"I know," West replied. A sadness as deep as the ocean of space was in his voice.
"Pull these people back to you."
"Of course."
"Me last." The last lingering roars of sound were still pounding down the bore of the launching cradle.
"Why do you want to be last?"
"Duty," Zen said. "Get that miracle device of yours into operation, pronto."
"Sure. I'm starting now."
"Hey, guys, you're going home!" Zen yelled at the people with him.
"What good is it to go home?" Spike Larson asked.
"There won't be any home within an hour," Grant added. "Or however long that rocket will take to land. Why go back to what isn't there?"