As he reached the ground floor, he heard pounding at the outer portal.
They had left the outer portal down after entering, and the seawater now rushed into the courtyard through the wide opening.
It hadn't been all that far away from where they now stood, inside the outer portal to the redoubt.
As soon as he was clear, Helva closed her outer portal.
Chuut-Riit put his hand on the black metal of the outer portal, stopped.
Together, the two men reached the outer portal.
The same detective had pressed other switches; and had finally raised the outer portal.
Once in the small room between the inner and outer portals, he walked over to the line of lockers.
He stepped through the outer portal and into the chill outside air.
It was too reminiscent of the cavern's outer portal.