"What?" Cooper gasped, completely confused.
"How do you study something that doesn't register as matter by any tests I've given it? And how do you keep samples that won't be contained in normal laboratory containers? It looks like matter, but it isn't...at least as we would describe it. Doesn't even have any odor."
"Interesting!" Cooper replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "If you won't keep it in ordinary lab containers, where is it now?" "Oh, I've got it in a specially coated jar and test tube. Glass seems to be one of the only things it doesn't dissolve quickly. Let me show you something."
Horton went to a table and picked up the cleaned bed pan Mike had used, from it. There was a hole completely through the bottom of the pan!
"This happened the moment the stuff made contact with the metal!" he explained, putting his fist through the hole.
"The stuff must be made of material no one has come in contact with before. But if it disintegrates anything it touches like that, I wouldn't keep it around for long."
 "Yes, I've already decided to get rid of it as soon as possible...but how?"
"My best suggestion would be to wait until Mike is well, then let him take it to the nearest volcano and drop it in. To me that would be the most logical way of disposing of it. The tremendous heat of the lava will destroy almost anything. I'm sure it will do its job on this very well. If it doesn't that's the place where nobody will be harmed by it."
"That seems to be the best decision," Horton agreed.
Cooper said hello to Mike then was gone again.
"Busy man, indeed!" Horton said to himself, then went back to his daily medical tasks.
Mike enjoyed his chance to rest, and caught up on his reading. He studied more laboratory papers Dr. Cooper had given him to look over about the project. The only things he really missed were his dates with Jeanie and, being outside in the fresh air. He had several visits with Jeanie, Larry, and, Cooper, usually, individually. It felt so good to be able to sleep late and not have to worry about cooking or putting up with getting food from the pesky cafeteria crew. Dr. Horton was having truckloads of fresh vegetables and fruits brought in for his patient. It was difficult to find explanations for the use of them, but they managed. Since the incident at the farm Horton and Cooper found this the best way to saf\tisfy Mike's appetite and the quickest way to bring him back to its normal level for his metabolism. He gobbled everything down like it was going out of style. A whole load of food would disappear in fifteen minutes, but at least Mike was happy and getting well. Dr. Horton seemed interested in learning how his body reacted during recuperation. Mike kept his usually routine days busy, indeed.
One afternoon Mike awoke to find Dr. Cooper standing at the foot of his bed looking the most depressed he'd ever been. Mike told the man to sit down, and after Cooper gently placed himself on the lower left side of the mattress he was asked to explain what bothered him.
"The last few nights I've been going over your MLC sketches, and think I've solved the mystery of them at last. From what I have observed from that last one you made with the section removed, we are in grave danger. Unless you can do something to help, the missiles are going to be accidentally launched, the world will be destroyed, and I'm not sure of the amount of time we have before this happens!"
"What?" Mike cried. "But what about the safety devices you mentioned? I thought the MLCs were made so accidental launches could never happen!"
"That's what I'm trying to explain, son," Cooper continued, "from what I can gather, your sketches are telling us something is wrong with these failsafe devices. What are we going to do, Mike? Here we are working to save the world, and the very thing that's supposed to protect us is about to destroy everything!"
"Hmmmmm," Mike said, "I don't know if I can fly in space yet. My only known problem would be getting beyond the sun with no bad effects. I'm sure we'll find some way I can get by that without much trouble. If you and Dr. Horton talk this over, I'll bet you can come up with some ideas for me that will give me a way to fly as high as I want, and not be bothered by the sun's rays."
"I'm glad you have so much confidence in yourself, son," Cooper complimented, "but to tell you the truth, I'm scared to death you won't be able to help in time. I'm scared to death!"