THE CRACK OF DOOM - by William Welch
Doug and Tony find themselves on the volcanic Island of Krakatoa in 1883
on the day it blew up.
Doug and Tony materialize in a tropical jungle, in the midst of a volcanic
eruption. As tribal leader Karnosu explains that only human sacrifice will
appease the volcano, the natives overpower the Time Travelers and are about to
throw them to their deaths when an English voice halts them. Dr. Howland, a
middle-aged explorer appears, having been sent by the Royal Society to study
he volcano in this area. It is, Doug and Tony learn, Krakatoa! In the Time
Tunnel Complex, Ann' time-fix shows the pair have reappeared in the summer of
1883, but Swain, knowing Doug did research on volcanoes, say he'll know the
danger. At Howland's Island base, Doug asks the date, but aside from the year and
month Howland has lost track, he came out in May after Krakatoa's first
explosion. When Tony and Doug try to convince him another is due, he says his
calculations set such a possibility about 30 years hence. At the Tunnel Jerry
announces Krakotoa blew up at 10:02 A. M., August 27, l883; according to Dr.
Howland's daughter's diary, it's August 26. Doug decides they must go to Java,
but Ann's new timefix shows that Java will be inundated by a tidal wave-only
the high ground of Sumatra is safe. Neither Howland nor Eve believe Doug's
insistence that an eruption is imminent. When pieces of lava spew forth from
Krakatoa, Tony accuses Dr. Howland of lying about his theories. The scientist
finally admits that he wanted the chance to measure the volcanic activity
up to the moment of explosion but promises to leave with them in the afternoon
when his instrument readings will be completed. Doug, feeling something wrong
scans Eve's journal and finds she forgot the International Date Line today is
August 27th! Karnosu and his natives swarm over them, determined to make a
sacrifice. At the Tunnel, Kirk works on the isolation plan, and as the natives
lift the Time Travellers, Tony disappears from their grasp. Arriving at the
Complex, Tony finds the scientists are frozen in a time warp caused by the
isolation effects. He reverses the controls; reads the messages about Sumatra
leaves a note in Swain's hands; then walks into the Tunnel and reappears near
the natives. In awe, they drop Doug, while in the melee, Karnosu falls to his
death and the others subside. Eve now believes that time has run out, but
she is more frightened of her father's anger. When Tony demands they leave the
Island immediately, Howland raises a stick to thrash him. Suddenly, Kirk's
voice calls to Tony that they received his message. Dumbfounaed, Howland
believes the Time Travellers. Howland, Eve and the natives paddle toward
Sumatra while Doug and Tony vanish from the beach, once again tumbling into
space.
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