Five minutes to nine.
I wheeled and ran to the livestock hold. The hatch was about shut and I knew it was too late. 'Goodbye, my darlings! Goodbye!'
Then the hatch jammed and could not close the last six inches and I saw the reason. A steer had broken loose and charged the door. His head was caught in the opening. His neck had snapped instantly and he was dead.
They re-opened the hatch long enough to fling the thousand-pound carcass onto the field. And that was all the time I needed to come aboard.
A crew member hollered at me: "Do you belong here?"
"Yes," I replied, "I certainly do."
As I said it, the ship blasted heavenward and I was flung to the deck. I started to curse, and then I chuckled. I was stretched out ignominiously beside a cow in the fresh-smelling hay.
I, Bart Sponsor, Top Competitor, starting a new life. This way!
Well Solly, I mused, understand the planet we're going to has lots of rocky acres.