In the narrow passage gray unifs were passing, gray faces and for a second, one face with its hair low over the forehead, eyes gazing from deep beneath it⁠—it was that same man . I understood: they had come and there was no escape from it for me; only minutes remained, a few dozens of minutes.⁠ ⁠… An infinitesimal, molecular quiver of my whole body. This did not cease to the very end⁠—it was as if an enormous motor were placed under the very foundation of my body which was so light that the walls, partitions, cables, beams, lights⁠—everything was quivering.⁠ ⁠…

I did not yet know whether she was there. But I had no time.⁠ ⁠… They were calling me: quick! To the commander’s bridge; time to go⁠ ⁠… where?