Chapter 1 Summary

Set in the year 1975, the first chapter opens on the Pacific island of Taratura. American scientist Reinhold is preparing to launch "Columbus," a space shuttle he has helped the U.S. government build. He sadly reflects on how the ship's flames will obliterate the tropical island upon blast off. A boat, the James Forrestal, is scanning the coastal water with searchlights, and Reinhold wonders if it is searching for Russian submarines.

Reinhold's thoughts of Russia stir up memories of his former colleague, Konrad Schneider. He recalls the spring of 1945, during the end of World War II, while he and Konrad were working in Prussia. While Reinhold chose to return to the US, Konrad went to live in Moscow. Reinhold had spent the past 30 years assuming that Konrad was dead until the previous week, when he was paid a visit by Colonel Sandmeyer of...