"Absolutely not, young lady! The very great majority has always followed a strict code of ethics that the very small minority has always subverted. Many ethical admen are in the birds now, on their way to England—knowing perfectly well that England is poor territory for emotional salesmanship."
"But why a Royalty Party in a democracy?" Miss Knox asked.
"Royalty—" The tape showed amusement. "Not aristocracy. Royalty, as in share of and control over. Motto of the Royalty Party: 'The inventor is worthy of his invention,' meaning the right to say how his discovery shall or shall not be used—or not be used at all, if it can only be destructive—as well as sharing in the proceeds. Unreasonable attitudes are not possible; we have an Appeals Board that can overrule a pig-headed patentee. Radiocompressors were intended for beautification of environment, not deception or thought control."
"Why England?" she persisted.
"Pretty generally, the Royalty code is and has been standard procedure there. Like their constitution, it hasn't had to be put in writing."
"Aren't there slums and unsightly monuments in England, too?"
"Of course. Why do you think they would like to have the invention? But it's safe there; it won't be subverted to thought control and sales engineering.... Tell me, Delia, is Dr. Gesner on this ambulance? I would like to meet him."
Dr. Brooks had come back from the control room. He sat beside her on the bed. "Dr. Gesner went ahead with Dr. Hamilton," he said, "because you're healthier than either one of them. But, Mr. Barger—Bill—doesn't light-wave interference need two overlapping projectors plus the subliminal image? We only found one."
The recorder chattered: "I am sure the other is also somewhere in the bed. It is harmless by itself, and I am glad we have it—it will help me instruct a team of British physicists and engineers. But who is in the other compartment? I hate to play chess with the same people over and over."
"I'm afraid he doesn't play," said Brooks. "I think it's old Boney, who had his throat cut because your friends thought he might get you some help too soon."