The barber hesitated a second or two more, weighing death against imagined consequences equally as dreadful, then opted for survival. Electing to keep his underwear on, he stepped into the shower with William Jeremiah, a grimace, and a vision he prayed would pass from his memory forever. With scissors and battery-powered wet-dry clippers, the barber began to chop at the hair and beard of his client.
In this brief moment of calm, Jeremiah pondered the circumstances leading to the conception of a national nightmare. In answer to the question, 'why a universal solvent' he concluded 'military.' But what could a universal solvent do that a well-aimed missile could not? Ignorant of recent news, his mind raced backwards to his last memory of international crisis.
The government required a conti
