"That's it. Insured. Life insurance."
I shrugged. "Sure. A couple of thousand as long as I take the papers."
"Suppose your subscription expires, or is cancelled, for certain reasons that should be obvious?" The generals stopped fidgeting and looked curiously at the old man.
I couldn't figure out what he meant, and said so.
"You can-well, let's say that you can 'interfere' with electrical or mechanical devices, can't you?"
Sure I could. At least, all the ones I'd ever tried.
"So, with that established, you would be in a military sense the theoretically perfect defense."
I hadn't thought about it that way. But if it ever came down to it I should be able to knock down an airplane, gum up the works on a fusing detonator, maybe even-. No, I didn't like that idea. Not me. Not at all.
The old man's voice was hard and soft at the same time. "So you're the irresistible force, or maybe the immovable object. And if you walk out of this office right now-and you can, Mr. Miller, that was our agreement-knowing what you know and being able to do what you have been doing…. Now, just how long do you think it would take the intelligence of a dozen different nations to catch up with you? And how long after that would you stay 'free,' as you put it? Or how long would you stay alive? There are all types of ways and means, you know." You bet I knew that.
My hair tried to stand on end. "Why, you'd be just cutting your own throat! You'd have to keep an eye on me. You can't back out on me now!"