With a roar like a thousand giant waterfalls, the space shuttle's massive engines throttled up to full power. Sledgehammer acceleration hit Mark's chest, making him gasp and knocking the air out of his lungs. His body grew heavier and heavier from the tremendous thrust and within seconds he found it nearly impossible to breathe. He tried to look over at R.J. and Blue, but his sight began to darken and his head pounded. He fought for air but his chest muscles weren't strong enough to fight the titanic G-forces. A wet liquid sprayed across his face and he realized his nose was spurting blood. He thought he heard R.J. scream and then Blue - but the engine noise made it impossible to tell. Sports appeared before his eyes and the far wall began to fade out. So this is what it feels like to die, Mark thought. Seconds later, he passed out.
Todd Hester has worked for many years in the aerospace industry with secret clearance. Winning awards for engineering design, he has worked on highly classified missile, space, and aircraft programs. He has also written a number of short stories, screenplays, and magazine articles. Originally from Wasco, California, he graduated Brigham Young University with a degree in engineering and now lives in Southern California.
Best-selling author Curtis Taylor has written with U.S. Senator Jake Garn, and Betty J. Eadie, whose book, Embraced by the Light, spent more that a year on the New York Times bestseller list. Curtis attended Brigham Young University on a track scholarship and graduated with a degree in English. He lives with his wife Janet, and their six children in Northern California.