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Page 344
the right thing. I suppose they envision all of us jumping up and down in ecstasy at the thought of the missile exploding right before our eyes. Fortunately, the Minister would prefer not to be anywhere near"
"At last," Morgan said. "A man with some sense."
"CIA informs us that the estimated time of detonation remains the same. December 7 at 0830 local time. Wasn't that the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?"
"It was."
"Someone had a nice sense of history."
"What is the status of the press and television? Where are you quartering them?"
"Ah, the press and the telly. We've had an earful of demands for accommodations, but not so many firm reservations. We're cobbling together a tented enclave for them as far from the water as is feasible. They'll encounter a problem, though, one they may not appreciate. Electronic communications from Site X are very dicey right nowvery stormy, you know. One press plane is weathering over here until this storm front moves on east. Another will depart early tomorrow if it's needed."
"I suggest, Colonel, that you tell the newspeople that they'll have to work with a pool reporter, one who's come on our plane."
"They won't like that much."
They'll like it less when they find out the pool reporter is Joe Ryerson, Morgan thought. Well, he wasn't going to sweat that now.
"The Russians are also sending reporters. From lzyestia. Ah, the wonders of a free press," the Canadian said dryly.
"It's a peculiar world, Colonel."
"But the only one we have. Let's keep it that way. Good luck to you, Mr. Morgan."
"They're not really going to try evacuating the people downwind of us, are they?"
"The machinery is beginning to turn. Your FEMA people

 
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