"I'm an electronics research engineer, not an expert in explosives," Smith retorted with some asperity. "But as to the reason, I'm sure they wanted to destroy Eddie and me!"
He glared, as if daring anybody to challenge this statement.
"Eddie?" ventured Cowles.
"I try to speak plainly, Mr. Cowles.... I said 'Eddie and me'!"
General David Sanders rested two large hands on the foot of the white iron bedstead and squeezed until his knuckles bulged ominously. A volatile man, he had trouble with his own temper even without being provoked. But his voice was deceptively calm:
"Dr. Smith, do I gather that someone else was in the trailer with you at the time of the explosion?"
Smith grimaced expressively, and answered as if speaking to an eight-year-old:
"No, General Sanders.... I was quite alone."
After thirty years in the Air Force, Amos Busch was not used to hearing a Major General spoken to in this way. It violated his sense of propriety.
"Dr. Smith," he exploded, "just who or what in the hell is or was Eddie?"