an enhancer of our industrial power second.’
‘I see,’ Rutherford commented without the slightest conviction. ‘I must say,’ he stated as he glanced at a nonplussed Fortescue, ‘and I think I also
speak for my colleague here, you have taken us completely by surprise. This would explain the presence here today of Mr Edison and the honourable ambassador. ’
Asquith nodded. ‘Indeed, professor. My government has decided that we should put all possible resources into the development of a weapon based on your work. We have also
concluded that we do not have a second to waste.’
‘But my work is still at a very early stage,’ Rutherford protested.
‘That may be so,’ Asquith replied, but the theoretical grounding is there and you have achieved, I think I’m right in saying, quite remarkable practical
results.’ He held the scientist’s eyes, challenging him to deny his own accomplishments.
‘That is true,’ Rutherford acknowledged, ‘but . . .’ For a second he looked a little out of his depth.
Fortescue filled the breach. ‘Mr Prime Minister,’ he said with an authority that surprised them all. ‘One aspect of the work you may not be aware of is that it is
extremely hazardous.’
Asquith considered the scientist. He nodded slowly. ‘Explain.’
‘As Professor Rutherford described, the power unleashed by ibnium provides a form of energy in excess of ten thousand times the equivalent release from TNT. However, in order
to produce an effective weapon, researchers would need to handle much larger quantities of the material than we have done. They would need to find a source of ibnium, purify it and then manage to
handle it safely.’
‘The young man is probably quite correct,’ Thomas Edison interrupted. ‘The potential of such a device works both ways. The damage it may inflict on an enemy could
also destroy those creating it!’
‘We have considered this,’ Asquith replied and looked around the table. ‘Not withstanding the potential dangers, we plan to construct a fully functioning,
adequately funded top secret research facility at the earliest possible date.’
And, I assume,’ Ambassador Whitelaw Reid said, ‘you would want my government to help with the financing of the project?’
Asquith nodded to Churchill, who spoke with his cigar clamped to the side of his mouth. Actually Whitelaw, we wanted a little more than that.’
The room was incredibly still. From outside, the sounds of the main road barely filtered through the windows. A carriage drawn by a single horse passed along Downing Street, hooves
clip-clopping on the cobbles.
Churchill leaned forward and eviscerated the remains of his cigar in an ashtray in front of him on the oak conference table. ‘You’re not going to like it, Mr Ambassador,
but we request that the United States government agrees to host the site for the development of the weapon.’
‘What! Are you quite . . .?’
Churchill had a hand up. He did not even glance at his superior, the prime minister. ‘I did say you wouldn’t like it, old chap.’
‘Too damn right, I don’t, and you honestly think the boss will go for it?’
‘I rather imagine that when he is furnished with all the facts and all the consequences, President Taft will understand and offer his support.’
‘So, let’s get this straight,’ said Reid. ‘The British government wants to build a bomb-making plant in America. And it is not just any old bomb-making plant
but a research centre to create a device with unimaginable power that could explode as it is being made, causing – presumably – massive devastation.’
Churchill afforded Asquith a glance, then said. ‘Well, yes, Whitelaw, that just about sums it up.’
‘You’re out of your mind, man!’
‘Gentlemen, gentlemen!’ Asquith interceded. ‘We need only look at a map to see the logic behind the suggestion. Which other country is such a close friend of ours
and able to offer wide open spaces far
‘I see,’ Rutherford commented without the slightest conviction. ‘I must say,’ he stated as he glanced at a nonplussed Fortescue, ‘and I think I also
speak for my colleague here, you have taken us completely by surprise. This would explain the presence here today of Mr Edison and the honourable ambassador. ’
Asquith nodded. ‘Indeed, professor. My government has decided that we should put all possible resources into the development of a weapon based on your work. We have also
concluded that we do not have a second to waste.’
‘But my work is still at a very early stage,’ Rutherford protested.
‘That may be so,’ Asquith replied, but the theoretical grounding is there and you have achieved, I think I’m right in saying, quite remarkable practical
results.’ He held the scientist’s eyes, challenging him to deny his own accomplishments.
‘That is true,’ Rutherford acknowledged, ‘but . . .’ For a second he looked a little out of his depth.
Fortescue filled the breach. ‘Mr Prime Minister,’ he said with an authority that surprised them all. ‘One aspect of the work you may not be aware of is that it is
extremely hazardous.’
Asquith considered the scientist. He nodded slowly. ‘Explain.’
‘As Professor Rutherford described, the power unleashed by ibnium provides a form of energy in excess of ten thousand times the equivalent release from TNT. However, in order
to produce an effective weapon, researchers would need to handle much larger quantities of the material than we have done. They would need to find a source of ibnium, purify it and then manage to
handle it safely.’
‘The young man is probably quite correct,’ Thomas Edison interrupted. ‘The potential of such a device works both ways. The damage it may inflict on an enemy could
also destroy those creating it!’
‘We have considered this,’ Asquith replied and looked around the table. ‘Not withstanding the potential dangers, we plan to construct a fully functioning,
adequately funded top secret research facility at the earliest possible date.’
And, I assume,’ Ambassador Whitelaw Reid said, ‘you would want my government to help with the financing of the project?’
Asquith nodded to Churchill, who spoke with his cigar clamped to the side of his mouth. Actually Whitelaw, we wanted a little more than that.’
The room was incredibly still. From outside, the sounds of the main road barely filtered through the windows. A carriage drawn by a single horse passed along Downing Street, hooves
clip-clopping on the cobbles.
Churchill leaned forward and eviscerated the remains of his cigar in an ashtray in front of him on the oak conference table. ‘You’re not going to like it, Mr Ambassador,
but we request that the United States government agrees to host the site for the development of the weapon.’
‘What! Are you quite . . .?’
Churchill had a hand up. He did not even glance at his superior, the prime minister. ‘I did say you wouldn’t like it, old chap.’
‘Too damn right, I don’t, and you honestly think the boss will go for it?’
‘I rather imagine that when he is furnished with all the facts and all the consequences, President Taft will understand and offer his support.’
‘So, let’s get this straight,’ said Reid. ‘The British government wants to build a bomb-making plant in America. And it is not just any old bomb-making plant
but a research centre to create a device with unimaginable power that could explode as it is being made, causing – presumably – massive devastation.’
Churchill afforded Asquith a glance, then said. ‘Well, yes, Whitelaw, that just about sums it up.’
‘You’re out of your mind, man!’
‘Gentlemen, gentlemen!’ Asquith interceded. ‘We need only look at a map to see the logic behind the suggestion. Which other country is such a close friend of ours
and able to offer wide open spaces far
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