A Cure for Cancer

'That's how we feel. You know you can rely on us. The only way to win a war is to fight it. The road ahead will not be smooth or offer easy travelling. But the road map we're using today is a heck of a lot better than it has been. In the words of Patrick Henry as he stood before the Richmond Convention and delivered his famous address — 'They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in each house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?' — of course we will not! The United States will accept a decent negotiated peace in Europe, but it will not go, umbrella in hand, like Neville Chamberlain, to the aggressor, and let him write the settlement on his own expansionist terms. There can be no complaint about U. S. Marines being sent to Europe, except that they might have been sent sooner. For years the Europeans — with token assistance from the United States — have been trying to defend themselves against raids, murder by stealth, sabotage and subversion. The results have been a mounting loss of American and European lives — no progress at all in ridding the continent of the invaders. Now the Europeans and the U. S. have taken to offensive strikes of their own... hitting where it hurts! And that's the way it's going to be, gentlemen, until the last enemy is destroyed and Europe can settle down to building the continent she wants in the way she wants to, without fear of attack from without or within. There's a wave back there and it's coming in fast — and that wave is American strength, gentlemen. American strength, American manhood, American know-how, American guts, Anierican money, American dynamism, American bullets. American guns, American tanks, American planes, American freedom, American efficiency...'

Frank took notes and the European commanders stared in faint surprise at the C-in-C. Those nearest the door were already leaving and the others were rising from their chairs.

'American love, American humour, Anierican health, American beauty, American virility...'

The last general quietly closed the door behind him and General Cumberland raised his head at the sound. '

'Have they deserted us, Frank?'

'I think they got the picture, general. I think their confidence is won.'

'I hope so, Frank. I tried to raise their morale. It sometimes seems to be the hardest job. They're all fairies, of course. Decadence is a terrible thing to witness. But maybe if we improve their conditions — give them a chance...'

They'll pull through.'

'God willing, Frank.'

3 It's KLM's 50th anniversary. We thought you'd like to share a few happy memories

When Frank came back Jerry was still looking at General Cumberland whose lips moved as he scribbled rapidly in a notebook.

Frank stood beside Jerry and watched for a while. Then he turned the general off.

'It's rotten for him, really.' Jerry was sympathetic.

'He takes it well. The responsibility.' Frank crossed to the window and peered in the direction of St James's Park. 'Sometimes it seems there'll never be an end to it, Jerry. Or a beginning, in one sense, I suppose. There's so much to do — and so little time.'

True.'

'! hope you're not brooding on our differences any more. After all, if brothers can't fall out occasionally, who can?'

'It all depends, a bit, on your position, Frank.'

Frank shrugged and spread his thin hands. 'You know me, Jerry. It's easy for you.'

'It is easier. You've got the heat death to contend with. I've always granted you that, Frank.'

'After all, what is a memory?'

'Perhaps nothing more than a hologram.'

'Exactly. Remember that dream of mine when we were young? A hologram on every billboard. A billboard the length of every street. A grid of streets that covered the globe...' Frank shrugged. 'But it didn't prove to be as simple as that, did it, Jerry?'

'That's the difference between you and me. Where's my machine?'

'It's a question of cycles, I suppose.'

'Or equilibrium.' Jerry rested his hand on his vibragun. 'Come along, Frank.'

'You'd never get out, Jerry. And you'd lose a lot of potential friends.'

'I don't need friends.'

'You don't need enemies, either. I only want to strike a bargain with you. It could make us both rich — and extremely powerful. You've got to look to the future, old man.'

'I'm not too happy about these artificial divisions, Frank. I want to look at it all at once. I don't like the way you and your allies slice up time.'

'Somebody's got to do the dirty work.'

Jerry drew his gun. Frank drew his gun.

Jerry sighed. 'There doesn't seem a lot of point. Couldn't you just tell me where the machine is?'

'You tell me what it is, then.'

'It's a simple diffusion device,' lied Jerry. 'A randomizer. Nothing complicated.'

'It replicates conditions in the Shifter, is that it?'

'That's it.'

'Well, it wouldn't suit me, Jerry. I've never had much sympathy for that sort of thing. You know me — live and let live -but it wouldn't...'

Jerry raised his gun.

'Well, it wouldn't! Christ — there are much better ways of having fun.'

'Where's the machine?'

'Deny and Toms Famous Roof Garden.'

'Thanks,' said Jerry and waited until Frank had put his gun back. 'Let me know something I can do for you.' He holstered his own vibragun.

'Nothing at this stage,' Frank said, riding swiftly into the new situation. 'You haven't got much of a chance of getting to that machine or of getting out of London alive. But if you should manage both things, then it's quite likely I'll be in a difficult position and you'll owe me a favour, won't you.'

'You've mellowed, Frank.'

'I'm coming apart, Jerry. I'm desperate.'

'It seems to be doing you good.' Jerry grinned. 'You're more mature.'

Frank sniffed. 'Call it what you like. I call it caution. You have to look after yourself when you get into my condition.'

'Well, let's hope I make it to Derry and Toms.'

Frank glanced at his watch. 'You just might, if they don't get around to that sector right away. I'm off to Milton Keynes in a few minutes. That's our new base. The general thinks it's cleaner. No population, you see. They never had a chance to fill it.'

'Sure. Well, don't take any wooden nickels.'

'Not from you, Jerry.'

'I'll be off, then.'

Jerry opened the door and the swords clashed under his nose.

'Let him through,' said Frank in a peculiar voice.

Jerry closed the door and looked up and down the corridor. He frowned as he contemplated the rigid guards and then came to a decision.

It was just as well to be on the safe side, to give himself some sort of edge. Frank was so shitty.

'If you ask me,' he said quietly, 'he's not what he seems to be. He's all bits and fucking pieces.'

He trod the soft carpets. The sunlight poured through the big. window at the far end of the corridor and through it Jerry could see the green and gold of quiet autumn trees.

It looked a nice day for a picnic.

Cut Two SOLARIS NUCLEAR SUB!

How proud you will be as commander of your own POLARIS SUB — the most powerful weapon in the world! What hours of imaginative play and fun as you and your friends dive, surface, maneuver, watch the enemy through the periscope and fire your nuclear missiles and torpedoes! What thrills as you play at hunting sunken treasures in pirate waters and exploring the strange and mysterious bottom of the deep ocean floor.