He had not gone forty feet before he tripped the first alarm.
The catastrophe, which neither Kunklin nor Prule had anticipated, occurred as the result of a power failure.
Continued operation of the machine known as the "bender," together with the enormous power drain of the anti-gravity webs they used to float back and forth, had sapped the power of their suits down below danger level. The one last burst which destroyed the three Faktors reduced that power completely.
Both Kunklin and Prule became immediately visible.
They caused quite a stir.
Dressed as they were in white, satin-like suits, with glass bowl helmets on their heads and a large back pack sprouting antennae in all directions, they were an instantaneous focus of interest in the bus terminal.
They were greatly annoyed, and also somewhat embarrassed.
"Galactic obscenity," said Kunklin, as a crowd gathered, "I thought you recharged the suits."
"I thought you did," muttered Prule anxiously. "But let's get out of here. Which way is the ship?"