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Page 10

Chapter 3 - Collision Course

The cheery atmosphere quickly disappeared from the spacecraft. The news that they were now facing a crash with a space rock was sinking in fast. Jennifer's smile vanished as quickly as anyone's. She started to curse, then looked toward Jasen. Through clenched teeth she said, "There is no god who really cares, is there preacher boy? We're going to die anyway, in spite of your brilliant idea."
     Jasen again reached out to shut off the communication line with the rest of the ship. Because the ship was spinning again the computer had "decided" to get back to some of its work. There was a low hum as the passenger seats slid into the upright position. Soon "down" was below all the passengers seats again, as they whirled in the merry-go-round like machine.
     Once more Jennifer's scowl started to relax. "I'm sorry," she said. I'm better off dead anyway," she said coldly. "I don't know why I keep lashing out at you. You had a good idea and I guess it helped. But now what do we do?" There was real anxiety in her voice now.
    "I don't know," Jasen said quietly. He still felt God's peace about the whole experience. Somehow he just knew that it was all going to work out. What was it the Apostle Paul had said? "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." That was a good verse for him to think on now. But he was sure that it wouldn't be much help to Jennifer.
    Jasen turned the com link back on and listened as the adults discussed what was going on.
    "You're sure that we are going to hit this thing?" asked the reading teacher.
    "I'm sorry Jade, but computer projections show you to be on a collision course. You can see it on your screens now. The impact may not destroy the ship because you are headed in about the same direction as the asteroid. At your velocity, you are going to catch up with that rock. You aren't going to hit it solid either. More like side-swiping it. But, as you know, your ship isn't a Lunar lander. It isn't made to take a rough landing," explained the control commander.
    "How soon will we overtake this rock?" asked Jack.