He began warming up his tele-screen prior to asking the spaceport for observation of his approach. Kathi grabbed his elbow.
"Of course I'm going to talk with them," he answered her startled question.
"Can they see me here behind you?"
"I guess so. Maybe not too clear, but they'll see somebody's with me. What's the difference? It'll just save them a shock later."
"Why should they see me at all? I can hide till after you leave the ship, and—."
"Fat chance!" grunted Dudley. "Forget it."
"Please, Dudley! I—I don't want to get you in any trouble, for one thing. At least, let me get out of sight now. Maybe you'll change your mind before we land."
He looked at her, and the anxiety seemed real enough. Knowing he was only letting her postpone the unpleasantness but reluctant to make her face it, he shrugged.
"All right, then! Go somewhere and wipe that stuff off your face. But stop dreaming!"
He waited until she had disappeared into one or another of the tiny compartments behind the control room, then sent out his call to the Lunar settlement.