He sat in his chair, fingers aimlessly drumming, drumming.
Somewhere in the Sun,
protons were clinging together with just a trifling additional avidity
and with each moment that avidity grew
and at some moment the delicate balance would break down . . .
"And no one on Earth will live to know I was right,"
cried out Lamont,
and blinked and blinked to keep back the tears.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.'
"Maybe the world will last our time and,
if not, there’s nothing that can be done anyway."
"I’m sorry, Pete."
