An excited non-com slammed open the door to the radio room and shouted, "The airlock's opening!"
Banning and Colin dashed to the broad window and stared out at the bulky shape of Phoenix I, resting monolithic on the landing pad. Banning took the proffered binoculars from the non-com, focussed them on the broad flank of the ship.
"It's open, all right," he said. "Here." He handed the binoculars to Colin.
After a long delay, the landing ladder slid down the side of the ship.
"I think he's going to come out."
"There he is."
"What's he doing?"
"Standing in the airlock, looking around. Now he's starting to come down. Now he's at the bottom of the ladder, looking around again.... Now he's walking this way."
"Give me the glasses," Banning said. He looked for a long moment, making sure the colonel's direction did not change. "Still coming this way," he said, putting the glasses carefully on the table by the window. He turned to look at the psychiatrist. "What now?"