The next day, they are searching the desert for any signs of a mound. Peterson and Harold in one helicopter piloted by Brig. General Robert O'Brien. Graham and Patricia are in another helicopter piloted by Major Kibbee.
O'BRIEN: Doctor, this nest we're looking for. How many giant ants do you think will be in it?
H. MEDFORD: Well General, I really don't know. If they follow the usual pattern of their species, the nest, depending on it's age, may contain from several hundreds to several thousands.
PETERSON: Several thousands, Doctor?
H. MEDFORD: It's possible.
O'BRIEN: Look Doctor, if we run into several thousand of the thing you killed yesterday, it will take a bomber squadron plus an infantry regiment to mop up after us. How do you propose to keep that a secret?
H. MEDFORD: You're jumping to conclusions, General O'Brien. There may not be nearly so many of these creatures as you suppose.
O'BRIEN: I'm not supposing anything after looking at that carcus. What I can't understand is, why no one has seem them till now.
H. MEDFORD: Well for one reason, I don't believe these creatures developed recently. For another, for there being here, in these hundreds of thousands of square miles of desert . . .
He pauses, Harold thinks he sees a mound.
H. MEDFORD: No, that isn't it. . . . Could I speak to my daughter please, General.
O'BRIEN: Of course.
H. MEDFORD: Thank you.
PETERSON: Talk right in there
H. MEDFORD: Hello . . . Pat. Pat, are you there?
PETERSON: That's not the way to put in a call, Doctor. We're Search Able - call Search Baker, right General?
O'BRIEN: Right.
H. MEDFORD: Oh . . . Search Able to search Baker.
PETERSON: Say over. Then say over.
H. MEDFORD: Over.
P. MEDFORD: Medford and Baker to Medford and Able. Go ahead Dad. Over.
H. MEDFORD: Have you found anything yet?
PETERSON: Say over.
H. MEDFORD: I just said it.
PETERSON: I know, say it again.
H. MEDFORD: Over.
P. MEDFORD: Baker to Able. Not yet. We're about three quarters of the way across our sector. We're now at coordinates Charlie-six. Over.
H. MEDFORD: Well don't pass up any possibilities. Let me know the moment you find anything.
PETERSON: If you're finished, say over and out.
H. MEDFORD: But she knows I'm through talking.
PETERSON: I know she does, Doctor, but it's a rule, you got to say it. Ain't that right, General?
O'BRIEN: Right, Sargeant.
H. MEDFORD: Oh this is ridiculous! Lot of good your rules are going to do us if we don't locate . . . .
Peterson grabs the headphone form Harold and finishes the call.
PETERSON: Over and out.
H. MEDFORD: Oh, now you're happy!
KIBBEE: Real calm fellow, isn't he.
GRAHAM: Worried about him?
P. MEDFORD: Oh a little. He's not a young man, he really shouldn't of made this trip. But he's a scientist and this is a scientist's dream come true.
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