"Not down," I said to her. "Downer. If it sets your mind at rest, we just took off from a place way below ground. If the roof didn't fall in there, it probably won't up ahead."
"How do you know that?" she asked, her curiosity taking the place of her trepidation, which was what I'd hoped for.
"The air," I said. "We were breathing in that chamber, remember? For the air to be that plentiful, we just had to be far under the ground, already. The atmosphere grows denser as one descends, you know; like on the canal bottoms."
"I've never been on a canal bottom," she said.
"Come to think of it, neither have I! I must have read that someplace."
We followed Clatclit and his magic taillight a few more yards, then Snow said, "You don't have to kid around to buck me up, Jery."
"Oh, yes I do," I disagreed sincerely. "For some reason or other, my main worry at the moment is for you. So if I can keep you happy, I'm happy. See?"
"Uh-huh," she said softly. Her hand pressed mine more tightly for a brief moment. "Thanks."
"If you think you can repay my efforts with a mere word of gratitude," I said in a villainous whisper, "you have lots to learn about men, poor child."
"Jery, don't joke any more. I'm frightened, really frightened," she said, her voice trembling.