: To rid the world of wars, the sergeant-pacifist invents a device that turns weapons into rust. Military equipment is destroyed, and the colonel sets off in pursuit of the sergeant, armed with a leg from a chair.

Colonel heard rumors about the unimportant mental state of Sergeant Hollis. The colonel calls the young man to talk, offers to transfer to another duty station. The sergeant talks about his desire for world peace. He sees the main reason for the war in armament. The Colonel does not agree with his point of view and believes that the cause of wars is in the people themselves. To achieve absolute peace, the sergeant worked hard and invented a device that, with the help of rust, destroys all military equipment.

Colonel begins to suspect Hollis of a mental disorder. He directs the sergeant to a psychiatrist. Saying goodbye, the sergeant leaves. After Hollis leaves, the colonel receives confirmation that an invention that turns metal into rust exists. He understands this after he discovers a heap of rust instead of a metal handle. By telephone, the colonel orders the execution of Hollis, but all weapons have already turned into rust. Instead of weapons, the commander takes the leg of a chair broken on the wall and sets off in pursuit.