First published on February 20, 1981 in Yuba City High Times, a high school newspaper. First professional publication was later that year in F&SF. Inert within the depths of his theta chamber, he heard the faint tone and then the synthovoice. "Five minutes." "Okay," he said, and struggled out of his deep sleep. He had five minutes to adjust the course of his ship; something had gone wrong with the auto-control system. An error on his part? Not likely; he never made errors. Jason Bedford make errors? Hardly.