JENNINGS FELT the sweat beads increase on his forehead. His collar was already soaking wet. He had been watching the senator through two long minutes, terrible eon-consuming minutes, the impassive face showing only what the senator wanted it to show. He saw the face now soften into something approaching benignity, nobility. The head came up, the silvery hair tossed back.
"Son," he said with a ringing thrill in his voice. "Mankind must reach the stars! We must allow nothing to stop that! No personal consideration, no personal belief, nothing must stand in the way of mankind's greatest dream!"
His eyes were shrewdly watching the effect upon Jennings' face, measuring through him the effect such a speech would have upon the voters. He saw the relief spread over Jennings' face, the glow. Yes, it might work.
"Now, son," he said with kindly tolerance, "tell me what you want me to do about pressing this key when the time comes."
"Beep, one."
And then the continuous drone while the seconds were being counted off aloud.
"Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven—"
The droning went on while Jennings showed the senator just how to press the dummy key down, explaining it in careful detail, and just when.
"Thirty-seven, thirty-six, thirty-five—"
"Major!" Jennings called questioningly.