But the red wire doesn't cut.  Beads of sweat run down your forehead.  Suddenly, you wonder whether or not the red wire really is the one to cut.  You remember that Lothair is "a few stars short of a galaxy," according to one Spacer.  If he made a bomb, he might decide to make the green or the yellow wire the one to actually blow up the bomb.  Or maybe there's a detonator in the radio, or one hidden in the explosives.  Maybe the wires on the outside don't do anything at all!  If that's true, you might not be able to disarm the bomb?  You wonder whether or not to try cutting a different wire.

    You hesitate for a minute.  Then you move the wire cutter to the yellow wire.  But you stop and think about that one for a moment.

    Then you move the wire cutter to the green wire.  But you aren't really sure about that one either.  Maybe you should try cutting a different wire...  Or maybe, you might want to stick with the red wire after all.  You move the cutter back to the red wire...  It's your last chance to try something different.

    You say a prayer, and you clamp your hand shut as tight as you can.  You hear the two sharp edges of the wire cutter snap shut.  The two ends of the red wire pop out of the wire cutter's jaws.  When you look down at the bomb, it looks just like it did before, except that the red wire is now cut.

    You wait for the explosion.  But nothing happens.  The little red light on the bomb keeps flashing, as if you hadn't done anything to it.  It looks like you're safe--for now.
 

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