was when you were a little boy. About fishing, and
your first .22 rifle. And the time you shot the squirrel, and then felt
so sorry."

"Oh," Don said. He ran his right hand over his mouth.

There was a champagne bucket beside him, but the bottle in it was empty.
He looked about the room for a waiter.

Dian said gently, "Do you really think you need any more, Don?"

He looked across the table at her. She was as beautiful as ever. No,
that wasn't right. She was pretty, but not beautiful. She was just a
damn pretty girl, not one of these glamour items.

Don said, "Look, I can't remember. Did we get married?"

Her laugh tinkled. "Married! I only ran into you two or three hours
ago." She hesitated before saying further, "I had assumed that you were
deliberately avoiding me. Callisto isn't that big."

Don Mathers said slowly, "Well, if we're not married, let me decide when
I want another bottle of the grape, eh?"

Dian flushed. "Sorry, Don."

* * * * *

The headwaiter approached bearing another magnum of vintage wine. He
beamed at Don Mathers. "Having a good time, sir?"

"Okay," Don said shortly. When the other was gone he downed a full
glass, felt the fumes almost immediately.

He said to Dian, "I haven't been avoiding you, Di. We just haven't met.
The way I remember, the last time we saw each other, back on Earth, you
gave me quite a slap in the face. The way I remember, you didn't think I
was hero enough for you." He poured another glass of the champagne.

Di's face was still flushed. She said, her voice low, "I misunderstood
you, Don. Even after your brilliant defeat of that Kraden cruiser, I
still, I admit, think I basically misunderstood you. I told myself that
it could have been done by any pilot of a Scout, given that one in a
million break. It just happened to be you, who made that suicide dive
attack that succeeded. A thousand other pilots might also have taken the
million to one suicide chance rather than let the Kraden escape."

"Yeah," Don said. Even in his alcohol, he was surprised at her words. He
said gruffly, "Sure anybody might've done it. Pure luck. But why'd you
change your mind about me, then? How come the switch of heart?"

"Because of what you've done since, darling."

He closed one eye, the better to focus.

"Since?"

He recognized the expression in her eyes. A touch of star gleam. That
little girl back on Earth, the receptionist at the Interplanetar