In a novel examining the question of accidental war, American planes fly past the point of recall to drop nuclear bombs on Moscow.

The translator -- The war room, Omaha -- Descent with pomp and authority -- The blue skies, the black holes -- The flayed bull -- Bomb shelter, the White House -- The organized man -- The President and the translator -- The vindicators -- The briefing -- The urgent minutes -- Words, statistics, and opinions -- The conference line -- The calculation and the wait -- The conference line -- The last effort -- The vindicators -- Cascio's command -- The last mile -- The conference line -- No other way -- The conference line -- The sacrifice of Abraham.