The major absorbed the jibe without comeback. An hour ago he had informed the general of his indecision over the object's identity, though he had suspected it to be the reactor.
"We may find more when we get it examined in the shop," the general mused, swishing by the wheat. "But at least we know they do come down some place, and it wasn't flash fusion. On this one, anyway."
"What do you think about instituting a search of this vicinity for other parts, general?"
The officer growled negatively. "Obviously, the reactor was the only part not vaporized in the fall—because of its construction."
"That's assuming the ship entered the atmosphere at operational velocity and not less than free fall," the major qualified.
"How can anyone assume free fall? Way outside probability."
"Yes, sir, but there are degrees of velocity involved. He could have used reverse thrust and entered at a relatively slow speed."
"All right, all right—let's say possible, then. Pull off your search if you want to. I'm in this thing so deep now, I'll try anything to get going. I've got Congress ready to investigate, and some senator yesterday put pressure on to cancel the United Nuclear contract. I'll try anything at this point, Grant!"
The big man's voice had risen to anger, but Major Grant Reis had not missed the vocal breaking in the last syllables.