"What would happen if you did?"
"I do not know."
"You are afraid?"
"I am not afraid. The Father watches me."
"He is watching you now?"
"The Father always watches. You must go now."
"You'll wait for my return?"
"But you are not returning. None who enters does."
O'Hara hesitated. But he knew already that there was no way of returning through the Tube to Emporia and through subterranean city to the plains and beyond the photosynthetron to the mountains. There were no odds at all. It was impossible. His only path was forward to the Father. He turned, and passed through the panel which closed instantly behind him, shutting off the sight of the kneeling Son.
The floor of the shaft now began rising swiftly. When at last it stopped, another panel opened, and O'Hara with Nedra in his arms walked out into the radiance of the sun itself.