"Cadet Higgins," said Connel, "I thought I had requested a sight on the sun star Regulus at fifteen hundred hours!"
"You did, sir," replied Alfie.
"Then why, by the craters of Luna, don't I have that position?"
"I was—busy, sir," came the meek reply.
"Cadet Higgins," sighed Connel patiently, "would you be so kind as to come down to the control deck?"
In the short space of time since their departure from the space station Major Connel had learned that to scold Cadet Higgins was not the way to gain his attention. In fact, Major Connel had not been able to find a way of getting the little cadet's attention in any manner, at any time, on anything.
"I can't right now, sir," replied Alfie.
"What do you mean, you can't?" exploded Connel.
"I mean, sir," explained Alfie, "that I've just sighted Tara and I have to get a position check on her before we go any farther, to ensure that we traverse the same trajectory on our return trip and thus avoid the problem of finding a new and safe route back."
"Cadet Alfie Higgins"—Connel's voice climbed to a frenzied shriek—"if you are not on this control deck in ten seconds, I'll personally see that you are fed to a dinosaur when we touch down on Tara and you'll never return. Now get down here!"