Instant of Decision

"Instant of Decision" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction story set in a future where global powers clash amidst rising espionage. It centers on Karnes, a secret agent caught in a web of conspiracies that makes him question everything he knows. His assignment to capture a saboteur spirals into a journey of self-discovery as Karnes uncovers technology that hints at a manipulated reality, changing his perception of the world and his place in it. As the threat of nuclear annihilation looms over New York City, Karnes must grapple with the possibility that his reality isn't real at all, struggling to reconcile destiny, free will, and the future of humankind.