18
Final Jeopardy
We saw the whole sky flash with unbelievable brightness in spite of the very dark glasses we wore.
—Enrico Fermi, witnessing the first nuclear explosion
Jam and Chance took turns pacing, tigresses chained in place at the far end of the CIC from where Colin and Dash worked with hurried care to dodge disaster again and again.
Every time Jam looked over Dash’s shoulder at the erratic but steady progress of the Russians heading toward the CIC, she rushed on silent cat feet to the hatch that would take her down to confront the enemy. Every time she reached the hatch, Chance blocked her way, reminding her, “We’re the last line of defense. We don’t dare go on the attack and let somebody sneak past us.”
So they continued to pace until eventually, Dash turned to them. “They’
