Chapter 15

           CaptainRudolfWegener,atthemomenttravelingunderthecovernameConradGoltz,adealerinmedicalsuppliesonawholesalebasis,peeredthroughthewindowoftheLufthansaME9-Erocketship.Europeahead.Howquickly,hethought.WewillbelandingatTempelhoferFeldinapproximatelysevenminutes.

           IwonderwhatIaccomplished,hethoughtashewatchedthelandmassgrow.ItisuptoGeneralTedeki,now.WhateverhecandointheHomeIslands.Butatleastwegottheinformationtothem.Wedidwhatwecould.

           Hethought,Butthereisnoreasontobeoptimistic.ProbablytheJapanesecandonothingtochangethecourseofGermaninternalpolitics.TheGoebbelsGovernmentisinpower,andprobablywillstand.Afteritisconsolidated,itwillturnoncemoretothenotionofDandelion.Andanothermajorsectionoftheplanetwillbedestroyed,withitspopulation,foraderanged,fanaticideal.

           Supposeeventuallythey,theNazis,destroyitall?Leaveitasterileash?Theycould;theyhavethehydrogenbomb.Andnodoubttheywould;theirthinkingtendstowardthatGötterdämmerung.Theymaywellcraveit,beactivelyseekingit,afinalholocaustforeveryone.

           Andwhatwillthatleave,thatThirdWorldInsanity?Willthatputanendtoalllife,ofeverykind,everywhere?Whenourplanetbecomesadeadplanet,byourownhands?

           Hecouldnotbelievethat.Evenifalllifeonourplanetisdestroyed,theremustbeotherlifesomewherewhichweknownothingof.