st one--if it's valid--has tremendous force. I didn't
know men felt that way. But no matter what my feeling for you really is,
I'm really grateful to you for the reprieve ... and you know, Clee, I'm
pretty sure you're going to get us back home. If anyone can, you can."

"I'm going to try to. Even if I can't, it will be Belle, not you, that
I'll take for the long pull. And not because you'd rather have
Jim--which you would, of course...."

"To be honest, I think I would."

"Certainly. He's your type. You're not mine; Belle is. Well, that
buttons it up, Brownie, except for one thing. To Jim and Belle and
everyone else, we're paired."

"Of course. Urbanity, as well as to present a united front to any and
all worlds."

"Check. So watch your shield."

"I always do. That stuff is 'way, 'way down. I'm awfully glad you called
me 'Brownie,' Clee. I didn't think you ever would."

"I didn't expect to--but I never talked to a woman this way before,
either. Maybe it had a mellowing effect."

"You don't _need_ mellowing--I do like you a lot, just exactly as you
are."

"If true, I'm very glad of it. But don't strain yourself; and I mean
that literally, not as sarcasm."

"I know. I'm not straining a bit, and this'll prove it."

She kissed him again, and this time it was a production.

"That was an eminently convincing demonstration, Brownie, but don't do
it too often."

"I won't." She laughed, gayly and happily. "If there's any next time,
you'll have to kiss me first."

She paused and sobered. "But remember. If you should change your mind,
any time you really want to ... to kiss me, come right in. I won't be as
silly and nervous and afraid as I was just now. That's a promise. Good
night, Clee."

"Good night, Brownie."

CHAPTER 2

Next morning, Garlock was the last one, by a fraction of a minute, into
the Main. "Good morning, all," he said, with a slight smile.

"Huh? How come?" James demanded, as all four started toward the dining
nook.

Garlock's smile widened. "Lola. She brought me a pot of coffee and
wouldn't let me out until I drank it."

"_Brought?_"

"Yeah. They haven't read their room-tapes yet, so they don't know that
room-service is practically unlimited."

"Why didn't I think of that coffee business a couple of years ago?"

"Well, why didn't I think of it myself, ten years ago?"

Belle's eyes had been going from one, man to the other. "Just _what_ are
you two talking about? If it's any