The brass fire-pole burned against Julian Vance’s leather work gloves.
Sixty feet of empty air whistled past his ears. Concrete dust showered down around him like dry hail.
Above, the dispatch tower roof groaned as steel girders buckled.
Thud!
Julian hit the circular rubber landing pad on the Track 00 apron. His knees bent deep to absorb the shock.
Two paces away, Lin Mei scrambled to her feet. She wiped gray mortar dust from her glasses.
“Seventy-four seconds!” Lin Mei yelled over the roar of rushing water. She tapped her digital stopwatch.
“Where is the water coming from?” Julian asked, hauling her upright.
