"Be seein' you. Luck."
The announcement yelled:
"Eight minutes! You all have plenty of time. Remember, safety is more important that blind speed! Listen!"
The tremolo of an organ filled the spacecraft—vibrant, thrilling, brilliant music rising over the throb, throb, throb of heavy bass, beating time just fast enough to keep feet moving briskly, but nowhere fast enough to cause panic or fumbled steps.
"Seven minutes!" came the cry.
Norton's hands closed on the space lock and he twisted the emergency handles. The inner door swung open ponderously and they walked past the portal. The lock swung behind them and the dogs went home.
"Six minutes!" came a less resonant call from a smaller loud-speaker in the lock.
Jock Norton handed Alice through the small space lock of the lifeship, boosted Andrews in after her, then climbed in himself.
"Five minutes!" was almost cut off as the lifeship space lock swung shut.