The world hammered apart in thunder, in an explosion so close and hot and violent that Sharpe thought he was surely dead as the frigate shivered and dust spurted out of the cracks between her deck planks.

They squealed their fury at him, extending their stride so that the dust spurted from under their colossal footpads.

'Strike at the animals' combat ships first,' the pilot ordered, and the gunner opened fire, and dust spurted across the field and over the aksai.

The dust spurted in all directions as he struggled to block the flow.

The dust kicked up by its big wheels spurted into the air and fell away slowly, sometimes twisted by uncertain gusts of wind.

His horse was ready, he mounted, and he spurred off to the west, outrunning his staffofficers, and the dust spurted from behind his horse.

Yet dust had spurted beneath his boots... and there was no Earth-built ship, and the station was locked.

Fiery fragments and white-hot dust spurted skyward.