Page "Alas, Babylon" Paragraph 2

Randy drives to McCoy AFB and initially meets with another old friend, an Air Force officer and pilot named Paul Hart ; Randy then meets Mark's arriving plane.

While the military jet is refueled, Mark explains to Randy the background for sending the urgent message.

The Soviets evidently perceive a temporary weakness in U. S. and Allied defense posture and are believed to be staging an attempt to take advantage of the situation.

A defecting Soviet military officer has brought the Soviet " war plan " to the West.

Mark believes the Soviet plan is flawed and that the West would ultimately prevail, but danger lies in Moscow's belief that they can succeed, which emboldens them to risk war.

Mark informs Randy that he is flying his family down to Florida to stay with him indefinitely-or until Mark feels the threat has passed.

The brothers soon say their goodbyes, and Randy realizes that he may never see Mark again.

Heading back to Fort Repose, Randy gets cash from the bank.

He also privately gives warning of the impending war to those people of Fort Repose whom he believes to be his friends, including Dr. Daniel Gunn ( perhaps Randy's closest friend in Fort Repose ) as well as Elizabeth " Lib " McGovern, a young woman for whom Randy has come to care deeply.