“Do what?”
“Get that girl to agree to visit the university. I’ve been talking to her for half an hour, and, well, she wouldn’t even look straight at me.”
Leoh broke into a chuckle. “Well, young man, to begin with, you were much too flustered. It made you appear overanxious. On the other hand, I am at an age where I can be strictly platonic. She was on guard against you, but she knows she has very little to fear from me.”
“I see ... I think.”
“Well,” Leoh said, gesturing toward the slideway, “I suppose this is where we go our separate ways.”
“Oh, no, sir. I’m going with you. That is, I mean, you are Dr. Leoh, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. And you must be—” Leoh hesitated. Can this be a Star Watch officer? he wondered.
The youth stiffened to attention and for an absurd flash of a second, Leoh thought he was going to salute. “I am Junior Lieutenant Hector, sir; on special detached duty from the cruiser SW4-J188, home base Perseus Alpha VI.”
“I see,” Leoh replied. “Um-m-m ... is Hector your first name or your last?”
“Both, sir.”