His feet pounded to the door; his hand found the lever; his body fell hard against the surface. The door popped open and he sprawled across the cool sand.
He was up and running.
At fifty yards he looked back panting. The ship began to glow a dull, unexciting dun color. A wave of heat pressed against his cheek. The ship folded upon itself and collapsed into a powder of dry, red rust.
The desert around him was endless; the chill of distance from which he was completely unprotected caught in his throat. He sat down and huddled up to protect himself from it. He trembled violently and whimpered for Forential. Cold sweat drenched his body....
He forced himself to stand; slowly the reaction passed. He opened his eyes. He took a deep, nervous breath and let it out.
And—
He wanted to fall to the ground and dig his fingers into it.
Good God! he thought. She's trying to teleport me to her! She had caught him unaware, when the terror of the desert was still upon him. He could not marshal his thoughts to resist her.
He twisted frantically. Watch out! You'll kill me!
The attempt ceased at once.