Jacob staring up at the sky, while red flames burst out behind him. The path of the earth through the asteroid belt is corrected by short volcanic bursts like this, micro-jets of geological flame which allow our super-planet (largest living lump in this section of the settled galaxy) to pass through (twice a week) with minimal impact. If the moon had also had a molten center, it too could have used such little rocket-volcanoes to twist through regions of dangerous impact. But it didn't, and look at its face now, roughed up by meteorimpacts and solar punches.     I was their target. They wanted me.