The train travelled slowly up the mountain in reverse. It came to rest beside a lake. But the ground was unstable and the train began to sink. "Everyone off!" shouted the Wabbit. Quantum hovered beside it as the team hopped across. One by one they came aboard except for the Wabbit. "Come on Wabbit!" shouted Lapinette. The Wabbit paused, saluted and then hopped. "The crew takes precedence, " he gasped as he clambered into the cabin. "You're not supposed to go down with the sinking train!" yelled Lapinette. Quantum snorted as he lifted off. He made a quick circuit above the mountains. They looked down. The nuclear train was beneath the water - only bubbles remained. They shook slightly as Quantum switched to lattice drive. "Steady as she goes," murmured the Wabbit then, "I didn't get a response." Quantum snorted again. "It's all automatic, Commander. You know that." The Wabbit smiled, "Tradition." Reduced to fractals, space objects whizzed past the window. "I can see something," said Skratch. His cat's eyes blinked. He blinked through the fractals. "The mosquitoes. Dead ahead." The Wabbit grunted. "Slow Quantum. If we hit them, their debris will clog the drive." "I could alter course," said Quantum, "But I'm concerned about fuel." Wabsworth chipped in. "Sling shot from the two available planets?" Quantum nearly grinned. "A rabbit after my own heart. It only calls for a minor adjustment." Lapinette and the Wabbit spoke together. "Make it so."
