For a heart-stopping instant Jason thought it was coming right at him-then he realized it was going off to one side.

Cavan turned and dropped to one knee, and for a heart-stopping instant Keene thought he had been hit.

Instinctively he reached to push it away and for a heart-stopping instant he nearly lost his grip.

That was Pamela; she came in so low that for a heart-stopping instant he thought she was going to ram the tower's western wall.

For one heart-stopping instant the sheer inertia of the huge boulder resisted him.

For a heart-stopping instant Arthur thought his toes might have gone as well, till he wriggled them.

All the screens went blank for a heart-stopping instant.

For a single heart-stopping instant he thought that all four battle stations were vacant.

For one heart-stopping instant, Bejoo was sure she would fall forward, crushing them all.

In one heart-stopping instant, Father Christmas is nearly discovered but the resourceful fairy saves the day.