"Eh?"
"I was thinking that only seven months have elapsed since these guns were serviced. We should have no trouble getting them into operation."
He paused before the gaping entrance, peering into the dark cavern ahead of them. "Get out your light," he told Nesbit.
The younger man snapped on his flash, the blade of light piercing the gloom. The drive, Matt saw, led into a vaulted hall. Along one side ran freight elevators. A loading platform lined the opposite wall. At the rear, a spiral ramp led up from the basement to the floors above. An abandoned truck was still in one of the elevators.
"If we can get the truck running," suggested Nesbit, "we can move the equipment faster."
Matt nodded. "Do you smell anything?"
"Yes," agreed Isaac.
"It's not bad here, though," said Nesbit. He was still stiff with Matt and addressed his comments pointedly to the director.
Matt said, "No. I imagine the living quarters are on the top floors. Some of the men in space suits will have to clear out the rooms. But that can wait. I'm curious about the source of power for the elevators and lights. Let's try the basement."
They advanced cautiously into the hall, disturbing a bat which circled eerily around and around the light. Nesbit flinched each time it swooped close.