Kirk said, "What makes you think I'm coming back?"
Vinson said, puzzledly, "Why, you are, aren't you? I mean—you're an Orville boy—this is your real home—"
Kirk suppressed the impatient words he'd been about to utter. No use upsetting a nice guy. He said, "Oh, sure, I'll be back—"
He drove on to the old house. Lyllin sat on the porch. He saw, to his surprise, that on her lap there cozily reclined a large black cat.
Lyllin smiled. "I think I've been accepted. By the people here—and by Tom."
Tom yawned and looked with insolent green eyes at Kirk. "His sides are bulging," Kirk said. "You've been bribing the beggar with food."
She laughed. "I don't know how he'll like space-travel. But we'll be bringing him back some day."
"Will we?" said Kirk.
She looked up at him. "Joe Garstang was talking to me. You will be retiring from active service in a few years. And I like it here now, Kirk. I really do."
He said, loudly, "Why in the world must everyone assume that I want to come back to this place? Will you tell me that?"