The flight-control computer started throwing error codes that contradict each other — it’s telling me two opposite things about the same surfaces.

And my first officer” — a flick of his eyes to the slumped man — “said his arm went numb, said it twice, and then he was just gone.

Out.

Maybe ninety seconds.”

“Did he eat the crew meal?”

“No.

He brought his own coffee.

Thermos, from the terminal.”