seven o'clock
But he could still crash that missile in its tube . Or -- could he ? He was not afraid of other Norheiman fighters ; he had a long lead and he rode one of their very fastest . But since they were already so suspicious , would n't they launch the bomb _ before _ seven o'clock ? He tried vainly to coax another knot out of his wide-open engines . With all his speed , he neared the pin-point just in time to see a trail of super-heated vapor extending up into and disappearing beyond the stratosphere . He nosed his flyer upward , locked the missile into his sights , and leveled off .