They reached the Star Queen just as Lieutenant Washington and Fox and Kelly were stepping out of the airlock. Garcia stood behind them, sleepy-eyed, yawning off the effects of his sedative. The men stared first at the Sirians, then at Captain Torkel.
Lieutenant Washington said, threateningly, "Get out of here, Captain. We've made our decision."
"No," said Captain Torkel. "I'm going to join you. I'm going to the village, too."
"Hey!" exclaimed Fox. "He's going with us. Atta boy, Captain!"
"Why?" asked the stern-faced lieutenant.
"Because we won't have to return to Earth—not even if we wanted to. The Sirians are going in our place."
Garcia frowned. "Are you crazy, Captain?"
"No, I was just wrong about the Sirians, Garcia. They're good people, just like the lieutenant said. They like us. They want to help our people—and they're going to take the Star Queen back to Earth."
"That's impossible," spat Lieutenant Washington. "They're simple natives. They're ignorant. They couldn't astrogate that ship."