what was new and progressive…and more often than they wanted to admit； they died for their faith in what was bright and shiny。
After Annie died he became suspicious of technology； of every new wonder that science gave to mankind。 He read Paul Ehrlich and other back…to…the…land reformers。 Gradually he came to see that the yearly camping trips to Black River could be the beginning of a serious program to free his children from the city； from the ever…growing dangers of the science and technology that the cities represented。 The yearly trips became an education for lives they would live in harmony with nature。
But the back…to…the…land advocates were possessed by an impossible dream。 He saw that now； saw it as clearly as he had ever seen anything in his life。 They were trying to run away from technology…but it moved much faster than they did。 There was no land to get back to anymore。 The city； its science and technology； the effects of its life…style； had tendrils snaking out into even the most remote mountains and forests。
Furthermore； you ignored the advancements of science at your own peril。 His ignorance about anesthetics and the reliability of the Medico puter had cost Annie her life。 His ignorance of subliminal advertising and the research being done in that field had； if you wanted to stretch a point； cost Mark his life。 The only way to survive in the 1970s and in the decades to follow was to plunge into the fast…moving； supertechnical society； swim with it； learn from it and about it； learn all that you could； and be its equal in any confrontation。
He turned away from the window。 〃We can't go to Bexford and call the state police。 If our own government is behind Salsbury； if our own leaders want to enslave us； we'll never win。 It's hopeless。 But if it isn't behind him； if it doesn't know what he's achieved； then we don't dare let it know。 Because the moment the military finds out…it'll appropriate Salsbury's discoveries； and there are some factions of the military that wouldn't be opposed to using subliminal programming against us。〃
Looking around at the books about Nazism； totalitarianism； and mob psychology； thinking ruefully of what he'd learned
about some men's lust for power； Sam said； 〃You're right。 Besides； I've been thinking about the problems with the long…distance phone service。〃
Paul knew what he meant。 〃Salsbury's taken over the telephone exchange。〃
〃And if he's done that；〃 Sam said； 〃he's taken other precautions too。 He's probably blockaded the roads and every other route out of town。 We couldn't go to Bexford and tell the state police even if we still wanted to。〃
〃We're trapped；〃 Jenny said quietly。
〃For the time being；〃 Paul said； 〃that really doesn't matter。 We've already decided there's no place to run anyway。 But if he's not working for the government； if he's backed by a corporation or a single wealthy man； maybe we've got a chance to stop him here in Black River。〃
〃Stop him 。 。 。〃 Sam stared thoughtfully at the floor。 〃Do you realize what you're saying？ We'd have to get our hands on him； interrogate him…and then kill him。 Death is the only thing that will stop a man like that。 We'd also have to find out from him who he's associated with…and kill anyone else who might understand how the drug was made and how the subliminal program was constructed。〃 He looked up from the floor。 〃That could mean two murders； three； four； or a dozen。〃
〃None of us is a killer；〃 Jenny said。
〃Every man's a potential killer；〃 Paul said。 〃When it es to matters of survival； any man is capable of anything。 And this is sure as hell a matter of survival。〃
〃I killed men in the war；〃 Sam said。
〃So did I；〃 Paul said。 〃A different war than yours。 But the same act。〃
〃That was different；〃 Jenny said。
〃Was it？〃
〃That was war；〃 she said。
〃This is war too；〃 Paul said。
She stared at Paul's hands； as if imagining them with a knife or a gun or clamped around a man's throat。
Sensing her thoughts； he raised his hands and studied them
for a moment。 On occasion； washing his hands before dinner or after treating a sick animal； he would flash back to the war； back to Southeast Asia。 He would hear the guns and see the blood again in his memory。 In these almost psychic moments； he was both amazed and dismayed that the same hands were accustomed to mundane and horrible acts； that they could heal or injure； make love or kill； and look no different after the task was done。 Codified morality； he thought； was indeed a blessing but also a curse of civilization。 A blessing because it permitted men to live in harmony most of the time。 A curse because… when the Jaws of nature and especially of human nature made it necessary for a man to wound or kill another man in order to save himself and his family…it spawned remorse and guilt even if the violence was unwanted and unavoidable。
Besides； he reminded himself； these are the 1970s。 This is the age of science and technology when a man often is required to act with the implacable and unemotional savagery of the machine。 For better or worse； in these times gentility is being less and less a sign of the civilized man and is； in fact； very nearly an obsolescent quality。 You see gentility； most often； in those who are least likely to survive wave after wave of future shock。
Lowering his hands he said； 〃In the classic paranoid vein； it's us against them。 Except that this isn't a delusion or an illusion； it's real。〃
Jenny seemed to accept the need for murder as quickly as he had accepted the fact that he might be called upon to mit it。 By this point in her life； she had experienced； as had all but the most gentle people； at least the flickering of a homicidal urge in a moment of despair or great frustration。 She hadn't accepted it as the solution to whatever problem had inspired it。 But she was not incapable of conceiving of a situation in which homicide was the most reasonable response to a threat。 In spite of the overprotected； sheltered upbringing of which she'd spoken last Monday； she could adapt to even the most unpleasant truths。 Perhaps； Paul thought； the ordeal with her first husband
had made her stronger； tougher； and more resilient than she realized。
She said； 〃Even if we could bring ourselves to kill in order to stop this thing。 。 。 Well； it's still too much。 To stop Salsbury； we need to know more about him。 And how do we learn anything？ He's got hundreds of bodyguards。 Or if he wants； he can turn everyone in town into killers and send them after us。 Do we just sit here； pass the time； wait for him to stop around for a chat？〃
Returning the hardbound volume of essays to the shelf from which he'd taken it； Sam said； 〃Wait a minute。。 。 Suppose。 。 。〃 He faced them。 He was excited。 All three of them were tense； twisted as tight as watch springs。 But now a glimmer of pleasurable excitement was in his Santa Claus…like features。 〃When Salsbury saw Rya standing in the kitchen doorway at the Thorp house； what do you imagine he did； very first thing？〃
〃Grabbed for her；〃 Jenny said。
〃Wrong。〃
Bitterly； Paul said； 〃Ordered Bob to kill her。〃
〃Not that either。 Remember； he would expect her to be another one of his…zombies。〃
Sucking in her breath； Jenny said； 〃He would use the code phrase on her； the system he talks about in the article。 He'd try to open her up and take control of her before she ran away。 So 。 。 。 Rya must have heard the code phrase！〃
〃And if she can recall it；〃 Sam said； 〃we'll have control of everyone in Black River； the same as Salsbury。 He won't be able to send them after us。 He won't have hundreds of bodyguards to hide behind。 It won't be us against them。 It'll be us against him。〃
6
3：15 P。M。
DR。 WALTER TROUTMAN entered the police chief's office。 He was carrying his black leather satchel in his right hand and a chocolate candy bar with almonds in his left。 He appeared to be delighted with the world and with himself。 〃You wanted to see me； Bob？〃
Before Thorp could answer； Salsbury stepped away from the windows and said； 〃I am the key。〃
〃I am the lock。〃
〃Buddy Pellineri is waiting in the room across the hail；〃 Salsbury said。 〃You know him； don't you？〃
〃Buddy？〃 Troutman asked； wrinkling h