"Yes? Why not?" The words were innocent enough, but Kinnison's expression was full of meaning. "I don't want to seem trite, but you are just beginning to find out that honesty and loyalty are a hell of a hard team to beat." "Get out! Take these termination papers and GET OUT!" And Doctor Ralph K. Kinnison, head high, strode out of President Black's office and out of Entwhistle Ordnance Plant. CHAPTER 6 19--? "Theodore K. Kinnison!" a crisp, clear voice snapped from the speaker of an apparently cold, ordinary-enough-looking radio-television set. A burly young man caught his breath sharply as he leaped to the instrument and pressed an inconspicuous button. "Theodore K. Kinnison acknowledging!" The plate remained dark, but he knew that he was being scanned. "Operation Bullfinch!" the speaker blatted. Kinnison gulped. "Operation Bullfinch--Off!" he managed to say. "Off!" He pushed the button again and turned to face the tall, trim honey-blonde who stood tensely poised in the archway. Her eyes were wide and protesting; both hands clutched at her throat. "Uh-huh, sweets, they're coming--over the Pole," he gritted. "Two hours, more or less." "Oh, Ted!" She threw herself into his arms. They kissed, then broke away. The man picked up two large suitcases, already packed--everything else, including food and water, had been in the car for weeks--and made strides. The girl rushed after him, not bothering even to close the door of the apartment, scooping up _en passant_ a leggy boy of four and a chubby, curly-haired girl of two or thereabouts. They ran across the lawn toward a big, low-slung sedan. "Sure you got your caffeine tablets?" he demanded as they ran. "Uh-huh." "You'll need 'em. Drive like the devil--_stay ahead_! You can--this heap has got the legs of a centipede and you've got plenty of gas and oil. Eleven hundred miles from anywhere and a population of one-tenth per square mile--you'll be safe there if anybody is." "It isn't us I'm worried about--it's you!" she panted. "Technos' wives get a few minutes' notice ahead of the H-blast--I'll be ahead of the rush and I'll stay ahead. It's you, Ted--_you_!" "Don't worry, keed. That popcycle of mine has got legs, too, and there won't be so much traffic, the way I'm going." "Oh, blast! I didn't mean that, and you know it!" They were at the car. While he jammed the two bags into an exactly-fitting space, she tossed the children into the front seat, slid lithely under the wheel, and started the engine. "I know you didn't, sweetheart. I'll be back." He kissed her and the little girl, the while shaking hands with his son. "Kidlets, you and mother are going out to visit Grand-dad Kinnison, like we told you all about. Lots of fun. I'll be along later. Now, Lady Lead-Foot, scram--and shovel on the coal!" The heavy vehicle backed and swung; gravel flew as the accelerator-pedal hit the floor.