She did, too, a few minutes later—loud and long! After he'd got over the first shock of narrowly missing the Mound, Channok gave a convincing imitation of a chagrined pilot and indignantly blamed the Asteroid....
He'd guided them halfway out of the Nameless System when she came behind the control chair in the dark, wrapped her arms in a stranglehold around his neck, and fondly bit his ear.
"Cut it out," Channok choked.
"Just the same," stated Peer, loosening her grip a trifle, "you're not so smart, like Santis is!"
"I'm not, eh?"
"No," said Peer. "But Santis said you would be some time. 'That Channok's going to make a real spacer!' he said. 'Just give him a chance to catch on.'"
"Well," Channok muttered, secretly flattered, "we'll hope he was right."
"And, anyway," said Peer, "I LOVE you just as much!"
"Well, that's something, too!" Channok admitted. He was beginning to feel very much better.