"Acceleration ... nine gee." He looked at the gauge that shimmered redly before him, disbelieving. "Altitude 20,000."
He blacked out, sinking helplessly into the black plush night of unawareness. I had a true I had I had—
Awakening to pain, he glanced at the gauges. He had been gone only a split second.
"Altitude 28,000, acceleration pressure dropping."
His face began to resume its normal shape as the acceleration dropped. "... six gee," he said, and breathing was easier. The giant reluctantly began to withdraw his massive fist from Johnny's face.
He tipped a lever, watched the artificial horizon tilt slightly. "Air control surfaces respond," he said. But soon there would be no air for the surfaces to move against, and then he would control by flicking the power that rumbled behind him.
"Altitude 40,000 ...
"... 85,000 ...
"... 100,000...." The sky was glistening black, he was passing from the earth's envelope of air into the nothingness that was space. Now.
Now.