Who knows the secret of survival after
the day of the big Blast? Who really are ...
THE SMART ONES
By JACK SHARKEY
Illustrated by SCHELLING
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Amazing Stories February 1963.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The first inkling came in a news bulletin that interrupted all regularly scheduled programming on the networks. Russia had uttered a flat or-else at the UN assembly, and the U.S. had countered with a steely just-try-it. That was all. It might be bad, it might not be so bad. Par-for-the-course or This-is-it. The bulletin lasted forty seconds, then regular programming was resumed. No warnings, no repeats of the Conelrad band-numbers, no stay-tuned urgings. Just the bulletin, then resumption of routine telecasts.
Pete Crolin turned to his wife, Beth. "What do you think?" he said, not having to specify his meaning further. A faint frown deepened the soft lines of her forehead.