"Watch for the triple-beep," said Ricks jauntily. "Aye aye, sir."
Blair grunted, and turned away, heading down the corridor in the opposite direction. Ricks watched him go, glaring at his back. 'I'm a better man than you, Harvey Ricks,' said that back. 'You'll break down, you'll flunk my course, you'll never match me or even come close.'
Blair disappeared, through the bulkhead doorway to Section Three, and Ricks turned the other way, walking down the corridor and right to the elevator. Standish and Miller were standing there, helmets on but faceplates open, and Ricks felt somewhat better. His helmet was in his hand.
As he came up to them, Standish said, "What do you suppose it is?" His pale face was even paler now, his large eyes larger.
Ricks shrugged. "It's probably just a drill. Get us new boys all lathered up, just in case we weren't taking it all seriously."
"I thought I felt a tremor just before the bell started," said Miller. "We may have been hit by a meteor or some such thing."
Ricks shrugged again. "Whatever it was, it doesn't seem very urgent. Did Papa Blair tell you two about the triple-beep?"
"Sure," said Miller. "He was sore at you, because you were late getting out in the hall."
"I was running my suit-check," said Ricks easily.