〃Fifteen seconds。〃
A munications blackout was a natural occurrence during reentry。 The interruption lasted about three minutes and was still； even after all the manned flights； the most nerve…racking interval of the entire mission。
〃Are you strapped in； Dylan？〃 Landon asked。
〃As much as I can be。 This suit's a little bulky。〃
〃Just hang on and we'll try to make the ride as smooth and fast as possible。〃 Landon paused。 〃Ten seconds。。。 Good luck； Dylan。 Talk to you on the other side。 Seven； six； five。。。〃
Reed settled back and closed his eyes。 He thought that immediately after reentry and reestablishing contact with Landon； he'd have to go back to the Spacelab and…
The shuttle bucked； the force almost tearing Reed out of his restraints。
〃What the hell！ Harry！〃
〃Dylan； what's wrong？〃
〃Harry； there's been…〃
Reed's voice was cut off abruptly。 Nothing except faint static filled the speakers at mission control。 Landon whirled around to the tech next to him。 〃Play back the tape！〃
〃What the hell！ Harry！〃
〃Dylan； what's wrong？〃
〃Harry； there's been…〃
〃An explosion！〃 Landon whispered。
The working group was still in Air Force One's conference room with the president when the mo officer rushed in。 Scanning the message； Castilla's face turned white。
〃You're sure？〃 he demanded； staring at the officer。
〃Landon's positive； sir。〃
〃Patch me through to him。 Now！〃
He looked around the table。 〃Something blew on the shuttle。〃
The bolts rocketed in Megan's direction； slamming and digging into the walls of the air lock。 But because the shuttle had bucked on reentry； the door； which would have sailed right into her； was thrown violently to the left。 It caromed off the wall； careened within inches of her； then slammed against another wall。
Without stopping to think； Megan pushed off and sailed for the door； grabbing it and pinning it with both arms。 She held it for a moment； then released her grip and let it float away。
Moving through the cavity into the lower deck； she climbed the staircase to the mid…deck and headed for the hatch that opened on the tunnel to the Spacelab。
She blew the bolts！ The bitch blew the bolts！
Reed knew it as soon as he felt the tremors course through the craft。 Confirmation came in the form of winking lights on the console； indicating a door malfunction in the air lock。
Working his way out of the restraining straps； Reed maneuvered his way to the ladder and； like a diver plunging into water； started down headfirst。 He guessed that he had about two minutes to find Megan。 After that； the shuttle ride would bee too rough to continue pursuit。 The craft would also e out of its blackout screen。 Reed had no doubt that even if mission control hadn't heard the explosion； its instruments would have registered it。 Harry Landon would be peppering him with questions； demanding explanations and updates。
As Reed snaked his way down the ladder； he found himself amazed by Megan's actions。 It had taken guts… more than he'd thought she had… to blow the air…lock door。 But odds were that she was dead。 He had seen the effects of an explosion in a place as confined as an air lock。
Reed reached mid…deck and was about to keep going when he caught movement out the corner of his eye。
My God； she's alive！
Reed watched as Megan； her back to him； worked the submarine…type wheel on the tunnel door。 Moving to a tool case； he opened a drawer and pulled out a specially designed saw。
Seated in the lead manche； Jon Smith looked at the other grim…faced RAID agents。 Right now； they all wore flight overalls。 That would change as soon as they arrived at Groome Lake； where they would don their Level Four protective gear before entering the bunker。
Turning to Jack Riley； he spoke into his flight…helmet microphone。 〃How far out are we？〃
Riley held up a finger and municated with the pilot。 〃Forty minutes；〃 he replied。 〃You can bet that Groome Lake already has us on radar。 Another few miles and they'll scramble their own chopper； or even a couple of F…16s； for a look…see。〃
He raised his eyebrows。 〃What's the president waiting for？ Air Force One has been on the ground for almost a half hour。〃
As though on cue； a new voice came over Smith's headset。
〃This is Bluebird calling RAID One。〃
Smith responded instantly。 〃This is RAID One。 Go ahead； Bluebird。〃 Bluebird was the designation for Nathaniel Klein。
〃Jon？〃
〃Right here； sir。 We were wondering when you'd call。〃
〃We had a。。。 a situation here。 The president just ordered your flight cleared for touchdown。 For the purpose of this mission； you and your people will be considered attached to his party。〃
〃Yes； sir。 You mentioned a situation； sir。〃
There was a slight hesitation。 〃Mission control reports talking to Reed just before the orbiter entered the black zone。 The last thing Landon heard was an explosion； which the puters later confirmed。〃
〃Is the craft intact？〃 Smith demanded。
〃According to the instrument readings； Discovery is still on its designated flight path。 The explosion took place in an air lock。 For a reason we don't know； the bolts blew。〃
〃The air lock。。。 Where was Reed at the time？〃
〃On the flight deck。 But Landon can't be sure about the extent of the damage or even if Reed's still alive。 No one's answering up there； Jon。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
The last thing Megan had heard over her headset was the exchange between Reed and Harry Landon； seconds before the bolts on the air…lock doors had blown。 After she got up to the mid…deck； she realized that Reed would e down to investigate。 He had to make sure that she was dead or injured… either would suit his purpose。 When he didn't find her in the air lock or the lower deck； he would start looking elsewhere。
Megan knew she couldn't hide from him for long。 The orbiter was simply too small。 There was only one escape。 Making her way to the mid…deck； she floated to the door that opened up on the tunnel to the Spacelab。 She gripped the arms of the wheel on the door and began turning。
But Megan never forgot that she had her back to the ladder that connected the three levels。 She would never hear Reed if he spotted her and came up behind her。 The small mirror she had placed at the foot of the tunnel door would now save her life。
In the reflection； she had seen Reed descend the ladder； hesitate； then spot her and start floating to her。 She watched him stop by a tool kit； retrieve a type of keyhole saw； then keep on ing。
Megan had the wheel on the door turned as far as it would go； but she kept her hands on the grips and pretended that the wheel was stuck。 Looking down； she saw Reed drift closer； his right arm stretched out to her。 In his hand； the saw looked like the pointed nose of a marlin。
Megan let her left hand slip from the wheel。 Set into the door was a release button that pulled the door open once the wheel had been fully turned。 Her eyes riveted on the mirror； she judged the distance between her and Reed。 Her timing would have to be perfect。
Reed watched Megan jerk as she tried to force the wheel。 Raising the saw； he floated closer。 Since she was standing； he chose a spot between her neck and her shoulder。 The teeth of the saw would slice through her plastic suit。 The result would be instant depressurization。 The air inside the suit would rush out。。。 and the contaminated air around her would stream into the rent。 Two； three breaths and the variola would be in her lungs。
In microgravity； it is impossible to move with any real speed。 When Reed started his downward swing； he appeared to be moving in slow motion。 But Megan pushed off； propelling herself sideways from the door。 As she did； she jabbed the release button。 With a nearly inaudible pneumatic hiss； the door swung open as Reed drifted into the space Megan had occupied just a second ago。 The heavy door caught him square on the helmet； whipping back his neck； then dragging him as it opened fully。 His fingers lost their grip on the saw； which floated away。
Stunned and reeling； Reed made a feeble grab for Megan as she floated around him into the tunnel。 Inside； she found another button； punched it； and watched the door begin to close。
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