eft in the chemical division was the
unrelenting demands made on us by Dr. Rutledge to continue to ferret out
the electronic detonator. Until then, he had scarcely bothered with our
work; now he would hear of nothing else. "Today's the Day!" was the
slogan he had displayed above every bench.

Finally the fatal day arrived. The retreat across the Mississippi was
consummated. This time it was not feigned. The Mongols were hungry, and
their appetites were whetted for more flour such as had sustained them
for the past twelve days. Moreover, new electronic bombs were beginning
to be supplied them.

My name leapt at me across the room: I was being called by that almost
human instrument, the television 'phone. Both my superior and I hurried
to the cabinet. It was, as we had guessed, Loomis. "It's all up," he
said wretchedly. "The fresh supply of atomic degenerating bombs, for
which the enemy has been holding back, has now arrived. They matched and
neutralized our electric field defense screen just an hour ago, leaving
us at their mercy. You've had your chance, Doctor, and failed. I advise
you both to make your way north and wait until these fiends forget the
inconvenience you both have caused them. As for me, I'm leaving this
instant to offer unconditional surrender in the name of all the allies."

* * * * *

It was about ten o'clock in the morning, just after he had transported
all his forces hurriedly to the east bank, and as the Mongols were
occupying the old entrenchments on the west, that General Loomis closed
his conversation with the Chemical Laboratory. He turned to an aerial
officer who stood at attention beside him. "Major Maniu," he said,
"trail a white banner of truce on your plane and tell the enemy I will
parley with them. Tell them that we will serve rations presently to our
men who have worked all night without food or rest, and that if it is
agreeable to them, both sides shall simultaneously discontinue activity
at one o'clock. At that time I shall cross the river to offer them our
terms of surrender."

The officer saluted and hastened to his near-by plane. General Loomis
ascended into his helicopter to confer with his staff to draw up in
documentary form the surrender, and give the necessary orders relative
to lowering of fire that afternoon. He also spoke to the President and
to the crowd outside the White House, and then began nervously waiting
the crucial moment. About t