 What is the main conflict at the start?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1962. General Finogenov notified Major Winship that the underground blast was scheduled for the following morning. Major Winship, after receiving the message, discussed precautions with the three other Americans. Next morning, before the sunlight exploded, the four of them donned their space suits and went and sat outside the dome, waiting. Black pools of shadows lay in harsh contrast, their edges drawn with geometric precision. "Help?" " Nyet ," said Major Winship, exhausting his Russian. "When?" "Boom—boom!" said Pinov. Major Winship cut out the circuit. "He's done it deliberately," said Capt. Wilkins, the eldest of the four Americans. Ultimately, Lt. Chandler said, "This is a little ridiculous. "Ah, it's all Russian. A moth's wing of dust would, perhaps, rise and settle beyond the horizon: no more. "Let's all go in," said the fourth American, Capt. Lawler. "I'll try again," Major Winship said and switched to the emergency channel. "Base Gagarin? "I'll see them all in hell, first," Major Winship said. He crossed with the floating moon-motion to the airlock and entered, closing the door behind him. The darkness slowly filled with air, and the temperature inside the suit declined steadily. At the proper moment of pressure, the inner lock slid open and Major Winship stepped into the illuminated central area. His foot was lifted for the second step when the floor beneath him rose and fell gently, pitching him forward, off balance. It then abated to something in excess of normal. Air currents whisked it away and plastered it against a riveted seam of the dome. It pulsed as though it were breathing and then it ruptured. Major Winship moved quickly to cut out the emergency air supply which had cut in automatically with the pressure drop. It's on your right side, midway up. Major Winship said, "they should have made these things more flexible." The sheet began slowly to slide downward, then it fell away completely and lay limply on the floor. The living space was more restricted than in a submarine, with the bunks jutting out from the walls about six feet from the floor. When no comment was forthcoming, he continued: "Perhaps we built a bit more strongly, Major." After repeatedly assuring you there was no danger of a quake—and then to have something like this happen.
 The Americans are unable to tell when the scheduled explosion is going off.
 The American astronauts can't get in contact with anyone who speaks English.  Winship's reefer stops working properly.  The Americans are unable to tell when the scheduled explosion is going off.  The harsh sunlight is making the astronauts perspire.