Then came a mad, determined chase. Silently and boringly the fleets of both nations chased their quarry, and as determined not to be caught, Vinson drove his plane on a straightaway course, fleeing on the dead run. Hours they flew this way; hours in which there were several cases of planes drifting down into the sea because of the quick sabotage of their crews. Then, land! And across the land they flew, over city and farm, a mighty horde of roaring planes all in straightaway pursuit of a single aircraft. "Chute, Narina?" asked Vinson as Washington came into view. "Never have," she said in a frightened voice. "We'll never be able to land," he told her. "I know. I'll--try." He laughed sourly. "Just jump and let the chute do the rest," he told her. "Nothing to try." "You'll follow?" "Once you're clear," he nodded. She nodded and left. Minutes later Vinson felt the plane buck ever so slightly, and looking behind he saw the billow of white furl forth and crack into full bloom. Then he connected the auto-pilot and aimed the aircraft at the river. He raced back and dove from the open bomb bay into the open sky. It must have been miles from her, but Vinson shouted with triumph and waved his hands at her. She was down on the ground full minutes before he landed. He stood there, waiting, knowing that they would come to get him. Above his head, the sky was dotting white with the parachutes of the men from the sky fleets. The planes, their quarry escaped, turned stolidly and headed dead North belching their crews as they flew. Vinson saw the racing jeep, and he waved a strip of his chute to attract attention. 7 Secretary of War Hegeman was treated to a sight he never expected to see. Admiral Sarne, dark, hawkfaced commander of enemy forces and acknowledged as a bitter adversary in any battle, came into Hegeman's office with General Lloyd's arm over his shoulder. The general was limping. Hegeman stood up uncertainly but General Lloyd spoke first. "Broken ankle, I think. Get the surgeon general and whatever he needs and bring 'em here." "But--" "Mr. Hegeman," said Sarne, his dark eyebrows coming down in a slight frown, "this is a time for work. No man can afford to convalesce quietly--yet." Hegeman bristled slightly. He was not used to being ordered about, and especially by an admiral of a foreign power. But General Lloyd nodded. "Get Norton and his doctors. Then get Vinson and Narina Varada, Captain Jason Charless, and, if you can convince him that this is important enough, the President." The latter needed no convincing. The door opened abruptly and the President entered quickly. He bowed to Admiral Sarne and then extended a hand. "Glad to have you with us," he said and his voice rang heartily. Sarne's saturnine face cleared in a smile. "Glad to be--aboard," he said, shaking President Comstock's hand.