Ten

10.

Every attempt to safely stop it had failed.

9.

Evacuation was continuing, but they wouldn't all get out, not in time.

8.

There was just one possible thing to do, apart from useless things like running, praying, or waiting for a miracle.

7.

The device had two wires that led from the power to the rest of it.

6.

Cutting one might deactivate it.

5.

Cutting the other might cause it to immediately go off.

4.

So it was worth cutting one of them.

3.

But which one?

2.

It didn't really matter.

1.

Snip.

...

There was no zero.