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group, all in critical condition, mainly from burns. My executive officer has a list of the names available. There are four members of the press unaccounted for: Ballantine of the London Times, Higashi of Asahi Shimbun, LeClerc of Montreal Public Television, and Marchenka of Komsomolets Rusiya." |
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"I think I speak for all of us who survived," said an American TV reporter, his face white under its pall of gray-black soot, "when I say that we don't want to wait for six o'clock to get the hell out of this hellhole. We want to leave as soon as possiblethe sooner, the better." His colleagues agreed vociferously. |
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Harris looked at the reporter in astonishment, embattled but dogged. "It was my understanding that you were all volunteers, and that you knew what a dangerous situation you were coming into. Now, if there is still any doubt among you as to why we are here, I'll lay it out for you in plain language. Even if we could get a plane out now, which I very much doubt because the runway is blocked, we can't spare anyone to take you. You haven't asked, but I should tell you that twelve Canadian airmen also were injured and/or burned, including one in our temporary control tower. The tower itself is nonoperational at the moment." |
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The wind flapped the fabric of the tent and made a drumming sound. Fire images still lighted the walls from the persistent flames outside. "We are here in this godforsaken place because there is still a nuclear device in the bay, cocked to go off at 0830 hours. The loss of the divers hasn't changed that. Understood?" |
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An uneasy rustle ran through the crowd. One of the Canadian reporters asked angrily, "Why didn't you take us out last evening, before the storm, Harris?" |
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"I was informed in no uncertain terms, by you and several of your colleagues, Mr. Bartlett, that you press people wished to stay as long as possible, right up to the attempt to defuse the missile," Harris said, trying to control his temper. "If I'd had my way, you wouldn't have been here in the first place, |
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