"Oh, no..."

"Jordan. I have to get more speed," Annie said.

Her focus was on the forward view, and she didn't like what she saw.

The storm bearing down on them, and so many more bugs.

Can't count them ...

And how many more were hidden behind the cone of light and sparks that surrounded the SRV?

"If he doesn't get in here soon," Jordan said, "he's dead meat."

Annie toggled the mic switch.

"McGowan. Get into the airlock pronto."

No reply.

"McGowan! What's going on out there?"

Still no reply.

Is he already dead?

On the monitor, his body looked oddly misshapen as it trailed sparks into the void, like a statue of sand being blown away by swirling winds.

And then she saw him slump, lurching to one side.

"Go, Annie. Just go. Don't wait ... for me!"

I'm not being brave ... just realistic, he told himself.

He stared down at his left leg, watching the fabric of his miner's suit shred and flake away in large chunks.

And then the blinding pain. The constriction around his upper thigh. Dull ... and cold ... numbing.

"Leg rupture imminent. Zero atmospheres. Prepare for extreme life support."

He groaned and slumped to the side, shifting all of his weight onto his right leg.

"Executing extreme life support measures."

He collapsed completely as his left leg suddenly ripped away from him. His head smacked against the hull. Hard enough to jolt his vision. A metal clang rang like a gong inside his helmet.

His leg rolled away and disappeared over the side of the vehicle.

"Oh, sweet Jesus!"

The captain's voice in his ear ... filled with panic.

"The vents ... they're as clear as I could get 'em," McGowan said. It struck him as odd that he could think and speak so clearly. He knew about "extreme life support" situations, and he'd always thought-or hoped, anyway-he would remain calm if it ever happened to him.

You're doing good.

"So boost it, Captain. Get the hell-"

"Get back into the-"

"There's no time for that!"

"But you'll be..."

Before she could finish the thought, McGowan got up into an awkward kneeling position ... so hard to do with just one arm and one leg.

He supported himself as best he could, struggling to maintain his balance as he stood up ... and then pushed off the SRV.

And onto the Road.

McGowan didn't feel the impact when he hit the Road.

He felt like he was floating. Spinning out of control.

His only clear thought was: If that Chippie back there in the SRV is getting this, she'll probably lose her mind.

He lay there on the Road for what seemed forever. Weird energies surrounded him. And then a strange insectlike head with wide, gnashing metal jaws loomed above him.

And descended.

It was about to destroy him.

And yet, McGowan felt something else ... something more than his imminent death.

In an instant, he learned things about the Star Road that no human was ever supposed to or probably would ever want to learn.

THREE.

THE DEATH STATIONS.

17.

EXIT POINT.

A sudden shriek bubbled up from somewhere deep inside Sinjira.

Everyone in the SRV turned to look at her, but all she could see and think and feel was the last burst of "experience" she had gotten from McGowan before he hit the Road and the transmission shut off.

What was it?

What did it mean?

Like seeing a vid run at light speed.

Then gone.

She had felt his panic and horrible pain when he lost his arm, then his leg. And his sorrow, bringing her to tears, making her tremble when he realized he would have to die.

So brave. So defiant right up to the end.

Not at all like me, she thought.

And then: she couldn't explain it.

Not even close.

She had "experienced" things that she doubted she would ever begin to understand.

She looked around at the faces staring at her.

Their eyes. So wide. Staring at her with ... with what?

Fear?

Concern?

Pity?

They have no fucking clue.

I was there ... with him.

The images ... the emotions and thoughts that flashed through her mind had been almost too much to handle.

Even now, she remained shaken, immobile.

Drawing her legs up so they pressed tightly against her chest, she covered her mouth with both hands. Eyes wide as she tried to absorb what she-and McGowan-had been through.

Together.

Then, despite all eyes on her, she started sobbing.

No time for regrets, Annie thought.

McGowan knew the odds ... that the worse could happen. And in the end, he had jumped. He made a choice.

The SRV started gaining speed. She could see by the readouts that it was halting-sporadic-but moving. And the heat levels started to drop.

McGowan had done what he'd set out to do.

He saved us.

She thought of what happened when his body hit the Road ... and the Road Bugs swept over him.

She hoped he was dead before they got there.

"He did what he had to do," Jordan said, echoing her thoughts.

Annie nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the fast-approaching portal. She worried about what might be going on with her passengers. The fear. The panic.

But right now, she had more important things to attend to.

She turned on the link to the cabin.

"We're approaching the Nakai System Portal. Please ... everyone into your seats ... fasten harnesses."

She looked straight ahead.

We have the speed we need, but will it hold steady for the Nakai Portal?

The palms of her hands were sweaty.

That didn't usually happen. But now? Who knew?

McGowan died to get us out of here ... so don't muck it up now.

They came closer and closer to the portal. Its display of light and seething energy on the screen were as fascinating as ever.

But Annie could only wonder if in spite of McGowan's sacrifice, they might not make it after all.