"It seems so," he said.
"There is no definite proof?" demanded Kingston.
"Time and the future are both based upon the laws of probability," replied Maddox. "That these three worlds do exist side by side by side in time is certain—that they might have existed at any time before they did start was a matter of probability. Anything is probable, you know. That we live is a most certain probability, yet that we will continue to live is less certain."
"You're talking in circles," snapped Kingston. "Get to the point!"
"Sorry, I must sound vague. You see, Leader, I've been thinking about this for some time and therefore I am inclined to think over the well-worn thought-trails swiftly and in considerable elision. However, according to this equation, the fact is this. The spatial continuum is strained by the unnatural presence of three congruent pathways through the present time.
"As we know, only the most probable of these will continue to exist. That—unfortunately—is Earth One. The Alamogordo experiment on Earth One was the most probable, of course. Obviously Earth Two is destined to die soon, leaving but Earths One and Three.
"But," continued Maddox thoughtfully, "we have posed the problem and the machine here reasons that we are correct."
"Then we need not undergo all the strife in order to survive!"
"Obviously not. Once the pathways through time are no longer strained by multiple existences the strain will cease. In other words, once we—Earth Three—are the only true survivor the strain will cease and there will be no fear of our demise."
"Then all we need do is to eliminate One and Two—and then," Kingston grinned, "Earth Three becomes the only one?"