soundlessly.

He went through the doorway as if shoved violently by an invisible hand.

The door closed behind him.

Marie threw herself at the door and beat at the metal. "Harry!"

Verana rushed to her side. Another door on the opposite side of the corridor opened silently. The door was behind them; they didn't notice.

Before I could warn them, Marie floated across the corridor, through the doorway.

Verana and I stared at the darkness beyond the opening, our muscles frozen by shock.

The door closed behind Marie's screaming, struggling form.

Verana's face was white with fear. Apprehensively, she glanced at the other doors that lined the hall.

I put my arms around her, held her close.

"Antigravity machines, force rays," I suggested worriedly.

For several minutes, we remained motionless and silent. I recalled the preceding events of the day, searched for a sense of normality in them. The Kanes, Miller, Verana and I lived in Lunar City with hundreds of other people. Mankind had inhabited the Moon for over a year. Means of recreation were scarce. Many people explored the place to amuse themselves. After supper, we had decided to take a walk. As simple as that: a walk on the Moon.

We had expected only the familiar craters, chasms and weird rock formations. A twist of fate and here we were: imprisoned in an alien ship.

My legs quivered with fatigue, my heart throbbed heavily, Verana's perfume dizzied me. No, it wasn't a dream. Despite our incredible situation, there was no sensation of unreality.

I took Verana's hand and led her down the long corridor, retracing our steps.

We had walked not more than two yards when the rest of the doors opened soundlessly.

Verana's hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp.

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