"Gentlemen, you are right and Harris is wrong," said Les Curpwell. "Only I'm just not sure how much righter we are."

Then Sheriff Wyatt announced a plan.

"Look, I get my instructions on delivery in the morning. Suppose I go to the place, wherever it is, and hide. You know, camouflage, like the Ranger training I picked up in National Guard summer camp. Then, when whoever it is comes for the money, I follow. All right. When I get 'em all, using my Ranger techniques, bam! I let them have it. Let loose with a Carbine. Bam. Hand grenades. Whoosh! Bam! Whoosh! Kill or be killed. I give you the word of a captain in the National Guard of the State of California."

The voting of the three leaders of San Aquino was unanimous.

"Just leave the money where they tell you."

Les Curpwell sat in his office a long time after all the others had left. Then he walked to his desk and telephoned a close friend who was an aide to the President.

"If what you say is true, Les, they have the power to gut the whole state of California."

"I think it's true," Curpwell said.

"Wow. All I can say is Wow. I'm going right to the top with this. I can get to see the President immediately on this one."

The aide was shocked by the President's reaction. He had delivered the report thoroughly and professionally, the way Les Curpwell had given it to him.

Lester Curpwell IV, former OSS agent, thoroughly-reliable Lester Curpwell. The time. The threats. The earthquake. No guesses. Hard information.

But when the aide was through, the President said:

"Okay. Forget about it. Tell no one."

"But, sir. Don't you believe me?"

"I believe you."

"But this is something for the FBI. I can give them all the details."

"You will give nothing to anyone. You will be absolutely quiet about this. Absolutely. That is all. Good evening."