e—They’regingguardatBughamPalace—ChristopherRobidownwithMice.

    Hewipedtheareaoffuzeheaddryandbeganmouldingaclaycuparoundit.Theoppedthejarandpouredtheliquidoxygenintothecup.Hetapedthecupsecurelyontothemetal.owaitagain.

    Therewassolittlespacebetweenhimandthebombhecouldfeelthegeintemperaturealready.Ifhewereondrylandhecouldwalkawayandbebatenminutes.ostandtherebesidethebomb.Theyweretwosuspiciouscreaturesinanenclosedspace.CaptainCarlylehadbeenwinashaftwithfrozenoxygenandthewholepithadsuddenlyburstintoflames.Theyhauledhimoutfast,alreadyunsciousinhisharness.

    Wherewashe?LissonGrove?OldKentRoad?

    Kipdippedcottonwoolintothemuddywaterandtouchedittothegabouttwelveinchesawayfromthefuze.Itfellaway,soitmeaowaitlonger.Wheonwoolstuck,itmeantenoughoftheareaaroundthefuzewasfrozenandhecouldgoon.Hepouredmoreoxygenintothecup.

    Thegrowingcircleoffrostwasafootinradiusnow.Afewmoreminutes.Helookedattheclippingsomeoapedontothebomb.Theyhadreaditwithmuchlaugh-terthatmintheupdatekitsenttoallbombdisposalunits.

    Whenisexplosionreasonablypermissible?

    Ifaman’slifecouldbecapitalizedasX,theriskatY,aimateddamagefromexplosionatV,thenalogimighttendthatifVislessthahebombshouldbeblownup;butifVreaterthanX,ashouldbemadetoavoidexplosioninsitu.

    Whowrotesuchthings?

    Hehadbynowbeenintheshaftwiththebombformorethananhour.Hetinuedfeedingintheliquidoxygen.Atshoulderheight,justtht,wasahosepumpingdownnormalairtopreventhimfrombeinggiddywithoxygen.

    (Hehadseensoldiersw