92615_RAA_LooseCannon_Text_R1_PROOF

AFTER PATRICK CHECKED MY GLOVE SEALS, HE GAVE ME A RAP ON THE FACE PLATE AND DUCKED OUT OF THE AIRLOCK . AT THREE O’CLOCK, SHARP , THE CANNISTERS CYCLED, AND THERE | WAS, ON THE EDGE OF A 743,000-FOOT DROP ...

...AND EVEN THAT WAS JUST A CHUNK OF NICKEL-IRON.

| WASN’T EVEN OUTSIDE FOR THREE MINUTES BEFORE

THE SOULS STARTED CRUSTING ON MY VENT LIKE BARNACLES.

WHEN | TRIED TO SCOOP THEM AWAY WITH MY GLOVES, THEY ATTACHED THEMSELVES TO THE FABRIC AND CLUSTERED MY FINGERS TOGETHER.

BEFORE LONG, THEY WERE HALFWAY UP MY ARMS AND LEGS. ACROSS MY FACE PLATE.

| THINK | MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY SCREAMED THERE FOR A WHILE BUT |’M NOT SURE .

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