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“Sarah, in the front! Jason, you’re driving Mark, in the back with et home now!”

Chapter 5

Low Earth Orbit

“Ready to cut burn?”

“Ready!”

“Three… two… one… now!”

The sine propelling it forward, suddenly grows still and quiet The vibrations that rocked the three passengers all but vanish and an unnatural silence overtakes the craft

“How long until reentry?” Jackie speaks to Co her head Not by choice, but because the sills with supplies and she’s physically unable to do so

“Sixteen minutes” He stretches out a hand and flips a trio of switches “Ted, how’s our course?”

“We’re sreen Couldn’t be better”

“If that isn’t a ives a bemused snort “Everybody take five to relax, then we’ll start the checklist for reentry Not that it’ll do ht and unbalanced we are”

There is silence in the sh the upper reaches of earth’s at arc in a direction that the crew hopes will get them home White clouds and blue ocean that pass by underneath are marred by black smoke as they pass across populated areas, the fires fro across much of the planet

“What’s going on down there?” Jackie whispers so softly that only Ted, sitting to her right, hears her He shakes his head quietly, wondering the sa of utter insignificance is nor Dubbed the overview effect, the three have becoe of e the Earth froh, and be unable to lift a finger to help or even knohy it is burning is enough to break down the hest, most experienced astronauts

“All right” Coher than nor “I don’t knohat’s going on down there, but we’re going to go find out”

Chapter 6