"Won't we need dark glasses?" Scotty asked.
"No," Hartson Brant replied. "The nuclear fireball won't emerge. If it gets a little too bright, squint and turn your head."
"How long after the nuclear shot will the volcano go?" Rick asked.
"We don't know. Anywhere from seconds to hours. It depends on how much of a path the nuclear shot cracks."
"Ten seconds!"
Rick made sure they had a good view of El Viejo's western slope, and held the plane on course.
"Five, four, three, two, one ...
"Zero!"
There was an instant of quiet, then dust spurted from the deep hole, followed by billowing clouds of pulverized rock. Down below, the earth heaved as though from another earthquake, and a line of waves appeared, running from shore outward!
The dust settled slowly, hanging in the air like a great gray ball.