"But why the uniforms? I don't—"
"There's no time for argument," Verger interrupted him. "It's extremely important that the girls dress in their uniforms. Please request them to do so at once!"
A moment later, when the three men were shut in the control compartment in order that the girls could use the main cabin as a dressing room, Verger apologized to Anderson, "Sorry I had to be so blunt, Professor! You see, it was apparent that all the ladies were in a blue funk. Things are going to be tough enough for us without a bunch of hysterical women on our hands. I figured that something had to be done to distract their minds and there's nothing that absorbs the interest of a female like dolling up in fancy duds."
"I see," Anderson exclaimed. "So that was the reason why you insisted on the uniforms."
"Not entirely. I had other reasons. These Callisto babies are smart people—a lot smarter than we are in most things. But there's one subject they don't know anything at all about, and that's music!"
"And your idea is to stage a band concert for their benefit?" asked Anderson.
"Exactly."
"And what do you think will happen then?"
"I don't know. Anything can happen. But, no matter what they do about it, we can't be any worse off than we are right now. Tell your girls to toot like they've never tooted before. Let's hope that the Callisto boys like it. If they do, it may save us."