A pale brown shape fluttered briefly into view from a side corridor before disappearing again, leaving the words, “This way, mate,” hanging in the air. You beaut. Carl squeezed one last effort from his painful legs and put on an extra spurt, slipping down the corridor just as he heard the units enter the one he’d left.
To his right was an open door and a beckoning hand. It shot out and grabbed his arm, and Carl stumbled into the room. The door clicked closed as pounding feet approached in the main corridor. The copilot had collapsed on the floor. A man helped him sit up. He held his knees and sat gasping, unable to speak for several moments. Finally, he managed, “Thanks...?”
“Alef, geo-phys,” said the waiting man. He held out his hand and pulled Carl to his feet. “I’ve been watching out
