earthward

But tempus fugit, as the chiming of the library clock made clear, and since Edward Ashton had left, the time had flown faster than a keen-eyed peregrine falcon swooping earthward for its prey.

She had the satisfaction of watching it dive earthward in black smoke before she realized that she, too, had been hit by gunfire.

She could also see one of the Po-2s on fire, spinning earthward through the air as its flares exploded.

But for some reason, Olga’s aircraft suddenly went plummeting earthward.

As the birds plunged earthward to gulp water and feast on fatty globs bobbing in treatment ponds, a shadowy figure emerged from the corner of a building holding what looked to be a submachine gun.