I cannot decide what is the more horrific sight: the steel bridge leading to the next (and 21st) sector—or Taylor’s face as he looks at it, which appears pale as the dead even though it has been deeply darkened by the sun. Worse, the Captain has yet to exit the rocket—which suggests he may have found something (i.e., the kind of trouble only gnomes can bring). So, too, is his bright red Big Trak still running (as if he saw something and had to leap off it quickly). At this point only one thing is certain—none of it bodes well for Taylor’s intended departure.
When at last the Captain emerges he is holding an apple in one hand and his knife in the other, shaking his head. “Yuh, it’s what I thought. They got the console. Startled ‘em real good, but, well, the damage was done.” He smiles cock
