Jon touched the controls, and the ship began rising more swiftly.
"No, don't leave; I want to study ..." Jak began, but Jon interrupted him.
"So would I like to know more about them, but if Mom wants to leave, away we go." Yet there was an undercurrent of relief in his voice.
But as if guessing his intention, the flames hurtled after them at such tremendous speed that before the ship had barely begun accelerating, they were almost up to it.
"Hang on tight!" Jon yelled, and increased the acceleration. Soon the ship had left the flames behind. Peering in their telescopic plates, the three could see the flames, reluctantly and as if baffled, return at last to their home below.
"All gone, Mother. We're safe now," Jak said comfortingly.
"Thank you, God," she said devoutly and sank limply into a seat. "I was afraid for awhile...."
"So was I," Jon's teeth began chattering and his body shaking so hard that he, too, was glad he was sitting down. Now that it was all over the shock of that strangeness—that utter alienness—was hitting him. Nor was Jak in much better shape, in spite of his expressed desire to stay and study the enigmatic flame-life.
It was many minutes before the trio were able to discuss the matter calmly, and to realize they had been in actual danger.
"I see now we sure would have been, if Jon hadn't zoomed us out of there so fast," Jak said.