And yet, the headache had been worst when he had left the ship. What did that mean? It seemed to mean leaving the ship was a Wrong function. But it was certainly indicated this time, from his opening of the airlock and lowering the ladder.
Well, what was Wrong function at one time might well be Right function another time. That could happen.
Leave the ship....
There was an edge of pleasantness and warmth to that thought, and the headache diminished.
"Please leave the ship, Dick...." It was almost as if he could hear a warmth in the air saying that to him.
Try the alternative. Deliberately he thought: Stay in the ship.
A flash of pain soared up the back of his head and across the top to settle swirling and agonizingly in his temples.
Leave the ship, he thought quickly, and the pain abated.
Clear enough.
He got to his feet and carefully made his way out of the control room down the catwalk toward the airlock that stood open and waiting to let him out of Phoenix I....