The answer

"The Answer" by George O. Smith is a science fiction story from the 1940s that centers on the heated debate between a powerful dictator, Robert Hohmann, and Greg Hammond, representing the United Nations, regarding the serious ethical and political issues surrounding atomic energy and weapons. The story examines themes of authority, democracy, and the dangers of unlimited selfishness in a time when the risk of nuclear disaster hangs over the world. The plot involves Hohmann's plan to build a uranium pile for plutonium production, dismissing Hammond's warnings about the terrible results of his choices. As Hohmann moves forward with his project, he grows more and more suspicious of any resistance or attempts to disrupt his work. Tensions rise when unexplained fires and radiation problems occur, eventually leading to the discovery that the paper used in government buildings has become hazardous because of radiation from the new pile. In the end, Hammond makes it plain that Hohmann's impulsive choice to proceed will have devastating outcomes for both him and the whole nation, highlighting the delicate relationship between personal power and the shared duty to prevent catastrophe.