The words echoed in the still air. They were like evil seeds, falling into fertile minds and sprouting.
"And not go back to Earth?" asked Fox, stroking his beard.
"And not go back to Earth."
Captain Torkel stiffened. "Get those thoughts out of your head, Garcia. There are two billion people back on Earth. They'll die unless we tell them about this planet. We've got wives, friends—"
"Not me," said Garcia sternly. "No wife and no friends."
Fox shrilled, "The only reason I volunteered for this trip was to get away from my wife and that lousy New York apartment. You're not married, are you, Captain?"
"N—no."
"Me neither," hiccoughed Lieutenant Washington. "Not many girls'll marry spacemen."
"Kelly's married, though," mused Fox. "How about it, Kelly?"