“What’s wrong?” Mr. Shannon asked one of the men.
“A tornado is headed for Little Rock, Arkansas!” was the shocking reply. “I hope our missile scores a hit, but it isn’t going to be easy because the Wheel has already moved past the United States!”
“The missile’s got to hit!” Steve burst out. “Our home and Mom are there!”
“Yes, it’s simply got to!” Sue added tearfully.
The Shannons had to stand helplessly on the side as the tornado fighters went to work. The missile gun was in another part of the Wheel, but the orders for firing it would leave this room by radio.
“Oh, why couldn’t Mom have come with us?” Sue asked. “She would have been safe here!”
Steve felt his whole body tensing like a wound spring. The perspiration was beading his forehead and his knees were weak. On his father’s face there was a dark look and Steve saw that his big hands were opening and closing.
“Twenty seconds to go before firing,” the man at the machine said slowly over the radio mike on his chest. “Steady. Eighteen—seventeen—”
“Why don’t they hurry?” Sue cried. “They’re so slow!”
“They have to do it a certain way,” Mr. Shannon answered. “They know what they’re doing, Honey. Don’t be afraid.”