A left turn took her to the cafeteria. Derek and Wally were still lost, still debating over which way to go. “Guys,” she said, “I’m at the ramp. The first one. You have your lights on, right?”

“Of course we do, Priscilla.” Derek didn’t sound happy.

“How’s your air?”

“Getting a little low.” Wally again.

“All right. I’ve got a couple of tanks with me. Have you seen any corridors that curve?”

“What difference does that make?” asked Derek.

“Please answer the question.”

“No. Everything runs in a straight line.”

“Okay. Wherever you are now, I need you to stop moving around. You’re still on the deck with the open hatch, right?”

“Yes.”

“Have you been moving more or less in the same direction? Is there any chance you turned around and passed the area where the cafeteria was located?”

“No, we turned around once or twice, but I don’t think we went back that far.”

“Okay. Look around you and find the nearest place where a corridor crosses the one you’re in.”

“We just passed one.”

“Good. Go back to it. When you get there, stop. Then give me a few minutes. When I tell you, aim your lamps in all four directions.”

Intersections appeared at regular intervals, in each case about a two-minute walk. She stopped at one just as Derek’s voice came back on. “We’re here, Priscilla.”

“Good.” She turned off her own lamp. “Now shine your lights for me. Both directions, in both passageways.”

Everything stayed dark.

“Okay. Stay where you are. Give me a couple of minutes and I should be able to find you.”

“Priscilla,” said Derek, “I don’t think we have time for this.”

“Stay with it. We’ll be okay.” She passed an open door as she hurried along the corridor. That would be the room with the garments on the bulkhead. She arrived at the next intersection. But again the corridor was dark.

Her major concern was that they’d wandered in a reverse direction without realizing it. That they were on the far side of the vehicle. But it was hard to believe they’d gotten completely turned around and not noticed. The next intersection was again dark.

She needed two more cross passageways before she saw lights. She responded with a loud “Yes!” and showed them her lamp.

“Hi, Hutch,” said Wally. “We are glad to see you.”

•  •  •

They switched out Wally’s tank on the way back. Derek commented that it was surprisingly easy to get lost in the vehicle. “We should have been more careful, Priscilla. I’m glad you were available.” She knew, inside the helmet, he was smiling.

“So, what do you make of all this, Derek?” she asked as they arrived back in the Eiferman and began climbing out of their suits.

He laid his helmet on one of the chairs in the passenger cabin. “Well, one thing’s confirmed.”

“And that is?”