"I've lived through strikes before," she explained. "Besides, your father always comes home to make sure I'm all right afterwards."
As the sun went down and the first twilight appeared, streamers of fire became visible in the sky above. They crossed and re-crossed, endlessly, numbering tens of thousands, and resembled falling meteors.
"I've never seen so many at one time," Sue's mother said.
"What are they?" Sue asked.
"Our ships, of course. From every part of the globe. They'll circle the planet constantly. They are the final inner ring. Under them is nothing but the ground defenses."
"Are there more ships farther out?"
"Certainly. Those up there are comparable to the Fourth Sector on a cosmograph. Sectors Three, Two and One will extend out beyond Pluto's orbit. They are probably fighting now. Listen! There's the warning. We must go to the shafts."
At that moment Alfred Wilson appeared. She understood that he had come to say goodby to his mother. He came straight toward her, and then Sue realized she was alone. Her mother, with an understanding smile, was already on the way to the shaft.
Sue thought that he had never looked so tall, so strong, so confident. She was certain he had his orders to go out.