4. Kings of the Exchange

“You say, ‘eternal bread’ is a bomb.” And, shaking his head, Kriegman continued:

“People also made good money on bombs. As long as there are crises and revolutions, this ‘eternal bread’ can bring good profits. I will not mince words; I will speak plainly. Why destroy ‘eternal bread?’ We’d better sell it. Let’s buy a patent for this invention from Professor Breuer, pay him whatever sums he wants—I will spend all the cash in my bank account for such a thing;— then create a joint-stock company for the sale and export of ‘eternal bread’ and make billions before all sorts of problems arise. And I don’t care what happens after. After all, we will have access to a global market. No kidding! And we would be the only monopolists. Why it’s a dream come true! No, ‘eternal bread’ is not a bomb. Bread is bread, and it will feed us very well.”

“But my agricultural machinery factories…”

“They are still doomed. ‘Eternal bread’ exists, and you will not be able to destroy it. I think not only Fritz and who else there hid a piece of dough even the size of a pea. A mountain could grow from a pea in a year. But if we are monopolists, we will have mountains of gold.”

“Perhaps you are right,” said Rodenstock thoughtfully. “Meyer, go immediately to Professor Breuer. Offer him a million, two, whatever he wants. Don’t stop at any price!”

Meyer stood up, bowed, and, turning sharply on his heels, stepped out.

A few days later Meyer made a report to Rodenstock and Kriegman.

“The professor absolutely refuses to sell his invention for commercial exploitation. He says that his lifelong dream was to rid mankind of hunger, and he decided to provide ‘eternal bread’ for free to all those in need.”

“Idealist!” Kriegman said ironically.

“Just a fool,” Rodenstock snapped shortly. “Did you tell him the amount we are offering for his invention?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And what happened?”

“When I said: ‘a million,’ he boiled all over with anger. When I said five, he… he kicked me out the door. I don’t think he’s quite normal. He hasn’t even patented his invention.”

“What, he did not take out a patent?!” cried Kriegman. “Then we don’t need him. We will apply for a patent. And we will sell it. Let’s get some chemist with brains, but poor, give him a couple of thousand, he will kiss our feet and analyze the bread. We can change something in the composition of the ‘bread,’ flavor it with something aromatic, or whatever, and it will work. It’s nothing!”