“WHEW!” NURSE GRAY CAME back to throbbing awareness, the all too familiar feeling of a misplaced stomach attempting to force its crowded way into her boots plaguing her. Rockets roared in the rear. She loosened a few straps and twisted over. Judith was still out, her face tensed in pain. Gray bit her lip and twisted the other way. The Centaurian was grinning at her.
“Do you always leave in a hurry?” she demanded, and instantly wished she hadn’t said it. He gave no outward sign.
“Long-time sleep,” he announced. “Four, five hours maybe.” The chest strap was lying loose at his side.
“That long!” she was incredulous. “I’m never out more than three hours!” Unloosening more straps, she sat up, glanced at the control panel.
“Not taking time,” he stated simply and pointed to a dial. Gray shook
