A moment later there came a grumpy voice: "Hullo. What's so infernal important?"
"Steve? This is Jay."
"That's what the gal said; it better be important."
"To hell with your precious telescope, Steve; I want some information."
"You'd think we had nothing to do but cast horoscopes," growled the astronomer. "Or answer damned fool questions about the end of the world."
"Answer me one more."
"The world has been here for two times ten to the ninth years at least; you'll not live to see the end of it."
"Look, Steve, this may be important. Tell me, have any of your instruments shown any difference in setting since that streak of energy went through the solar system a few days ago?"
"Not that we can measure."
"But—"