Straut pushed himself up.
"Where's Greer?"
"I'm right here, sir." Major Greer stepped up, stood attentively.
"Those tanks here yet?"
"No, sir. I had a call from General Margrave; there's some sort of holdup. Something about not destroying scientific material. I did get the mortars over from the base."
Straut got to his feet. The stranger took his arm. "You ought to lie down, General—"
"Who the hell is going to make me? Greer, get those mortars in place, spaced between your tracks."
The telephone rang. Straut seized it. "General Straut."
"General Margrave here, Straut. I'm glad you're back on your feet. There'll be some scientists from the State University coming over. Cooperate with them. You're going to have to hold things together at least until I can get another man in there to—"
"Another man? General Margrave, I'm not incapacitated. The situation is under complete control—"