Long Island Facility vaulted at the stars in great kangaroo-leaps of
arch and cantilever span, jeweled in glass and metal as if the entire
port were a mechanism for navigating interplanetary space. Rufus
Sollenar paced its esplanades, measuring his steps, holding his arms
still, for the short time until he could board the Mars rocket.
Erect and majestic, he took a place in the lounge and carefully sipped
liqueur, once the liner had boosted away from Earth and coupled in its
Faraday main drives.
Mr. Ermine settled into the place beside him.