"I know—you don't mind if I know?"
"I want you to know—"
Eleven days later they landed on Latham Alpha IV.
Stacey greeted them with, "So now what, children?"
"Neosol."
Stacey eyed them with envy. "Somewhere along in this mad pattern I recall vaguely that I have a wife named Gloria and a daughter, both of whom think I am deceased. Looking at you two makes me want to howl at the moon—if I could find a moon to howl at on this misbegotten planet. You can head for Neoterra, but does anybody mind if I head for home and fireside? I want to walk in and be a great shock to my wife."
"You—"
"Shut up," snapped Stacey. "Or I'll tell Nora about you."
"Please do anyway."
"Stacey, you stay out of this."