"Why?"
"To give them our side, the Western side, of the ... well, the controversy between us and the Soviet complex. We want an opportunity to have our say before they make any permanent treaties."
Georgi considered that. "We thought it was probably something similar," he muttered. "What do you think it will accomplish?"
"At least a delaying action. If the extraterrestrials throw their weight, their scientific progress, into the balance on the side of the Soviet complex, the West will have lost the cold war. Every neutral in the world will jump on the bandwagon. International trade, sources of raw materials, will be a thing of the past. Without a shot being fired, we'd become second-rate powers overnight."
Georgi said nothing for a long moment. A new youngster had drifted up to the group but one of those on the outskirts growled something at him and he went off again. Evidently, Hank decided, all of this dozen-odd cluster of youngsters were connected with the jet-set underground.
"All right, you want us to help you in the conflict between the Soviet government and the West," Georgi said. "Why should we?"
Hank frowned at him. "You're the anti-government movement. You're revolutionists and want to overthrow the Soviet government."
The other said impatiently, "Don't read something into our organization that isn't here. We don't exist for your benefit, but our own."
"But you wish to overthrow the Soviets and establish a democratic—"
Georgi was waggling an impatient hand. "That word democratic has been so misused this past half century that it's become all but meaningless. Look here, we wish to overthrow the present Soviet government, but that doesn't mean we expect to establish one modeled to yours. We're Russians. Our problems are Russian ones. Most of them you aren't familiar with—any more than we're familiar with your American ones."