“Well-thanks. Goodbye.” Rita slipped out, closing the door behind her.
“Hunter,” said Jane. “Have you accessed the news again, like you did after our first mission? What happened to the nuclear explosion in Jamaica that occurred shortly before we left?”
“I have been monitoring the news,” said Hunter. “No mention has been made of any such event.”
“Ha! We did it!” Steve grinned.
“We have a new problem, however,” Hunter said soberly.
“What is it?” Jane looked at him in alarm. “Another one?”
“In the fifteen minutes since we returned, I have picked up preliminary reports of a nuclear explosion in Germany.”
“Oh, no,” said Jane.
“I have the coordinates that were used by all the component robots still at large,” said Hunter. “However, I feel we should take the German mission next. Explosions at other sites have not occurred yet.”
“Is this one in Germany more important?” Steve asked skeptically.
“All such explosions are very important, of course,” said Hunter. “However, the trouble may spread very quickly from this one. It has taken place in western Germany, just east of the Rhine, in a heavily populated area with advanced industry. Over the past centuries, a great deal of international animosity developed there, much of it leading to war. Right now, a few news analysts are concerned that terrorists may be attempting to disrupt world peace.”
“And because of the destruction, the First Law is pressuring you to handle this one now,” said Jane.
“Yes,” said Hunter. “As before, however, I must search for a historian familiar with the culture we will visit. In the meantime, I suggest that you two have a good dinner and a good night’s sleep.”
“Good idea,” said Jane. “Back in 1668, it was evening. That’s why I’m ready for dinner.”
“Me, too,” said Steve. “But drop the suspense, Hunter, and tell us-where do we go next? And when?”
“A place called Teutoburger Forest,” said Hunter. “In A.D. 9, during the golden age of the Roman Empire.”