The Long Remembered Thunder

BY KEITH LAUMER
He was as ancient as time—and as strange as his own frightful battle against incredible odds!
In his room at the Elsby Commercial Hotel, Tremaine opened his luggage and took out a small tool kit, used a screwdriver to remove the bottom cover plate from the telephone. He inserted a tiny aluminum cylinder, crimped wires and replaced the cover. Then he dialed a long-distance Washington number and waited half a minute for the connection.
Fred, Tremaine here. Put the buzzer on. A thin hum sounded on the wire as the scrambler went into operation.
Okay, can you read me all right? I'm set up in Elsby. Grammond's boys are supposed to keep me informed. Meantime, I'm not sitting in this damned room crouched over a dial. I'll be out and around for the rest of the afternoon.
I want to see results, the thin voice came back over the filtered hum of the jamming device. You spent a week with Grammond—I can't wait another. I don't mind telling you certain quarters are pressing me.
Fred, when will you learn to sit on your news breaks until you've got some answers to go with the questions?
I'm an appointive official, Fred said sharply. But never mind that. This fellow Margrave—General Margrave. Project Officer for the hyperwave program—he's been on my neck day and night. I can't say I blame him. An unauthorized transmitter interfering with a Top Secret project, progress slowing to a halt, and this Bureau—
Look, Fred. I was happy in the lab. Headaches, nightmares and all. Hyperwave is my baby, remember? You elected me to be a leg-man: now let me do it my way.
I felt a technical man might succeed where a trained investigator could be misled. And since it seems to be pinpointed in your home area—
You don't have to justify yourself. Just don't hold out on me. I sometimes wonder if I've seen the complete files on this—
You've seen all the files! Now I want answers, not questions! I'm warning you, Tremaine. Get that transmitter. I need someone to hang!