Chapter 50: Skating the Deep

Down!

Jump down.

Disorienting waves of nausea carry all sensation down, down to pool in a gelatinous mass that quivers like protoplasm mired against the seat straps. The Seam cracked like white-light reality. Physicality became suddenly more than an abstraction and potentiated the here and now. The edges of the safety straps cut real welts of pain in the body as the Burn began. Copper blood taste, then salty wet as a sweat drop runs into the mouth. Halverson opened his eyes, looking on instinct for boards to check, then remembered there were none, just a safe light recessed into the gray ceiling. He wanted Ops dammit.

Jenkins was already beginning to bellow awake beside him, clawing his way out of the jump-funk like a wild animal breaking out of a cage. He raged and swore and flailed his arms, hawking and spitting into the cushion of his chair.