
Roger Strang, a leading engineer on a massive coastal defense project, lives a routine life with his teenage son, David. When a bizarre accident leaves David shaken but unharmed, Roger assumes it was a careless mishap; a second, far more violent encounter convinces him that someone is deliberately trying to kill his child. Driven by parental fear, he begins a personal investigation that drags him into the shadowy corridors of the high‑tech base.
His search uncovers hidden layers of the Barrier’s secret technology, lingering distrust after a brief but devastating atomic war, and a tangled web of corporate and political motives. Each clue brings him closer to a conspiracy that could endanger not only his family but the fragile peace holding the continent together. The opening act sets a stark, atmospheric tone, promising a tense, near‑future thriller where technology and trust are both precariously balanced.
Language
en
Duration
~56 minutes (54K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-02-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1928–1992
A doctor who brought real medical insight into science fiction, he wrote fast-moving stories for both young readers and adults. His books often mix big ideas with a practical feel that comes from someone who knew medicine from the inside.
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