All the noises of the building were swallowed up when the colonel closed the office door on the third floor. The elderly female receptionist at the desk looked up.
"They're waiting, Colonel Robertson. Go right in."
"Right through here," the colonel said.
Walt and Julia followed.
He opened the door, and they issued into the conference room. Talking broke off; faces swung to confront them.
"Gentlemen," the colonel said, "this is the girl, and this—this is the man from the space station."
The audience around the table rustled.
"You'll sit right here," the colonel told them. He helped Julia to her chair. When they were both seated, the colonel withdrew.
Chairs scraped and squeaked.