 Why was the general said to have been upset by the quake?
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. Major Winship attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with Base Gagarin. "Help?" " Nyet ," said Major Winship, exhausting his Russian. "When?" "Boom—boom!" said Pinov. "He's done it deliberately," said Capt. Wilkins, the eldest of the four Americans. "Ah, it's all Russian. "I'll try again," Major Winship said and switched to the emergency channel. "Hell, Charlie, I feel stupid sitting out here," Capt. Lawler said. 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. 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. When no comment was forthcoming, he continued: "Perhaps we built a bit more strongly, Major." "You did this deliberately," Major Winship said testily. After repeatedly assuring you there was no danger of a quake—and then to have something like this happen. "Just leave us alone, thank you," Major Winship said and cut off the communication. "I'll be damned surprised," Major Winship said, "if they got any seismic data out of that shot.... Capt. Lawler ascended. Squeezed in front of the massive transmitter, Capt. Wilkins had energized the circuits. "The only way you can check is to extrude it," Lt. Chandler said, "and if it does extrude, you've ruined it." II Capt. Lawler and Lt. Chandler took the land car to Base Gagarin. The Soviet base was situated some ten miles toward sunset at the bottom of a natural fold in the surface. At that point, the best pathway angled left and made an S-shaped descent to the basin. "I'll load you," Capt. Wilkins volunteered wearily.
 Because his people had misfigured so bad.
 Because his people had misfigured so bad.  Because his work was being destroyed.  Because the communications were left unanswered.  Because he was scared of the damage to the dome.