And miles to go before I sleep

After twenty years among alien worlds, rocket pilot Robert Murdock is finally returning to Earth—but he has only minutes to live. An incurable disease has set an exact time for his death, leaving him just long enough to remember his Kansas home, reread his mother’s letter, and confront the painful truth that his parents may be strangers by now.

Desperate to keep his promise to come home, Murdock has devised an extraordinary solution: a machine built in his own image, programmed with his appearance, voice, and memories. The substitute will greet his aging parents, take his place for a month, and then return to space, preserving the illusion that their son has safely come back. As the ship hurtles toward Earth and the final minutes tick away, Murdock must ensure that every detail is perfect. This poignant science-fiction story explores identity, sacrifice, and the lengths one person will go to spare the people he loves.