It was with an uneasy reticence that the president bade goodnight to the late-night 'guests' at the oval office. The reason for such reticence was the simple human frailty in the area of multiple choice.
He had agonisingly mulled over his options for a little under forty seven hours straight, and it had almost driven the great man insane. Because the magnitude of his final decision had been in all likelihood far greater than any other Earth-leader had been compelled to make before!
He quickly stuffed yet another fist full of headache pills into his eager mouth, gulped down a half pint of lukewarm water, and slumped back in the well padded presidential chair!
Trying in vain to relax with a glass of fine malt whiskey,he mulled over the magnitude of the decision that he had made.When his attention was drawn to a slight tapping noise and then the opening of the cream and rose coloured door.
He nodded a greeting to the instantly recognisable figure that had entered, and proceeded to pour his guest a drink and top up his own.
The expected intruder, gratefully accepted the alcoholic gesture and made himself comfortable in the blood red leather chair closest to the president.
Silence reigned until both men had consumed a decent mouthful of the expensive malt, and then the visitor spoke in a soft but authoritative voice....
"You made the right choice you know Ike..in fact, you made the only possible choice!" he said.
The reply came in a less confident manner...
"Vannevar!..there's two and a half billion souls spread around this planet that could just be unwittingly depending on the wisdom of that statement!"
The enigmatic Dr Bush once again exuded confidence as he uttered ...
"Although this chapter of American... nay..in fact a defining chapter in the whole of humanities history, can absolutely not become public knowledge for a substantial chunk of time..maybe even long after you and I have left this mortal coil my friend....some day, the world will know just how a great and strong leader made a great and strong decision for the good of this planet and it's dominant indigenous lifeform...mankind !"
There was no other words spoken between the pair that night...Dr Bush nonchalantly finished his drink and quietly left the famous room,...and in turn, the worlds most powerful leader polished off his drink and steadily strolled off to the presidential living quarters , and disappeared into the bedroom.
The next morning...Oh sod it, I can't be bothered making any more up!!....so i'll just leave it to the professionals like Timothy Good.
Cheers.