"What?" Endicott snapped, irritated at having his train of thought broken.
"What did your people take you in the country for?"
"A picnic.... Yes, yes, that's it! I remember now!" Endicott's words poured out.
"You know it is forbidden to think of the old days."
"Shut up! Let me think. You want heat, don't you?"
"It's forbidden to think of the old days," Allison repeated stubbornly. "You'll get heat when I report this—in a different way."
"Shut up! Look, you want to keep from freezing tonight?" Endicott glared. "All right. Come with me and do as I say." Without a backward glance Endicott crossed the slippery deck and entered the passageway. At the midship cargo natch he stopped.
"How are you going to open it without power?" Allison's breath-plume shot over Endicott's shoulder. "It's locked and unlocked by a button on the control board. Remember Chief?"
"Stop gloating, Allison. This is for your benefit as well as mine. There's an escape hatch in the control room."
"That's controlled by power, too."