Minutes later I found myself in the vast hull, sitting on one of the tiers that hold the seats vertical when the ship is tail-based for blastoff. It was very dim here and I couldn't readily make out the faces of the people on the same tier with me.
A loudspeaker came to life; a deep, impersonal voice. "Fasten your webbings carefully!"
I did that and heard the rustling sounds about me as the others did it, too.
"Stand by for blastoff!"
There was a dead pause, then a sudden low throbbing roar and the feeling of life in the floor plates and the bulkheads. I felt the slightest weight of pressure against the seat. The seat began to tilt slightly.
Suddenly a soft voice on my left spoke: "We're on our way. They can't stop us now, can they?"
It was the same low, provocative woman's voice that I had heard in my dreams!
I whirled my head. I could see only the shape of flowing hair, no features. "Who are you?"
She laughed. "No wonder you don't recognize me. The natural voice is different than approved standard, isn't it? Listen. Do you remember this?" The head cocked to one side and a crisp, formal voice came out. "Information you desire is in Bank 29."
"Lara!" I said. I pushed toward her, but the webbing held me back.