We could still hear mKG's disembodied voice over the headphone. T minus two. All systems go. Stand by for DATICO checkout. At T minus one I will count to zero.'
When Peace pressed the firing-button, we knew that the umbilical cable which attached MKG to the marker buoy would be blown out by an explosive bolt and we would nd longer hear him.
Boz jumped up, rocking the boat. Stop! Stop!' T minus one. I count… fifty-nine
John!' Adele's face was ashen. She pointed. A white feather of foam broke the calm surface of the sea less than a mile away. Tyler!
Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x stop him x for Christ's sake stop him x .. eighteen… seventeen… sixteen.. fifteen… fourteen
… thirteen… twelve… eleven… ten…' The big plane pulled round, coming at us.
Boz threw himself at Peace, but Peace's eyes had never left him. With a savage blow he clubbed him unconscious with the Colt.
… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four. three… two… one.'
ZERO!'
Peace clapped his hand to the headphone and leapt up.
Gone!'
All of us were on our feet, oblivious of the big plane, oblivious of the submarine.
A white column erupted out of the sea like a depth-charge.
Sunlight exploded on the perspex. Streaming water, Little
Bear leaned over at a crazy angle. Peace gave a wild intake of breath. Then, amongst the white foam at the base, I saw the bite of red flame as Little Bear's motor kicked in. The missile jerked upright.
I turned to speak to Adele, but my voice was drowned in the ear-stunning thunder of the explosion. Adele came hard against my shoulder.
The white thing with its tail of white flame tore skywards, bearing with it the President of the United States.
The blast smacked across the sea. Above Love-Apple
Crossing it brought a flock of white birds into the air, like a plume raised in salute.
EXTRACT FROM CAPTAIN ' S LOG , U. S. N. WILLOWTRACKACK
Love-Apple Crossing, 17th February, 197 The following transcript of a Telstar relay is incorporated in today's log:
Up here in space the sun shines brightly on the bareheaded man about to take the highest oath of office in the United States, Marvin K. Green. His silver helmet and goldplated visor are at his side. On the left shoulder of his spacesuit is emblazoned the Stars and Stripes. The rest of the small group who watch the ceremony stand back in the shadow of the canopy.
' The sharp light throws into bold relief the faces of the President and of Dr Felix 'Coulter, Director of Space Station One. Martin K. Green's shows the strain of his fantastic one-man voyage. Dr Coulter holds the small bible which the
President carried in the cockpit of Little Bear.
' Dr Coulter asks the President to raise his right hand, which he does. He repeats after Dr Coulter: " I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
' The President looks down for a moment to the brilliant blue-and-white curve far below which is the Earth.
' With deep feeling, he says, "So help me God."'