He was inside. Inside the space port of the pilot ship. The outer door swung closed.
Darkness. Then they switched on a light.
After what seemed a long time, there was enough air around him that he could hear it hiss from the vent through his built in outer pick-up.
The inner door opened.
He stepped into the ship proper.
There was a group of friendly Earth-faces waiting for him. They were smiling.
His muscles were knotted with tension. He fumbled with his helmet. He couldn't hold his hands still. They slipped. He twisted at the helmet, futilely.
One of the Earthmen stepped forward to help.
Then. It was off.
And with that, he knew that he was Home. He felt the tension flow away to be replaced by a singing excitement, an excitement so intense as to be almost unbearable.