"No, of course not." She sounded not even quite certain of his meaning. "I only went to sleep for a little while; that's all."
The last tension drained from Boone's taut body. Weak, tremulous, unsteady, he slumped beside her amid the segments of the shattered sphere. "There's been so much, so many things—" He groped for words.
Only then, before he could say more, a distant impact rocked the chamber.
The impact of a demolition charge exploding.
In spite of emotional drain, exhaustion, Boone went rigid. "Krobis—!"
"What—?" Eileen's blue eyes distended. "Fred, you mean he's here?"
"Yes, with plans for blasting apart this whole cursed Helgae city!" Boone stumbled erect. "Quick! We've got to go!"
The girl rose beside him, then looked down in sudden, swift abashment. A flush swept up her throat. Her face turned scarlet. "My clothes—! Where are they?"
A man's voice answered, "Here."