"What was that, Davis?"
"Don't know, sir. Nothing serious, or the alarm lights would be on."
"Come with me."
He flung open the door of the Captain's cabin. It was empty. Stacey was not in the anteroom, and the inner cabin was silent. The water carafe had been turned over on the desk, and a few papers lay scattered on the floor.
"They might be in Operations, sir."
"Show me the way!" They raced down the corridors, past the open door of the room where dancers still swayed and the orchestra still played. Through a hall, down an escalator, down, down, to the center of the ship.
Jasperson paused. "You needn't wait, Davis. But I may want you again. I'll let you know."
Pushing aside the crewmen who stood guard at the door, he rushed into the room.
"Josiah! What was that shock? I demand to know what's happened!"
Evans threw him a glance of pure, intense hatred, and then resumed his questioning of Chief Wyman.