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In the shimmering heat-haze, the blue-overalled figure ran, ran, along the concrete rim of the drainage gulley. Ceryl pushed her foot to the floor and the whine of the engine rose in pitch. “Control! Zero-four! I see him.” “Acknowledged, zero-four. Holding at T-minus six minutes. Launch window closes in twelve.” She braked to a screeching halt just ahead of him and leaned over to flick open the passenger door. The desert heat flooded the car’s interior. “Mitchell! Get in!” He stumbled, gripped the open door, and threw himself into the passenger sat. A river of sweat ran down his face.