"Starboard jets. Half blast."
"Check." Gavin pulled the lever on the control board. "Starboard jets!" he yelled above the sudden roar to the half-naked jetman.
The Nova began to nose upward in a slow arc.
"Prime all tubes," came Cabot's crisp voice through the audio. "We'll be above the clouds any moment."
"Check," said Gavin.
A mounting tension gripped them all as the seconds dragged past. Then the televisor whistled again.
"Cut starboard rockets. Half blast ahead." There was another pause and Cabot added with a faint smile, "We're through the cloud bank. No sign of the spacer."
Nadia heaved a sigh of relief and leaned weakly against the ladder.
"Guess we lost her half around the planet," surmised Gavin.
"Course 37.22 x 5," came Cabot's voice once more. "Proceed at one G until we ascertain damage. That is all."