He muttered an imprecation.
As he tried to gauge the equator"s position, he realized that their axis itself was variable. They were like a spinning top with a moving center of gravity.
“Uh, everyone has to hold as still as possible.”
The wobble seemed to diminish when everyone was bracing themselves.
And now! He hit the blast briefly.
Stars still wheeled past, but more slowly.
“Once more,” he said, waiting until the equator aligned once again with the retro.
Now! The retro flared, and the stars subsided to a slow cascade.
“That better?” he asked.
Both his companions nodded.
“I think that one fits like this,” Cherise said, unbuckling herself to demonstrate.
“Oh, I see,” Misty said. “Here let me try.” Then she pointed a finger at Jack. “Eyes closed until I say so!”
He dutifully c
