gold lighter and was sitting now, puffing leisurely, blowing smoke at the ceiling.
"I know," Saunders said. "Two wars in the past thirty years and now another one. But consider this a moment. A trip to the Moon would probably end all hostilities on Earth. It would probably unify this planet as no other force has ever done. It will galvanize humanity into constructive action. It will open new vistas that cannot possibly admit plans for war."
Peterson yawned openly. "Mmmm. I must say you're an idealist, Saunders. I doubt very much if anything short of a trip to the Sun would unify the people of Earth." He chuckled a little at this and looked to the others for approval.