"Yes, and yours is Martia. I feel like something is going to happen."
"That's why I'm scared."
She pressed against him and held on to him, shuddering in nameless terror, as hysterical screams and shouts suddenly emanated from A deck, above them. He held her, equally frightened, while the babies screamed—and while the people on B deck began to shout and scurry about in all directions.
"What in God's name—!" a man yelled, getting up from his seat by the windows.
"Something's happened on A deck!" exclaimed the commissary steward.
"What the hell! It's a fight!" shouted a grizzled construction worker.
"Come on!" cried another, excitedly anticipating something to write home about.
"Stay where you are! Don't panic!" shouted a newsman, fumbling frantically with the straps of his camera carrying case.
No one could ascend the spiral staircase because a panic stricken mob from A deck was descending, with the G.I. negro sliding down over their heads. The whites of his eyes glistened in unreasoning terror. Screams of women and the angry shouting and cursing of men filled the staircase, while outside the muffled roar of the great engines continued unabated.
"All right! All right!" came a tense voice over the P.A. system. "Passengers will remain seated and refrain from panic. Do not crowd B deck as it changes the load factors and we'll not be able to trim if you don't stay put!" It seemed to Henry that the announcer wanted to say more but was interrupted by the sudden press of the emergency, whatever it was.