He was still there when Halligan came limping in, to land uncertainly in his accustomed spot. Like the rest, Steve went out to see the man, and they all waved him home, surrounding him and pelting him with both hand-shakes, mild insults and warm greetings. Halligan replied to the insults stoically, grinned at the rest, and peered around the group until he saw Steve. Then he shouldered his way through.
"Steve," he said seriously, "I did not mean anyth—"
Hagen smiled. "Naturally," he said, accepting Joe Halligan's hand. "I'd have been no use to you and I know it. I'll need some more practise."
Halligan laughed. "I need coffee, have some on me?"
"I'll go along for the walk," said Steve. "But I'm loaded to the space-valves right now."
"Come on then, and watch a hungry man tear into a steak."
"I hope you're hungry enough for stew."
Halligan grunted. "Watch a hungry man tear into a plate of stew, then."
Everybody laughed, and in the midst of it, Steve asked: "Aren't you going to check in?"