 Why did David press the button?
There were round dials set in a row above a speaker. Over the mesh-covered speaker, two knobs glowed red. If you understand, press button A on your right." I reached down to the tightness that held my body, found the wide strap that held me and fumbled with the buckle. There was no sensation of place, no feeling of up or down, no direction. The name meant nothing to me, but I thought about it, watching the relentless lights that shone below the dials. Now it must tell me why I didn't. If you understand, press button A on your right." "Do not begin operations until the others are removed from suspension." He was as still as death, motionless without warmth or breath as I hovered over him. I dared not try to operate anything. It waited for human hands to make it operate. The ports on the side were shielded and I stared out at static energy, hung motionless in a world of searing light. What speeds and perhaps, what distance? They stood for anything I might guess, and something kept pricking my mind, telling me I had no time to guess. I went from the nose to the last bulkhead in a frenzy of floating motion, looking behind each door until I went as far as I could. They both ended in the lead shield that was set where the swell of the curve was biggest. It meant the engine or engines took up half the ship, cut off from the forward half by the instrument studded shield.
 He wanted to get more information from the voice.
 He understood his name.  The experiment was successful.  He wanted to leave the spaceship.  He wanted to get more information from the voice.