These doors
entered a hallway that proceeded to the outside of the asteroid and
allowed passage without the major airlock's having to be emptied.
"Ready?" asked Zip through the suits' intercom system.
"Sure. Let's go." Zip opened the door into the airlock and they passed
through and closed the door behind them. Zip operated the controls that
sucked the air out of the hallway. The two men walked about 50 yards to
the far end of the passage and opened the door to the outside. They
stepped out onto the surface of the asteroid.
They looked around, but could see no evidence that there was an airlock
adjacent to where they were standing!
"Camouflaged!" said Zip.
"Whoever made this wondrous thing," commented George, "apparently had a
reason for wanting to be hidden. Let's make sure we can still get back
in. Can you open the door we just came out of?"
"No need to worry. I'm not about to close a door behind me for good
until I know I can open it again." He took the small iron plate and
used it to jam the door open. From the inside, the door was
transparent; from the outside, it looked like the surface of the iron
asteroid. Its hinges were completely hidden. "Now let's see what's out
here."
For the first time, the two men gazed outward. The Milky Way blazed
above and to the right, its countless stars bright enough to cast
slight shadows behind the two men.
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