Paving the Road to Armageddon

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Robert H. Goddard turned the note over in his wrinkled hand, shocked but also—though he dared not admit it, even to himself—momentarily pleased at hearing from an old friend. He did not need more than a moment to determine the author: Wemher von Braun. Who else would use German words and speak of spacecraft? Not missiles or rockets. Spacecraft. Everyone spoke of rockets these days but no one of space. Who but Wemher?

When he raised his eyes to question the courier, Goddard saw only the young soldier’s retreating back as he skirted a small, unrepaired shell-crater in the sidewalk. After one nervous glance backward, the boy turned a comer and disappeared behind an old brick building. The sky was already being painted with yet another violently vivid sunset.

“Is something the matter, Mister Goddard?” the MP stationed on Goddard’s front porch asked.

“Nothing, no,” he answered, glancing up at invisible stars.

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