"Dr. Smith on the line, Sir—He says it's something about the X-15 missile."
General Sanders looked as though he wanted to sweep the intercom off his desk.
"Why not talk to him," Cowles suggested. "I'd like to hear this."
The General picked up his phone, and said with deceptive calm:
"All right, Smith ... make it short."
"It was the logging truck," Dr. Smith replied, in his most superior manner.
"Huh?"
"Eddie's circuit is coordinated now. He says that the same afternoon the X-15 disappeared, a passenger car ran into the back of a logging truck northbound on Highway 395, about fifty miles from the Lancaster base. Two people were killed...."
"Smith, what kind of pipedream are you peddling now?"
"General, the truck was loaded with redwood logs and heading north!"