He kept silent during the following half-hour discussion. For ten of the world's top businessmen, they proved to be an extraordinarily inept, not to say inane, lot. They talked in an ever-narrowing series of concentric circles.

Henderson said: «First of all, there must be no violence used. Is that agreed?»

Everybody nodded agreement. Each of them was a pillar of business respectability who could not afford to have his reputation besmirched in any way. No one appeared to notice that, except for lifting a hand to his cigar and puffing out increasingly vile clouds of smoke, Cronkite did not move throughout the discussion. He also remained totally silent.

After agreeing that there should be no violence, the meeting of ten agreed on nothing.

Finally Patinos spoke up. «Why don't you— one of you four Americans, I mean—approach your Congress to pass an emergency law banning offshore drilling in extraterritorial waters?»

Benson looked at him with something akin to pity. «I am afraid, sir, that you do not quite understand the relations between the American majors and Congress. On the few occasions we have met with them—something to do with too much profits and too little tax—I'm afraid we have treated them in so—ah—cavalier a fashion that nothing would give them greater pleasure than to refuse any request we might make.»

One of the others, known simply as «Mr. A,» said: «How about an approach to that international legal ombudsman, The Hague? After all, this is an international matter.»

Henderson shook his head. «Forget it. The dilatoriness of that august body is so legendary that all present would be long retired—or worse—before a decision is made. The decision would just as likely be negative anyway.» «United Nations?» Mr. A said. «That talk-shop!» Benson obviously had a low and not uncommon view of the UN. «They haven't even got the power to order New York to install a new parking meter outside their front door.»