The Dark Frontier Read Free

the remainder.”
    He paused for a moment.
    “Professor,” he went on, “I should be grateful for your assurance that what I am about to tell you will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
    It is doubtful whether anything could have induced the Professor at that moment to withhold the pledge required of him. He nodded gravely.
    “You may rely upon me.”
    Simon Groom drew at his cigar slowly before continuing.
    “It is a curious commentary on human ideals and aspirations,” he said, “that never does man’s knowledge advance so rapidly as when he is creating a weapon of destruction. In England our subconscious realisation of this fact expresses itself in a mistrust of ‘new-fangled’ things. The French are more definite. They say
‘Le mieux est l’ennemi du bon.’
There are hosts of cases in point. The aeroplane, for instance: greater strides were made in its development during 1915 than during the whole of the previous ten years. The knowledge gained by commercial chemists in the search for more destructive explosives and more virulent poison gases doubled the size of the chemistry books. Why, even the science of healing advanced considerably. That is, of course, as soon as the conservation of manpower became necessary rather than merely desirable,” he added with a faint smile.
    The Professor raised his eyebrows.
    “The point I am trying to make, Professor,” Groom went on, “is this. War, with its demands on mankind for offensive and defensive instruments, rocks the cradle of most constructive endeavours today. The warships of yesterday produced the liners of today. The ferro-concrete fortifications of the battle area produced that wonderful new building they are putting up in North London. Bearing those facts in mind, Professor, what, I ask you, is the logical field for the development of a new and incalculable force such as that of applied atomic energy?”
    “The ideals of science are constructive, not destructive,” answered the Professor stiffly. “Science in the past has been shamefully exploited. But it has learnt to protect itself.”
    Simon Groom shook his head.
    “No, Professor, you are wrong. While scientists are men, science cannot protect itself. The desire for supremacy which is in the hearts of all men prevents it. Even as I talk to you now, events are proving you wrong. The first atomic bomb has been made!”
    Of the multitude of sensations which chased through theProfessor’s mind on hearing this, the first was one of frightened suspicion. Was he sitting there talking to a madman? It seemed the only possible explanation. But, meeting the cold, level gaze of the man facing him, he began to think. Then suspicion faded and fear gripped him. Supposing it were true? Finally, he laughed.
    “You have a somewhat grim sense of humour, sir.”
    “I thought you would laugh,” said the other calmly; “but suspend your judgement for a moment, Professor, and let me put a question to you. Of all the laboratories in the world, from which would such a development be most likely to come? I speak, of course, in terms of facilities, not in terms of morals.”
    The Professor considered for a moment.
    “Well,” he said finally, “the developments which I had in mind last year, when I spoke then, could come ultimately from one or two sources. It is difficult to assign definite superiority to any one institution. There are to my knowledge laboratories possessing advanced equipment capable of carrying out experiments along those lines in London, Chicago, Schenectady, Paris and Berlin. You may take your choice.”
    Simon Groom looked perplexed.
    “Alas, Professor, I was hoping that you would be able to help me. This thing was done in none of those places. Have you ever heard of Zovgorod? No? Zovgorod is the capital of Ixania, and it was in that city that the work of which I am speaking has been carried out.”
    The Professor chuckled.
    “Mr. Groom,” he said, “you are an excellent actor, but