Robb explained. "It seems their equipment has been haywire for two days, they haven't been able to get through."
"How do you like that!" cracked Farnsworth, the astrogator. "We're two hundred and forty thousand miles off the Earth and our equipment works fine. They have all the comforts of Earth down at headquarters and they can't repair radio transmission for two days!"
The men laughed.
"Gentlemen," Robb continued, "every radio and TV network in the country was hooked up to the chief's office in Washington. I not only talked to General Lovett, I spoke to the whole damn country."
The men could not contain their excitement. The captain received a verbal pelting of stored-up questions.
"Did you get word to my family, Captain?" asked Kingsley.
"I hope you told them we're physically sound, Captain," said Farnsworth. "I have a fiancée that'll never forgive me if anything happens to me—"
"What's the reaction like around the country—"
"Have the Russians had anything to say yet—"
"Ha! I'll bet they're sore as hell—"