Scotty nodded. His blue eyes were bright as he buttoned up his jacket and winked at the waitress. Then he led the group to the door. "Love that gal," he said.
The driver raced the motor as they piled in and the jeep took off down the concrete strip with a roar. The driver turned an admiring glance toward Scotty. "All set for the big trip, man?"
Scotty grinned. "Been sleeping in a coffin all week, just for practice."
"Man, you may need that practice. You'll be good and stiff before you get out—" He broke off, horrified at the pun.
Scotty roared with glee. "You think you're kidding! That's all right—the way I see it, I'm getting ten days vacation on the Government, and plenty of pay besides. And once I get up there, I won't need much muscle to make my way around, they tell me." He lit a cigarette, peering down the strip ahead of them. Far ahead he could see the batteries of searchlights, picking out the tall, shiny spire of the ship. It stood tall in its scaffolding, pointing like a needle toward the black star-lit sky. Already the ground below it was swarming with tiny figures, moving about on the final check-down. My ship, thought Scotty. I helped to build it. And here's one job where they need a cocky, loud-mouthed little shrimp more than anything else in the world—
Another jeep swerved in beside them on the strip. Scotty caught a glimpse of the General and a couple of official-looking civilians.
"Everybody's going to see you off," said Mitch from the back seat.
"Yeah—the whole damned crowd. My big day."
"You sure you got everything down cold?"