The light slowly faded and then went out
completely.
"The power is out for good now!" Gene wailed. "and we're prisoners on
the asteroid! Now it's a runaway! We can't stop it!"
"Why would we want to stop it? We'll take the Tartarus and leave to
fight again another day! Pack up, get the men, and let's go. We've got
less than three hours, I think you said."
Panicked, Gene fled from the room, feeling his way desperately through
the darkness. "I've got to warn Kimball, Lorry, and Jenner! We've got
to escape!" Fear unlike anything he had ever experienced or imagined
filled his entire being.
19: Change of Guard
GENE FLEW down the corridor with his arms outstretched, not knowing
exactly where he was going and not caring, as long as it was away from
the control deck. He was breathing hard and fast, on the verge of
hysteria. Realizing that he was in danger of losing his grip, he paused
to catch his breath, and leaned against the wall.
A moment later he saw moving lights in the stairwell a long way ahead.
In the growing gray illumination, he dashed forward and saw Kimball,
Lorry, and Jenner coming up, carrying flashlights. When Kimball saw
Gene hurrying toward him, he flashed the light directly into his eyes
and roared, "What in blazes is going on in this place?"
Gene threw his hands up over his eyes, but continued to stumble
forward.
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