He sat down against the wall of the passage and breathed in long, shallow breaths.
In the darkness, he heard Paul's voice:
"Did you mean that about Carol," Paul asked, and his heart was in it.
"Yes," said Joe. "She's still waiting for you to come back to her."
It was quiet there for a moment, with only the muted ringing of the bell from the power room seeping through the wall.
Joe said: "Did I hurt you when I dropped you, Paul?"
"Not much," Burnet answered. "My head's a little dizzy, but it takes more than an easy jar like that to make it dangerous. Forget it."
"But how did you get through the physical for the trip? The metal plate in your skull should have barred you."
"I'm one of the few who know what the power plant here is like, remember? Besides, the physical wasn't too steep. And Joe, I'm sorry I was such a heel to sock you when you couldn't hit me back. You'd have killed with the blow."
"I know," said Joe. He heard Paul breathing in harsh gasps.