Part 7 (1/2)

From somewhere far to the north, another interceptor rocket had found the atomic warhead of an enemy bomb.

Brittain knew and recognized that flash. He screamed wordlessly and then began to sob like a hysterical child.

Karnes began to slap him again. ”Come on, what was it?”

”Don't--don't let them go back to New York! It said--it said--” he gasped and took a deep breath ”--WE'LL ALL BE KILLED!” he screamed.

”Why?” Karnes's voice was cold.

”BOMB!” Brittain screamed again.

After a few more minutes of questioning, Karnes finally got the rest of the story from him.

The Galactics had found that on this date a nuclear bomb would get through the UN screen and completely destroy most of Greater New York.

Only one other bomb would get through, but it would be thrown off course and land somewhere in the Pacific, having missed Los Angeles entirely.

”Anything else?” asked Karnes after a few seconds of silence from Brittain. ”Didn't it say they would have to prevent that?”

Brittain's voice was dull now. ”All it said was that the records would have to be preserved. It said that things must go on exactly as before. It said that nothing must interfere with the complete development, whatever that means.”

Karnes pushed his way out of the room and back towards the pilot's compartment. What the pilot had to say was no news to Karnes.