Joe said, "That's fine." He ground out his cigarette on a clean plate. Sarah would have taken his head off if he had ever done that.
"No," he went on, "nothing happened. Same old stuff."
They sat down to eat. Joe tasted his soup. It was rotten. He wondered if they cooked like that all over Callisto, or only in Aarn.
"Is it all right, darling?" Sarah was looking at him brightly, her fingers twined under her chin with the left pinkie extended, her head cocked to one side. It was all so cute that it made Joe sick. He decided that if the showdown were put off much longer he'd never be able to stand the sight of her again.
"You haven't called me 'darling' since our days of stardust and chivalry," he said. "Call me Joe."
"What?"
"I said—call—me—Joe."
Sarah pushed her plate away. Her brown eyes were muddy.
"I wasn't hungry anyway," she said coldly.
Big Kent and Ray came through the door that led into the living room. Kent leaned against the wall and folded his massive arms. He grinned mockingly at Joe. "We never give up," he said. Ray stared nervously and wet his lips.