The tours didn't include places such as this. They took one to the nice, civilized places ... towns like Gusta Pahn on Mars and Radium City on Venus and out to Satellite City on Ganymede. Civilized, polished places ... places hardly different than New York or Chicago or Denver back home. But this was different ... here one could sense something that made the blood run faster, made a thrill scamper up one's spine.
"You're new here, ain't you?" asked Stiffy.
Meek jumped, then recovered his composure.
"Yes," he said. "Yes, I am. I always wanted to see this place. I read about it."
"Ever read about an Asteroid Prowler?" asked Stiffy.
"I believe I have somewhere. In a magazine section. A crazy story...."
"It ain't crazy," protested Stiffy. "I saw one of them ... this afternoon. Right here on Juno. None of these dad-blamed fools will believe me."
Furtively, Meek studied the man opposite him. He didn't seem to be such a bad fellow. Almost like any other human being. A little rough, maybe, but a good fellow just the same.
"Say," he suggested impulsively, "maybe you'd have a drink with me."
"You're dang tootin'," agreed Stiffy. "I never turn down no drinks."