"It's been a privilege to have you on board, sir, and perhaps we may hope to take you home again on your return from Rejuvenal."
Curtis Delman smiled. "Well, Captain, it's foolhardy for me to plan nearly two years ahead, but I hope so, too."
They shook hands.
With a steward supporting him on either side, the ancient lawyer climbed carefully down the steps.
A spacelines official had thoughtfully provided a chair. He sat down. The usual array of microphones and tele-cameras was grouped around him. Someone appealed for silence. In the hush that followed, only his own persuasive voice was heard.
"I have no prepared statement," he said, "but I assume you gentlemen wish to ask me some questions. In that event, I'd just like to stress that I'm not as young as I used to be—or perhaps I should say, as I hope to be—and I'd be obliged if you kept them short and to the point."
There were about thirty reporters present and among them he recognized several faces that he had seen before. A few would belong to the local network, but most of them were probably attached to one of the Universal syndicates. It was a red-headed youngster who got in the first question; the others were quick to follow.
"Is it true, sir, that this will be your fourth visit to Rejuvenal?"
"Yes, perfectly true."