Moonfall

12.

Excerpt of an interview with Physicist J. Robert Collins of Princeton by Harmon McMichael. Collins:… three hundred thousand megatons. It's my opinion that, under these conditions, no one in North America would be safe. McMichael: Then we'd better hope they succeed in getting rid of the thing. Collins: Oh, yes. I don't think there's much question about that. McMichael: What do you think of their chances? Collins: You might say I'm cautiously optimistic. Skyport, Office of the Director of Operations. 9:32 P.M.

Belle escorted him in from the outer office. "George, I'm glad you came by," she said. She looked rumpled, worried, worn.

George found his way to a chair. "You're a plane short," he said, coming right to the point.

"Yes. That's why we need you."

He nodded. He couldn't take his plane into the atmosphere, but there was no reason he couldn't help chase down the Possum. "We'll have to find a way to anchor it," he said.

"We've been thinking about that. We should be able to tie you down with cable. We've got plenty of it." Her eyes were rimmed with worry. "George, you understand it's going to be makeshift. We'll get you secured as best we can, but there's a risk. If it tears loose while you're at full throttle…"

He knew. "It shouldn't be hard to make sure that doesn't happen." He knew damned well how optimistic that statement was. "Do we have some engineers on call?"

"Not anybody who has experience with this kind of situation." (Who, wondered George, might have that kind of experience.) "But we'll get you some help." She drummed her fingernails on the desk. "We'll want you and your people in p-suits once the operation gets under way."

In case the plane cracks open. "Yeah," said George. "I think that's a good idea."