In childhood he dreamed to becom an astronaut, but did not as many of people. After high school he finished Engineering College, then graduated from university with a degree in physics and enlisted in Army.
He always obey orders, never discussed the commands. Now he was one of three people who carry their watch in a bunker 14 meters under the ground adjacent to the mine which is located a single rocket size of a car. He did not even know where that bunker but he imagined that over him stretched the desert without people, without animal, without life. He was absolutely alone.
By the end of the guard was still about six hours. He looked at clock. He felt that the arrow stood still for a moment as if took a breath and go again. He took the clock off the wall and listened, ticking comforted him. So time is not stopped, so his watches will over. And he will not stay here to share eternity with the desert. But while the time belonged to him.
Going to daily duty, he prepared himself for the fact that the phone will ring it in his watch. After that, he will only have to insert the key into the hole on the panel, turn it, off the cap and press the button. One call and one touch will cause the start of a rocket from the mine, which will go forward at a rate that was paved in advance. But wherever it headed, he knew there was a chance to destroy the whole planet. But to think was not in his duties, only obey orders.
Time passed, and he did not know what to do. Maybe he fell asleep because he saw the desert. There was no end. And so the phone rang. Heart stopped beating for a second. Dream, this is a dream. But the call did not leave any hope. This is reality.
He put the phone to his ear and heard the order: "Code 30! I repeat! Code 30! Confirm?" His lips would not obey him: "Code 30! Confirm". In the tube were silent.
He was unable to move. Hoped that now rescinded the order. But he knew what it meant 30 - the start of a rocket without the possibility of canceling the order. Hands were shaking and he could not get the key into the well. Cap did not want to open. Only need to press the button. One move - and the desert. A whole continent and perhaps the world will turn into a desert. Without life, without time.
Millions of lives. Millions of smiles, millions of eyes. Children, adults, those who were not yet born, those who already live. He imagined them all. And he realized that he loved this world, these people that have never seen. It does not allow them to disappear. He knew what to do.
He looked at clock. He has 10 minutes until all are hiding in bunkers, and 10 minutes while to him comes the squad to check what caused the failure of the order. He took the keys of the bunker where he kept the rockets and rushed there down a long hallway. He also took with him a clock.
He opened the door. He saw a rocket at first. He had to work only with models and drawings before. But he had imagine about their structure. Remove the top panel, disconnect plate with a charge, to get a box that is responsible for the activation. It took 15 minutes.
Plates he just became breaking hammer. Beat them hard knowing that he is already received a charge of radiation that he do not need worry about the future plans. With the box he dealt with one blow. One blow destroyed two years of works. But that's nothing because to make one more need another two years.
That's it. He threw the hammer and returned to the bunker. He loved the whole world.
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