"Close enough!" Splinter agreed relievedly. "If you had followed my advice and taken those vitamin capsules, you'd never have had the bends."
Kerry Blane grinned, winced when he felt the dull ache in his body.
"I've had the bends before, and lived through them!" he said, still weakly defiant.
"That's the past," Splinter said quietly. "This is the present, and you take your pills every day, just as I do—from now on."
"All right—and thanks!"
"Forget it!" Splinter flushed in quick embarrassment.
A buzzer sounded from the instrument panel, and a tiny light glowed redly.
"Six hours more," Splinter said, turned to the instrument panel.
His long hands played over the instrument panel, checking, controlling the rocket fire, adjusting delicate instruments to hairline marks. Kerry Blane nodded in silent approval.
They could feel the first tug of gravity on their bodies, and through the vision port could see the greenish ball that was cloud-covered Venus. Excitement lifted their spirits, brought light to their eyes as they peered eagerly ahead.