Yeah, John Young said. Hang on.
He called over to Stan, the owner, standing behind the counter.
What’s goin on? Young said.
You haven’t heard? Stan said.
Heard what?
Stan came over. Cuba, he said. Last night.
What about Cuba? Harrison said.
Come out back, Stan said. I got a television. You’d better see for yourselves.
The men left their lunch and followed Stan through a set of doors near the back, through a minuscule kitchen into a small office with no window where a woman sat hunched over thick scarlet accounting books, smoking and sighing to herself. He turned on the set and changed it to NBC.
Hold on, he said. They’ve been playing it all morning.
They just had it, the woman said. I turned it off. Try ABC.
Stan turned the dial round and the president appeared on the screen.
… policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attempt by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.
Jesus Christ, Harrison said. What happened?
Soviets installed nuclear missiles in Cuba, the woman said. In secret. Weren’t you listening? A U-2 spy plane snapped pictures of the damn things.
Cuba’s only ninety miles away, Harrison said.
Oh, that’s where Cuba is? the woman said. I’d been wondering.
Holy shit, Borman said.
You see? Stan said.
How the hell did no one call us, Deke said. Gilruth must have known. We must be at DEFCON 3, at least.
To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine—
What the hell’s a quarantine? Borman said.
—on all offensive military equipment—
Fancy way of saying blockade, Conrad said.
Legal way of saying blockade, Lovell said.
—under shipment to Cuba is being initiated.
When did this go out? Harrison said.
Seven last night, Stan said.
All ships bound for Cuba will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back.
Something tells me these ships ain’t gonna stop for some blockade line, Conrad said.
Damn right, Young said.
Why the hell aren’t we launching a strike against them? Borman said. Christ, did that kid not learn anything from his father?
Jack Kennedy’s got a cool head on him, Harrison said. And his brother’s a smart guy. I need to make a phone call.
Yeah, me too, Conrad said. The others nodded.
Thanks, Stan, Young said.
Don’t mention it, fellas.
They shuffled out.
Finally, said the woman as Stan pulled the door shut behind him.
Back at the Holiday Inn, Harrison tried calling Grace, but she wasn’t in. It was hot. He stunk. He sat for a moment, then stood and changed his shirt. Then he went down to the bar. He called again early evening.
Hello? Grace said.
Hey, he said. It’s me.
Jim, she said.
I called earlier but you weren’t in.
Where the hell have you been?
Where have I been? Where have you been?
I’ve been trying to get ahold of you since last night!
What? I’ve been right here. Who did you speak to?
I don’t know—some woman.
Well that makes things easier.
She didn’t say and why would I ask? She told me you weren’t staying there.
Harrison sighed.
Henri’s given us our own rooms; we’re off the guest booking sheets. What time did you call?
Right after the broadcast, she said. About seven-thirty.
We were downstairs, he said. I’m sorry. I’ll sort this. We only just found out. I called as soon as I got back.
I’m scared half to death, Jim, she said.
I’m coming home, he said.
Really? she said. When?
We all are. First thing.
Thank God. Jim, she said. I haven’t been doing too good.
Are you sick?
I don’t know.
Well, you’re either sick or you’re not.
Jim—I—can we not do this now?
Grace—
Please. Just come home.
I already said I’m coming home.
Please, Jim.
What?
Nothing. I miss you.
I miss you too. Sorry it’s been a couple of days.
Are you okay? she said.
Yeah, we’ve just been so busy. And we just got our crew assignments.
That’s good, she said. Do you want to tell me now?
I’ll tell you when I get home, he said.
Okay.
I’d better get packed, he said. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?
Jim? she said.
Yeah?
I love you.
I love you too, he said. Everything is going to be okay.
Okay, she said.
Stay in the house. Don’t go out unless you have to. Keep the radio on. I’ll be home real soon.