Vickers' eyes narrowed in surprise, but he only said: "Hurry!"
The passage outside was still deserted, thank the gods. He pulled the physicist after him, sprinted toward the living quarters in the wing.
There were voices ahead. Two men going in the same direction they were, Vickers saw. He slowed down in order not to trample their heels.
He was nervous now. He could feel the time running through his fingers.
Still no alarm! They burst out of the corridor into an enormous hall, crossed it swiftly, ducked down another passage. Damn place was a rat run. Fralick was panting. "Hold out, old man!" Vickers thought. "Hold out!" Still no alarm. They were going to make it. They had to—
All the bells in the world seemed to cut loose at once!
Vickers jumped as if he'd been shot.
Fralick clutched his chest. For a moment Vickers was afraid the scientist would pass out.
The bell rang frenziedly.