Herlong, a wartime city in the high desert, had a diverse population that harboredbursts of temper, assignations that led to murderous plots, and past histories thatwere best left hidden. In the midst of the writhing psychologicalundercurrent the military authority offereda trip on the California Zephyr as a prize forthe crew with the highest tonnage tallied. Though a possible explosion was a risk that was well understood, nonetheless when itoccurred the place and time caught everyonetotally unprepared. Looking at the explosion as one of the risksof life, the men who won the the prize journey on the California Zephyr put the explosion behind them as they looked forwardto the trip. None was prepared for anotherdeadly surprise