"There'll be trickery from Forgacs," Hoshawk predicted.
"Quite possible," said Wadsworth. "I don't trust him, myself. He challenged on a technicality."
Hoshawk was gratified to hear a worried note in the President's voice. "He claimed we violated the Agreement of 2118," he said, probing, "by keeping scientific discoveries to ourselves."
Wadsworth answered quietly, "Then he challenged because he himself had secrets that he believed more potent."
"Nevertheless," said Hoshawk, "a few hundred men trained in the use of tanks—"
Jeffrey shook his head. "And revert to the primitive," he pointed out. "If the world is ever to get away from that kind of war, this is the time to prove it."
"And if we lose, we do so at the expense of a hemisphere."
"That's true," Jeffrey said calmly. "But if we should win by using men and destroying lives, we would do so at the expense of a civilization. By the act of reverting to the use of human fighters, we would convince the world that war could not be fought electronically."
They reached the door of the Chamber. The President shook hands with Iraola and with Hoshawk.
"Wish me luck," he said lightly.