As Paul directed the foam barrier, Jessica dug with her hands, hurling the

be a near thing." As he spoke, the foam stopped billowing from the instrument.

cheek. Her eyes met Paul's.

basin and still no sign of the pack.

Jessica obeyed.

cheek. Her eyes met Paul's.

basin and still no sign of the pack.

"Quickly," Paul said. "No telling how long this foam will hold the sand."

Slowly, the hole went down, reaching a level even with the floor of the

As Paul directed the foam barrier, Jessica dug with her hands, hurling the

the hole, shook the paracompass case. Again, foam boiled from it.

"Slant your digging backward. Don't go straight down."

cheek. Her eyes met Paul's.

may have to widen this hole." He moved a step aside, slipping in loose sand.

He looked at the paracompass. Less than two ounces of the acid infusion

Slowly, the hole went down, reaching a level even with the floor of the

may have to widen this hole." He moved a step aside, slipping in loose sand.

sand down the slope. "How deep?" she panted.

"Quickly," Paul said. "No telling how long this foam will hold the sand."

Jessica scrambled up beside Paul as he sifted another pinch of spice into

Jessica obeyed.

may have to widen this hole." He moved a step aside, slipping in loose sand.

Could I have miscalculated? Paul asked himself. I'm the one that panicked

Slowly, the hole went down, reaching a level even with the floor of the

remained.

"Come up and dig," he said. "We've about three meters to go. It's going to

"Come up and dig," he said. "We've about three meters to go. It's going to

As Paul directed the foam barrier, Jessica dug with her hands, hurling the

Jessica straightened in the hole, rubbed a foam-stained hand across her