Baxter, Stephen - Manifold 01 - Time by Baxter Stephen

Baxter, Stephen - Manifold 01 - Time by Baxter Stephen

Author:Baxter, Stephen [Baxter, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-30T17:11:30+00:00


Where neither ground is nor any path

to follow?

WALT WHITMAN

Emma Stoney

Rockets, it turned out, were unsubtle.

The launch was a roaring vibration. She’d been expecting acceleration. But when each booster stage cut out, the engine thrust just died-suddenly, with no tail-off-so that the reluctant astronauts were thrown forward against their restraints and given a couple of seconds of tense breathing and anticipation; then the next stage cut in and they were jammed back once more. After a couple of minutes of this Emma felt bruises on her back, neck, and thighs.

But the thrust of the last booster stage was gentle, just a push at her chest and legs. Then, finally, the thrust died for good.

And she was drifting up, slowly, out of her seat, as far as her restraints would let her. She felt sweat that had pooled in the small of her back, spreading out over her skin.

The rocket noise was gone. There was silence in the cabin, save for the whirr of fans and pumps, the soft ticking of instruments, Malenfant’s quiet voice as he worked through his shutdown checklist.

And she heard a gentle whimpering, oddly high-pitched, like a cat. It must be Michael. But he was too far away for her to reach.



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