Dateline

New Year's Eve, 1840 local / T plus 13 hours, 40 minutes

Over Ohio

"Explain that to me again?"

Alison felt woozy, tired and she hurt in places she didn't know could hurt following the crash. The adrenaline had worn off some, and she wanted to sleep, but Able had gathered everyone aboard, apart from the red-haired pilot who stayed at the controls, to tell them what the plan was. At least, in part. It was clear to Alison, who had been Able's personal assistant for long enough to know his natural reticence to commit anyone to all the details of his various doings, that he was going to hold back on some key parts. But what he'd just said had made her head swim.

"It's quite simple. The phenomenon is impacting the Earth from a fixed point in space. The Earth is rotating beneath it, so the apparent movement is to the west. In fact, it moves fifteen degrees west every hour, which if you want it in terms of speed, is a little under eight hundred miles an hour at the equator."

Able seemed a little distracted. Obviously he hadn't expected to have to explain this, but it had been clear from everyone's reaction that some form of explanation was required. The big airport guy, Aaron, spoke up next.

"So, you're saying time slows down if we fly in the same direction as the phenomenon?"

"No, time doesn't slow down. We simply move away from the phenomenon, so it's relative speed is less. It'll take longer to reach us. We left LaGuardia at half past five. It will take four hours to reach Edwards, but because we're travelling west, it will only be half past eight when we get there."

Alison looked around; saw the frowns and dejected looks. She asked the question they were all thinking.

"But that just delays the inevitable, doesn't it? When midnight comes..."

Able smiled for the first time. "Alison, you're forgetting where we're going. Look, I don't wish to give false hope. I'm simply saying there may be a way to beat this thing. For all of you."

She thought this over. Edwards Air Force base. Of course, Able's vanity project. She didn't know much about it - was excluded from those meetings - but she knew Able had done a deal with the military to rent some storage space; she'd seen the bills. Heard the rumours.

A separate company, 'Stone Sky', had been listed on the header. She had a vague feeling it was something to do with rockets, but that may just be deflection; Able was renown for playing such corporate games.

The red haired pilot - Cat, that was her name - called Able from the cockpit.

She was aware of Aaron sat next to her, fidgeting and on edge. She looked at him received a smile in return. She smiled back, conscious of her bruises and cuts. She was still covered in dust from the airbags.

Getting up, she went forward to the restroom and freshened herself up as best she could. She hardly recognised the face in the mirror; gaunt and strained, with no makeup and hair unkempt. It reminded her of a pictures she'd once seen at  s holocaust museum. She shivered at the thought and tried not to think about it.

When she came out, she heard Able and Cat discussing something technical on the cockpit. It was dark, and the lights from all the switches, dials and electronic displays made for  a bewildering, but strangely comforting place. Beyond the cockpit windows all was dark, not a glimmer showing on the ground, but in the air, the flash of red, white and green navigation lights of aircraft could be seen

"There's no goddam ATC on any frequency that I can find, and some of these aircraft are being flown by people who've never flown anything bigger than a Cessna. Where they think they're headed for is anyone's guess." Cat was shaking her head, obviously unimpressed.

"Are we still good for Edwards by twenty hundred?" Able was bent over his laptop, his face lit up in the wash of light from the screen.

"Yeah, with any luck. I'm pushing the bird hard and burning pretty much all the fuel into the reserves. We'll shave an hour off the normal flight time... If we don't collide with an aircraft flying dark between here and there, that is. I'm more concerned about our reception."

"Leave that to me. Hey Ally, how you doing?"

Alison jumped a little, feeling like she was a child again, caught sneaking in her parents bedroom. That occasion had ended in tickles and laughter. No joy to be had here, this time.

"Er, yeah, sure. I think Ellie has some food prepared, if you're hungry."

"Ellie?"

"The stewardess."

"Oh, of course. Yes, that would be nice. And bring the sat phone forward too, would you?"

She went back to the cabin and found everyone except the old man tucking into food, a huge pike of it on a trolley in the aisle behind. Picking up the sat phone, she went back to the cockpit whole Ellie took Cat and Able plates of smoked salmon, rice and bread rolls. She also gave them sodas, and a few small bottles of spirits.

"I thought you'd need 'em" said Ellie, smiling at Cat as she handed them over.

"Thanks Ellie," said Cat. "You're my hero. I'm sorry about the others."

Ellie's smile shone bright in the dark, but her voice was touched with sorrow. "Thanks, Cat. Bless you. You need anything, just holler now."

Able took the phone and dialled a number, setting it to speaker. It connected after a few rings, then erupted in a blare of shouting and staccato noise.

"Mike? It's Able. Can you hear me? What's going on?

From the phone came a hoarse shouting. "Able! Call back in an hour. Bit busy here..."

Before the line went dead, they all recognised the sound of gunfire.

"What the hell was that?" asked Cat.

"My contact at Edwards," said Able, grimly. "We may have a problem..."