"You are not like other Terrestrials! You are a mad dog!"
"We'll rough out a character sketch of me later. Are they all fueled up? You know the procedures here. Did those shuttles just get in, or is that the ready line?"
"Yes. All are fueled and ready for take-off."
"I hope you're right, Shluh. You and I are going to drive over and get in one; if it doesn't lift, I'll kill you and try the next. Let's go."
"You are mad! I have told you—these boats have not more than ten thousand ton-seconds capacity. They are useful only for satellite runs."
"Never mind the details. Let's try the first in line."
Shluh let in the clutch and the steam car clanked and heaved, rolled off toward the line of boats.
"Not the first in line," Shluh said suddenly. "The last is the more likely to be fueled. But—"
"Smart grasshopper," Retief said. "Pull up to the entry port, hop out and go right up. I'll be right behind you."
"The gangway guard. The challenging of—"