Jolly Roger opened it and staggered in.

For a space he stood leaning against the wall while his lungs drank in the warmer air.

The intake of his breath made a whistling sound and he was surprised to find himself so near exhaustion.

He heard the thud of Peter's body as it collapsed to the floor.
"Tired, Pied-Bot ?" It was difficult for his storm-beaten lips to speak the words.
Peter thumped his tail.

The rat-tap-tap of it came in one of those lulls of the storm which Jolly Roger had begun to dread.
"I hope it keeps up another two hours," he said, wetting his lips to take the stiffness out of them.