"I know. But that is the only thing I know of," said Friedrice.
"Enough," said Hohmann. "This is another example of the confusion-method. Our enemies hope to worry us by doing nothing—which is expected to make us fear something ultra-secret. Well, to a certain extent they have worried us. Not to any dangerous point, however, for we are too strong to be defeated by a mental condition. This overbearing arrival of letters is another thing. All letters must be opened and read, for some of them do contain much valuable information. They must all be saved and filed, for unless we have previous letters from some correspondent, we cannot know by comparison, whether a future letter containing information is false or true. A letter giving information that comes from a known correspondent who is helpful in the past will be treated with more respect than the same information coming from someone who has written reams of misdirection, falsity, and ranting notes depicting dire results if we do not release Hammond and behave ourselves."
Hohmann shrugged.
"Even so, we cannot be shunted aside," he added. "We have plenty of people who can take care of the misdirection, just to see that something isn't happening to us. The rest of us can continue preparing. Which brings me to another point."
Hohmann paused dramatically.
"When I press this key," he said, indicating the diamond-studded telegraph-style key, "the uranium pile will start to go. The key is connected to the restrainer-rod controls of the pile; when pressed, the rods leave the pre-set positions of no-reaction and fall under the automatic controlling circuits. The pile will then start functioning at approximately ten kilowatts. After checking, it will be advanced to a more productive power, and we are making the first step toward our glorious future."
A commotion started at the door, and everybody's head turned to see the guards bringing in Greg Hammond.
He shrugged off the guards and faced Hohmann defiantly.
"The United Nations have not stopped me," said Hohmann.