Mine: The Arrival by Brett Battles Read Free Book Online Page B

In truth, this total lack of progress was putting as much pressure on Durant and his team as the war was. And Durant had no doubt this all-out effort was why Dr. Goodwin had died in an accident two days before.
    Goodwin had been the materials specialist, not the best in the world, but as close to that as Durant could arrange at the time. By all accounts, Goodwin had already been working for eighteen hours when he climbed the scaffolding erected over the craft to try a new technic for chipping some of the metal free. A misstep by the groggy scientist sent him careening into the handrail, the impact dislodging the bar and sending Goodwin tumbling onto the top of the craft.
    One of the protrusions punctured his abdomen, its tip exiting through his back. It alone would have been life threatening, but the thin arm tearing open his jugular vein did the real damage. By the time his assistant had been able to pull him off, it was too late.
    Durant rubbed his hands over his eyes. No progress on Titan, and now a death to deal with.
    On the desk were two files. One was Goodwin’s. According to the dossier, the man had a sister, semi-estranged since 1939. That was good. It meant Durant could get by with only sending a letter on official government stationery.
    As for Goodwin’s body, it was better not to chance any questions being raised. Along with the underground facility came the two hundred acres it sat beneath. Durant would have the security force find a suitable spot and bury the scientist.
    The real issue now was that Goodwin’s death left a gaping hole in Durant’s staff. A materials specialist was vital to the team’s success. That was the reason for the second folder. It contained the names of the three additional candidates Durant had considered initially when putting together his staff. One had married in the intervening time and was no longer an option. Of the other two, one was clearly superior.
    There was a problem with this candidate, though. A big one Durant couldn’t solve on his own.

E IGHT
     
    Washington, DC
    October 21, 1942
     
     
    D URANT ARRIVED IN the capital via military transport just after sunrise.
    From a Western Union office in the city, he sent a telegram to Grace Tully, the president’s secretary.
     
    The Williams Report is in. Please advise.
     
    Though she would have no idea what this meant, she had been instructed to always inform her boss when telegrams concerning the Williams Report were received.
    Durant then headed to the apartment he rented with project funds, and freshened up while he waited.
    The call came at 11:26 a.m.
    “The president would like to see you at two p.m.,” Miss Tully said.
    “I’ll be there. Thank you.”
    Durant arrived at the West Wing thirty minutes before his appointed time.
    “Something’s come up,” Miss Tully said once he was escorted to the anteroom of the Oval Office. “If you can, the president would like you to wait and he’ll squeeze you in at the first opportunity.”
    “Of course.”
    Not long after he took a seat, General Patton and Admiral Hewitt arrived and were immediately led in to see FDR. The president’s next appointment was with a man Miss Tully referred to simply as Congressman. Following him, a uniformed admiral Durant didn’t recognize and a man in civilian clothing entered the Oval Office together. Their meeting lasted until a few minutes past 3:30.
    As they were walking out, Miss Tully’s phone rang.
    “Yes, sir?” she said. “Very good, Mr. President.” She hung up and looked at Durant. “You have ten minutes before his next meeting starts.”
    Durant hurried into the Oval Office. Though this was the fourth time he’d met Roosevelt there, the sense of awe he felt as he crossed to the president’s desk was as intense as it had been on his first visit.
    “Dr. Durant,” FDR said, motioning to the empty guest chair. “Good to see you again. Have you brought me good news?”
    “I wish that were so, Mr. President,” Durant