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happened." He sat at the end of the table, and took over the inquiry.

"I've spoken to the local authorities in Albuquerque, and here is what we know. The tether that was supposed to keep the balloon from leaving the ground shows visual evidence of having been partially severed, and had some frayed strands, possibly from a dog having chewed on it.

"The meteorologists are dismayed that there was such a strong wind from nowhere, but we know it did occur, reaching gusts of seventy-miles-per-hour, briefly, changed direction abruptly, and then stopped as suddenly, and mysteriously.

"We know that Eddy hit the burner just as the rope broke and the wind hit, but it was possibly complicated by Alexandra's needing assistance to climb into the balloon.

"We know that Kevin, the owner and pilot, should have been in the balloon but was struggling to help the kids into the basket and only stepped out of the balloon for a moment."

"Here is what I know," the General said. "There was a breach of national security at a top-secret science facility, for which I am responsible, and someone will have to be blamed. That person will be punished and it won't be me. So, based on your information, who do you think I should charge with the crime?"

"I think it's pretty obvious," Jinx's father said. "It is Philo's fault. He chewed the rope that jeopardized the children's lives, and caused the breach of security."

Philo's ears went up in the way that Jinx knew meant, "Huh?"

"You want me to charge a dog with a Federal crime? I would be the laughing stock of the nation and Federal Government."

"May we speak in private?" Jinx's father asked. The two men left the room.

On the way to Washington D. C., Jinx continued to question his father. They were to meet the president, whom Jinx had met before, and he was to receive another medal for bravery.

"But I don't deserve a medal, Dad. I didn't do anything brave. I just landed the balloon as soon as I saw a flat place, and it happened to be in Los Alamos. I thought we were over Colorado."

"You were over Colorado, son, and that is how the General knew I was telling him the truth about the aliens who caused the wind to change and send you over Los Alamos," his father told him, again.

"But how did the aliens know that I wished we could fly over Los Alamos?"

"You were the one who made contact with them and reported to us that they have ESP, right? And that they were your friends?"

"Yeah, but that was there, not here on Earth."

"Apparently they can still

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