Dynamon nodded; a moment later his voice was heard in every compartment of the Cosmos Carrier.
"Men, we are taking off. Hold your stations for five minutes, after which you may take your ease until further commands."
"Come and watch the altimeter," Borion said after Dynamon closed the loud speaker switch. "You won't believe we're off the ground, these controls are so smooth." The centurion watched the needle creep gently upward a few feet at a time. But he could feel no trace of motion.
"I'm going to take her up vertically to two thousand feet," said Borion. "Then we'll be clear of all obstacles and can pick up our course horizontally—"
"Yes, good," Dynamon broke in quickly, "but don't tell me your course until we are out of the stratosphere."
"Aye, aye, sir," said Borion with a wink, "little pitchers have big ears, don't they?"
"How soon will we get out of the stratosphere?" Dynamon asked.
"Well, I'm lifting her very slowly," answered the navigator, "I don't want to take any chances on friction. I would say in about three hours from now we will be ready to go."
"I will be with you then," said Dynamon, and walked out the door.