15
Snow and I stepped into the great gleaming chamber. I was very much disconcerted when the wall behind us contracted suddenly back into place. Wherever we were, we were there until the Ancients decided to let us out.
"Who is the person with you?" said a voice. It had a frowning note to it, but I could not discern the source of the words anywhere in that silver-white blur of metal universe that spread away from us in all directions.
"She—" I said as boldly as possible, feeling like an escapee from Fenimore Cooper "—she is my woman!"
Silence. Then, "She will be allowed."
"Allowed to what?" I demanded.
"Allowed to be," said the voice, without emotion.
Snow's fingers nearly went through my hand.
"Well, thanks," I said, figuring politeness wouldn't hurt. I held tight to Snow, supplementing our hand grip with an arm-in-arm lock. We took another step forward. "Where are you?" I asked.