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.All over Germany people were waiting for the speech.Adolf Hitler stood before the microphones, and he was no longer worried.At the back of his mind, he created a tiny phonograph record that said, over and over, “Russia.Russia.- Russia.” It would remind him what to do, at the right moment.Meanwhile, he launched into his speech.It was good.It was a Hitler speech.“Now!” said the record.Hitler paused, taking a deep breath, throwing his head arrogantly back.He looked out at the thousands of faces beneath his balcony.But he wasn’t thinking about them.He was thinking of the pause, and the next line; and the pause lengthened.Important! Remember! Don’t fail!Adolf Hitler opened his mouth.Words came out.Not quite the right words.Ten seconds later Adolf Hitler was cut off the air.It wasn’t Hitler personally who spoke to the world a few hours later.Goebbels had had a record made, and the transcription, oddly enough, didn’t mention Russia.Or any of the vital questions that had been set­tled so neatly.The Führer simply couldn’t talk about those questions.It wasn’t mike fright, exactly.Whenever Hitler reached the crucial point in his speech, he turned green, gritted his teeth, and said—the wrong thing.He couldn’t get over that semantic block.The more he tried, the less he succeeded.Finally Goebbels saw what was happening and called it off.The world broadcast was emasculated.At the time there was con­siderable discussion as to why Hitler hadn’t stuck to his announced pro­gram.He’d intended to mention Russia.Why, then— Not many people knew.But more people will know now.In fact, a lot of people in Germany are going to know.Things get around there.Planes go over and drop leaflets, and people whisper, and they’ll re­member a certain catchy German stanza that’s going the rounds.Yeah.Maybe this particular copy of Astounding will find its way to England, and maybe an R.A.F.pilot will drop it near Berlin, or Paris, for that matter.Word will get around.There are lots of men on the con­tinent who can read English.And they’ll talk.They won’t believe, at first.But they’ll keep their eyes open.And there’s a catchy little rhythm they’ll remember.Some day the story will reach Berlin or Berchtesgarten.Some day it’ll reach the guy with the little mustache and the big voice.And, a little while later—days or weeks, it doesn’t matter—Goebbels is going to walk into a big room, and there he’s going to see Adolf Hitler goose-stepping around and yelling:LEFTLEFTLEFT a wife and SEVenteen children inSTARVing condition with NOTHing but gingerbreadLEFT— [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]