his
hand, took orders, carried them out. His shoulders drooped a little
more; his face became more pinched; he retreated deeper and deeper into
himself.

But as the days went on, his eyes brightened and there was a
breathlessness in his expression when he turned his face to the sky.

Some three months after the day Joshua walked into Lee's office, the
latter said, "The four men who are going with the rocket. You've
selected them?"

"Yes. They're waiting for the day. It was a long slow process, selecting
the best equipped men."

"Bring them here tomorrow afternoon."

"I'll check with them. If they all can't make it, would a later date--?"

"I said tomorrow. See to it they _can_ make it."

"Yes, Lee."

Joshua brought the four young men to Lee Gorman's office the following
day. Lee had a buffet table set up. He was the smiling, genial,
expansive host. "Sit down gentlemen. I'm glad of this opportunity to
meet you."

There were five chairs in the room. Gorman had already seated himself.
The young men hesitated.

"Sit down, sit down."

They dropped into the chairs, glancing uneasily at Joshua Lake. Joshua
turned and started toward the door.

"Don't go, Lake. I'm sure the boys would like a drink. You'll find the
fixings on the buffet. Why don't you take their orders?"

The crowning insult, Joshua wondered. The last, crude insult? Lee
Gorman's wounds must have been deep indeed. Joshua served drinks,
brought sandwiches. Lee Gorman's geniality kept the awkwardness of the
situation from bringing it to a complete standstill. "Well, Thursday is
the day, I understand. How do you feel about it? Rocketing off into
space. Becoming a part of the big tomorrow." Gorman's eyes caught those
of Joshua Lake as he spoke the last sentence. There was laughter behind
them.

The crew of the Moon rocket left shortly afterward. Joshua was the last
to walk from the room. Just as he was going through the door, Lee Gorman
whispered into his ear. "You can't be sure there'll be a rocket flight.
I might stop it the last minute. I haven't made up my mind yet."

Joshua turned and looked at his tormentor in silence. The others had
gone on down the hall. Gorman laughed and said, "I suppose that's a
problem you'll face when you come to it?"

"Yes--when I come to it."

Alone in his office, Lee Gorman strode angrily to the buffet. With a
sweep of his arm, he knocked a liquor bottle across the room. The
motivation of the act was hard to de