City at World's End, page 159 by Edmond Hamilton
<< Return to Title Details & Download
Purchase this title in paperback at Amazon.com
160
d was for the trusting thousands of Middletown, who accepted the powers of scientists with the same unquestioning faith with which men had once accepted the powers of wizards.
He hoped that, if the experiment were a disastrous failure, he would not survive to know it.
A crane had been rigged to handle the energy bomb. The electronics crew were working desperately to finish the intricate wiring of the rack mechanisms, the split second timing of the relays. One of the cantilever support girders had flawed, and steel workers were sweating away to replace it.
A few more hours now, and the thing would be done. By noon, or a little after, they would know whether Earth was to live or die.
Then one of Arnol's men came running. He had run all the way from the starcruiser. He was breathless, and his eyes were wild.
He cried out to Arnol, "A message on the televisor from a Control Squadron! They say they are approaching Earth, and order us to cease operations at once!"
Chapter 20
-- appointment with destiny
Kenniston felt the impact of the news as a catastrophe crushing all their desperate hopes. He stood sagging, looking at the technicians who stared frozenly back.
Like an ominous echo, Varn Allan's warning came back into his mind.
"You cannot fight Federation law!"
But Jon Arnol, raging at seeing the dream of a lifetime threatened at this last moment, rushed forward to the messenger.
He grabbed the man's collar. "Did you think to use a distance gauge on the message from those ships?"
The man nodded hastily. "Yes. The readings were--"
"The devil with readings! How far from Earth are those ships?"
"I'd estimate that they're three or four hours away, if they come at full speed."
"They'll come at full speed, don't worry," said Arnol grimly. His face was a sweating mask, the bones of it standing out gauntly, as he turned to the others. "Can we be rea