In the hallway, there were screams and stomping of the legs. I immediately jumped out of bed, Vitovt followed me. Rex was already at the door, jumping up and down in anticipation, all looking for me to open it.
- Everybody stay calm, - Van Drake's radio broadcasted in an excited voice. - In the bio complex broke the aquarium, there was a flood, but everything is under control! Everybody stay where you are!
Rex did not agree with the station director and the bullet was flying down the hall. I followed him without any further thought. I turned over my shoulder and didn't see Vitovt, but I didn't stop. My ancient, prehistoric inner voices were awakened after a long sleep and demanded that the choir - save yourself!
Apparently, Van Drake was wrong. Water was dripping from the ceiling, and I saw through the window that the next corridor was completely flooded. However, people had some blind faith in George, not otherwise - the corridors were empty against all logic. For some reason, I wanted to think that the aquarium had broken the same stingray. It was a black, giant ray, named after this station.
- Stay calm!
Rex was much faster, and I had to run to the limit just to keep up. Fear increased my strength, and I was past the complex after the complex. Finally, Rex stopped at the hangar door, impatiently moving from paw to paw. As soon as I opened the door, he moved on. I wanted to follow him, but I noticed movement from the side of me. It was Vitovt, and he had no face at all.
- That bastard locked all the doors! Everything! People stayed bricked up at that damn station! - he spat, grabbing his head. - I couldn't save her! I heard her screaming, I heard her beating at the door, I saw Vitovt crying for the first time. He looked up at me, and there was a struggle in him. My friend exhaled hard, coping with his emotions. - I couldn't save her, but I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
He closed the hangar doors and dragged me by the hand to Cassiopeia.
- We will return to Earth.
Vitovt opened the salon and climbed in quickly to the main seat. I followed him, pressing him against Rex's chest. Only when we wore respiratory masks did it dawn on me: how do we open the hangar door and get out into space?
- This is Cassiopeia 5. Butch was able to improve the old version as soon as possible, as George had hoped as if he had read my question mentally. - I have to admit, it's a probe, so the journey will be unsafe - his voice has fallen suspiciously - but there is a magnetic key onboard opening the hangar doors, so this is our only chance.
I wasn't totally convinced, but as soon as Cassiopeye squeakily twitched, the white jaws of the doors opened up a space void.
Once again, there was an incredible jolt, but this time there was no uncertainty, and the Earth in front of us was giving us strength.
If Butch had somehow perfected this vessel, the difference was not significant. I didn't have enough air, Rex passed out, and only our head pilot looked ready for anything. I was jealous - I wanted to have his confidence in his actions, his strength, his calmness. But so far, I've felt like a little girl in the care of an adult. All my time on Alpha 1, I was always led by someone, I was always led, even now it was Vitovt who was saving my life, not myself. I promised myself that when I got home, I would change that. I need to become independent, I need to grow up. I have to protect myself. It's time to put an end to my long life as a child.
I looked at my companion again. I still ran out of oxygen, and I was afraid Rex was dead. He wasn't fiddling, I couldn't hear him breathing through the mask, and my hand couldn't feel my heartbeat. The tears unwittingly flowed down my cheeks, and I pressed his body tighter.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my little...
My consciousness was slowly leaving me. I suddenly thought that Vitovt's blue eyes looked like gray in the dark interior of the ship. My mother also had gray eyes. Grey and loving.
The first thing I felt was a gentle breeze walking through my body. Asleep, when I opened my eyes, I saw the sky and the sun. The incomprehensible tenderness flooded my mind.