"I'm going to stay," said the woman firmly.
"As you wish, Madam," said Tom. He looked at the list again. "Mrs. Helen Carson?"
A woman about thirty-five, carrying a young boy about four years old, stepped out and took her place beside the two sisters.
In a moment, the first eight passengers were assembled into two groups, helped into space suits, with a special portable suit for the little boy, and loaded in the jet boats. The red light over the hatch glowed, then went out. The first load of passengers had left the Lady Venus.
"They're pretty jumpy," Roger whispered, nodding toward the remaining passengers.
"Yeah," answered Tom. "Say, where's Astro?"
"I don't know. Probably went to take a look at the jet boats to see if one could be repaired so we'd have a third ferry running."
"Good idea," said Tom. "See if you can't cheer these people up, Roger. Tell them stories or sing songs—or better yet, get them to sing. Try to make them forget they're sitting on an atom bomb!"
"I can't forget it myself," said Roger. "How can I make them forget it?"
"Try anything. I'll go see if I can't give Astro a hand!"