Joel felt himself grow heavier, heavier. His arms were lead. The sweat
glistened on his homely drawn features. His green eyes lost their
sparkle.
After what seemed hours, he heard Nick Thorp croak from his bunk
overhead, "Watch y'self. Stellar drive! Any minute!"
Joel felt a surge of unreasoning fear. A bell rang suddenly.
"That's it!" Thorp warned. "Lie still."
As suddenly as it had struck, the acceleration ceased. A terrifying
sensation of weightlessness possessed him. He felt as if he were
falling--falling! He wanted to spring from the bunk, but remembered
Thorp's warning.
Startled cries burst from the passengers. Several of them jumped up.
From the corner of his eye Joel saw them shoot to the overhead where
they hung kicking. Then the artificial gravity came on and they fell
back to the deck a great deal faster than they'd gone up.