Peer stopped short. "That was a dirty thing to say!" she said in a low, furious voice. "I'm not talking to you any more."
She drew away till there was a space of about six feet between them and marched on briskly towards the Asteroid, looking straight ahead.
Channok had to hurry to keep abreast of her. He watched her in the starlight for a few moments from the corners of his eyes. He probably shouldn't have used that term—the half-pint did look good and mad!
"Tsk! Tsk!" he said, disturbed.
Peer said nothing. She walked a bit faster. Channok lengthened his stride again.
"Who's my nice little girl friend?" he inquired wheedlingly.
"Shuddup!" growled Peer.
She climbed into the Asteroid ahead of him and disappeared while he sealed the locks. The control room was dark, but he felt she was around somewhere. He switched on the power and the instruments. Familiar dim pools of green and pink gleamings sprang up in quick sequence like witchfire quivering over the control desk. Perhaps it wasn't an exceptionally beautiful sight, but it looked home-like to Channok. Like fires lighting up on a hearth.
"Well, let's see you handle this take-off!" he invited the shadows around him briskly. This time there weren't any mountains nearby to worry about.
"You handle it," Peer said from behind his shoulder. "It's my turn to laugh."