Christy broke in with a catch in her throat, "Oh, Bill, please! Let's not quarrel as soon as we get back."
Bill shoved his dishes aside, the tone of her voice reaching into him to dampen down the fires of anger. Then he managed a slow faint grin.
"Okay, Christy." He reached for the check, saying, "Well, if you can stand my company, would you like to come along out to the field?"
With her eyes glistening, she answered, "I'd love to."
he private rocket landing field of the Staker Space Mining Company was an hour's drive north of the city. Three miles from the field they made out the two gleaming snouts of the rockets pointing skyward. Then as they approached the edge of the field, Bill turned off toward a two story frame structure that served as office and warehouse.
Bill said, "Might as well check to see if Tom is in the office first."
At the door Bill poked his head in and shouted up the stairwell, "Hi—Tom?"
A chair scraped, and footsteps sounded across the upstairs floor. "Yeah—that you, Bill? C'mon up!"