Later, in a Washington conference room filled with military leaders, politicians, and the two Medfords.
GENERAL: I'm sure you gentlemen would be interested in this report I just received.
"U.S.S. Milwaukee able to get radio bearing on S.S. Viking before signal stopped. Milwaukee proceed at once to location. Two seaman from Viking rescued from sea by Milwaukee. Seaman rescued report no survivors on board Viking. Not possible to put aboard search and rescue party as Viking was infested with the giant ants."
Upon my orders, the S.S. Viking has been sunk with Naval gun fire. This was accomplished at 07 hundred hours this morning.
SENATOR: But I don't see how a ship at sea could . . . Dr. Medford, how could these giants creatures get aboard that vessel without being seen?
H. MEDFORD: The S.S. Viking anchored in Acapulco, Mexico for three days and four nights. And it's then and there we believe that one of the missing queen ants flew aboard. . . Doctor, please give them your information, will you.
P. MEDFORD (reads): "Owners of the S.S. Viking reported that on Hold Number One, the hatch cover was off during the entire time of loading, even at night. The crew had shore leave every night, so only a skeleton crew remained on watch."
It was quite possible for a queen ant to have flown on that ship without being seen. An open hole would appear most inviting as a place to lay her eggs and hatch out a nest.
OFFICIAL: Well I thinks it's time to inform the public about this whole business. It can't be kept a secret indefinitely.
H. MEDFORD: We can't risk it, sir.
OFFICIAL: But you already have. The entire crew of the cruiser Milwaukee knows about these things now.
GENERAL: They know it, sir, but the Milwaukee will be kept at sea until this crisis is resolved.
SENATOR: Doctor, what do those big flags on the map indicate?
P. MEDFORD: Well, these four indicate locations where we found dead male ants. Most recent finding was about four days ago, here near Mount Wilson in California. It was badly decomposed and we figured it had been there a month to five weeks.
This flag here at Los Angeles indicates a lead. Mr. Graham and Mr. Peterson are there now. They were flown west by Major Kibbee to check a rather large sugar theft, forty tons to be exact.
Later, Graham and Peterson at the Los Angeles railroad yard.
GRAHAM: When was this car broken into?
RAILROAD DETECTIVE: I told you, Friday night. The Yard Watchman claims he didn't see or hear a thing. What's so important you go to work on Sunday?
GRAHAM: Where's the Watchman now?
RAILROAD DETECTIVE: City jail where we're holding him. Any boob knows you need trucks to carry away forty tons of stuff. He said he didn't hear them. He's either lying or he's deaf, he ain't deaf.
GRAHAM: Let's go see him.
PETERSON: Yea. . . Thanks, buddy.
RAILROAD DETECTIVE: Hey, the least you can do after spoiling my day off is tell me how come the government got so interested in this deal.
PETERSON: He's got a sweet tooth.
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