Goliah's next summons was to the ten leading scientists of the United
States. This time there was no hesitancy in obeying. The savants
were ludicrously prompt, some of them waiting in San Francisco for
weeks so as not to miss the scheduled sailing-date. They departed on
the Energon on June 15; and while they were on the sea, on the way to
Palgrave Island, Goliah performed another spectacular feat. Germany
and France were preparing to fly at each other's throats. Goliah
commanded peace. They ignored the command, tacitly agreeing to fight
it out on land where it seemed safer for the belligerently inclined.
Goliah set the date of June 19 for the cessation of hostile
preparations. Both countries mobilized their armies on June 18, and
hurled them at the common frontier. And on June 19, Goliah struck.
All generals, war-secretaries, and jingo-leaders in the two countries
died on that day; and that day two vast armies, undirected, like
strayed sheep, walked over each other's frontiers and fraternized.
Pages:
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107