Our eyes met. "What's the fare?" I inquired.
"Two thousand." Solly looked down for a moment, then threw back his head. "Look, that's still your money, even if you did give it to us. Dolly and I are willing ... would be happy to pay Freddie's fare. And take care of him as our own if you and Celia can't get on."
"My son has no future on Earth," I said. "If Celia's willing, I am. Go talk to her."
Solly went to Celia. She did not once look in my direction and I was glad. In the end, Freddie went with Solly, and I could tell what the lie was. Solly was going to show Freddie the insides of the wonderful ship.
It was a quarter after eight. Only forty-five minutes before take-off. Celia and I were going to be left behind. There didn't seem much reason for further pretense. I took my wife's hand.
"Little did we know how important your going-away present would be. Solly used two thousand of it to pay Freddie's fare."
Celia shook her head. "He didn't have to do that."
"Sweetheart, all we have left is about a hundred and fifty credits."
"That may be all you have left," she said proudly, "but that isn't all we have left. If my addition is correct, we have ninety thousand cash credits in my purse, right at this minute!"
"What! How do you mean?"