Cochrane stared at him. Then he swallowed.
"I see," he said. "The financial and business department of Spaceways, Inc., has done its stuff for the time being."
Jones nodded.
"The technical staff now takes over?"
Jones nodded again.
"I still think," said Cochrane, "that we could have done with a little interdepartmental cooperation. How long before you know what you're about?"
Jones shook his head.
"I can't even guess. Ask Babs to come up here, will you?"
Cochrane threw up his hands. He went toward the spiral-ladder-with-handholds that led below. He went down into the main saloon. A tiny green light winked on and off, urgently, on the far side. Babs was seated at a tiny board, there. As Cochrane looked, she pushed buttons with professional skill. Bill Holden sat in a strap-chair with his face a greenish hue.
"We took off," said Holden in a strained voice.