Already braced for such an eventuality, I only suffered a minor bell ringing as my head bounced smartly off the thick iron of the wall. It was more dumb luck than training that I kept my grip on the railing.

All I could do was watched as the sudden change in which direction was down launched men into the air. Flailing ineffectually they hit the floor and quickly cascaded into a rolling mass of arms and legs, sliding into in a heap of twitching bodies.

An immense groaning could be heard over the chaos of the battle, accompanied by a powerful vibration that shook me to my core. It was the sound of the Heart’s Desire crying out in pain like a wounded beast.

Letting go of the hand rail was no easier this time than it was the first time I had ever done it. Airmen were forced to practice for situations like these. Intentionally falling- even a controlled fall, was terrifying. It was no child’s slide with those corners and edges that could cut flesh.

There was nothing else I could do, I had to get to the door.