The people! His people! A proscenium, a stage rushed up towards him, and his cable swept down to a circular aperture to the right of this.

He felt he was travelling slower, and suddenly very much slower.

He distinguished shouts of "Saved! The Master.

He is safe!" The stage rushed up towards him with rapidly diminishing swiftness.

Then-- He heard the man clinging behind him shout as if suddenly terrified, and this shout was echoed by a shout from below.