LOOPHOLE 
By:ARTHUR C. CLARKE


From: President.
To: Secretary, Council of Scientists.
  I have been informed that the inhabitants of Earth
have succeeded in releasing atomic energy and have
been making experiments with rocket propulsion.
This is most serious. Let me have a full report
immediately. And make it brief this time.
			K.K. IV.

From: Secretary, Council of Scientists.
To: President.
  The facts are as follows. Some months ago our
instruments detected intense neutron emission from
earth, but an analysis of radio programmes gave no
explanation at the time. Three days ago a second
emission occurred, and soon afterwards a11 radio
transmissions from Earth announced that atomic
bombs were in use in the current war. The trans-
lators have not completed their interpretation, but
it appears that the bombs are of considerable power.
Two have so far been used. Some details of their
construction have been released, but the elements
concerned have not yet been identified. A fuller
report will be forwarded as soon as possible. For
the moment all that is certain is that the inhabitants
of Earth have liberated atomic power, so far only
explosively.
Very little is known concerning rocket research 
on Earth. Our astronomers have been observing 
the planet carefully ever since radio emissions were 
detected a generation ago.it is certain that long-range 
rockets of some kind are in existence on Earth, 
for there have been numerous references to them 
in recent military broadcasts. However, no serious 
attempt has been made to reach interplanetary space. 
When the war ends, it is expected that the inhabitants 
of the planet may carry out research in this direction. 
We will pay very careful attention to their broad- 
casts and the astronomical watch will be rigorously 
enforced.
From what we have inferred of the planet's tech- 
nology, it should require about twenty years before 
Earth develops atomic rockets capable of crossing 
space. In view of this, it would seem that the time has 
come to set up a base on the Moon, so that a close 
scrutiny can be kept on such experiments when they
commence.
				Trescon.

	[Added in manuscripts]
The war on Earth has now ended, apparently
owing to the intervention of the atomic bomb. This
will not affect the above arguments but it may mean
that the inhabitants of Earth can devote them-
selves to pure research again more quickly than
expected. Some broadcasts have already pointed
out the application of atomic power to rocket
propulsion.
					T.

From: President.
To: Chief of Bureau of Extra-planetary Security
      (C.B.E.P.S).
  You have seen Trescon's minute.
Equip an expedition to the satellite of Earth im-
mediately. It is to keep a close watch on the planet
and to report at once if rocket experiments are in
progress.
The greatest care must be taken to keep our
presence on the Moon a secret. You are personally
responsible for this. Report to me at yearly intervals,
or more often if necessary.
				K.K. IV.

From: President. 
To: C.B.E.P.S. 
  Where is the report of Earth?! !
				K.K. IV.
From: C.B.E.P.S.
To: President.
  The delay is regretted. It was caused by the break-
down of the ship carrying the report.
There have been no signs of rocket experimenting
during the past year, and no reference to it in broad-
casts from the planet.
				Ranthe

From: C.B.E.P.S.
To: President.
  You will have seen my yearly reports to your
respected father on this subject. There have been no
developments of interest for the past fifteen years,
but the following message has just been received
from our base on the Moon:
Racket projectile, apparently atomically propelled,
left Earth's atmosphere today from nothern land-
mass,travelling into space for one-quarter diameter
of planet before returning under control.
				Ranthe

From: President. 
To: Chief of State.
  Your comments, please.
				K.K. V.
From: Chief of State.
To: President.
   This means the end of our traditional policy.
The only hope of security lies in preventing the
Terrestrials from making further advances in this
direction. From what we know of them, this will
require some overwhelming threat.
Since its high gravity makes it impossible for us to
land on the planet, our sphere of action is restricted.
The problem was discussed nearly a century ago by
Anvar, and I agree with his conclusions. We must act
immediately along those lines.
				F.K.S.

From: President.
To: Secretary of State.
    Inform the Council that an emergency meeting is
convened for noon tomorrow.
				K.K. V.

From: President.
To: C.B.E.P.S.
    Twenty battleships should be sufficient to put
Anvar's plan into operation. Fortunately there is
no need to arm them - yet. Report progress of
construction to me weekly.
				K.K. V.

From: C.B.E.P.S.
To: President.
    Nineteen ships are now completed. The twentieth
is still delayed owing to hull failure and will not be
ready for at least a month.
				Ranthe

From: President.
To: C.B.E.P.S.
    Nineteen will be sufficient. I will check the oper-
ational plan with you tomorrow. Is the draft of our
broadcast ready yet?
				K.K. V.

From: C.B.E.P.S.
To: President.
    Draft herewith:
    People of Earth!
    We, the inhabitants of the planet you call Mars,
have for many years observed your experiments
towards achieving interplanetary travel. These ex-
periments must cease. Our study of your race has
convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your
planet in the present state of your civilization. The
ships you now see floating above your cities are
capable of destroying them utterly, and will do so
unless you discontinue your attempts to cross space.
We have set up an observatory on your Moon
and can immediately detect any violation of these
orders. If you obey them, we will not interfere
with you again. Otherwise, one of your cities will '
be destroyed every time we observe a rocket leaving
the Earth's atmosphere.
By order of the President and Council of Mars.
				Ranthe

From: President.
To: C.B.E.P.S.
    I approve. The translation can go ahead.
l will not be sailing with the fleet, after all. Report
to me in detail immediately on your return.
				K.K. V.

From: C.B.E.P.S.
To: President.
    I have the honour to report the successful com-
pletion of our mission. The voyage to Earth was
uneventful: radio messages from the planet indicated
that we were detected at a considerable distance
and great excitement had been aroused before our
arrival. The fleet was dispersed according to plan and
I broadcast the ultimatum. We left immediately and
no hostile weapons were brought to bear against us.
    I will report in detail within two days.
				Ranthe

From: Secretary, Council of Scientists.
To: President.
    The psychologists have completed their report,
which is attached herewith.
    As might be expected, our demands at first infuri-
ated this stubborn and high-spirited race. The shock
to their pride must have been considerable, for they
believed themselves to be the only intelligent beings
in the Universe.
    However, within a few weeks there was a rather
unexpected change in the tone of their statements.
They had begun to realize that we were intercepting
all their radio transmissions, and some messages
have been.broadcast directly to us. They state that
they have agreed to ban all rocket experiments, in
accordance with our wishes. This is as unexpected
as it is welcome. Even if they are trying to deceive
us,we are perfectly safe now that we have established
the second station just outside the atmosphere. They
cannot possibly develop spaceships without our see-
ing them or detecting their tube radiation.
The watch on Earth will be continued rigorously,
as instructed.
				Trescon

From: C.B.E.P.S. 
To: President.
    Yes, it is quite true that there have been no further 
rocket experiments in the last ten years. We certainly 
did not expect Earth to capitulate so easily! 
    I agree that the existence of this race now consti- 
tutes a permanent threat to our civilization and we 
are making experiments along the lines you suggest. 
The problem is a difficult one, owing to the great 
size of the planet. Explosives would be out of the 
question, and a radioactive poison of some kind 
appears to offer the greatest hope of success. 
    Fortunately, we now have an indefinite time in 
which to complete this research, and I will report 
regularly.
				Ranthe

		[End of Document]

From: Lieutenant Commander Henry Forbes, intel-
          ligence Branch, Special Space Corps.
To: Professor S. Maxton, Philogical Department,
      University of Oxford.
Route: Transender 11 (via Schenectady).
    The above papers, with others, were found in the
ruins of what is believed to be the capital Martian
city. (Mars Grid K1.302895.) The frequent use of
the ideograph for 'Earth' suggests that they may be
of special interest and it is hoped that they can be
translated. Other papers will be following shortly.
				H. Forbes, Lt/Cdr.

		[Added in manuscript]
Dear Max,
    Sorry I've had no time to contact you before. I'll
be seeing you as soon as I get back to Earth.
Gosh! Mars is in a mess! Our Co-ordinates were
dead accurate and the bombs materialized right over
their cities, just as the Mount Wilson boys pre-
dicted.
    We're sending a lot of stuff back through the
two small machines, but until the big transmitter is
materialized we're rather restricted, and, of course,
none of us can return. So hurry up with it!
    I'm glad we can get to work on rockets again. I may
be old-fashioned, but being squirte through space at
the speed of light doesn't appeal to me!
				Yours in haste,
				Henry