But Gary interrupted him. This was a new and different Gary Lane from the curt young man who, for months past, had been too preoccupied with a life-and-death struggle to pay a proper amount of attention to matters which were a part of his personal and private life.
Gary said, "Oh, no you don't, Hugh! Not so fast. I got here first." He reached out and folded the arm of Nora Powell into his own. He said, "Nora and I have a few matters to discuss. Business matters."
The girl looked at him astonished. "B-business, Gary? At a time like this—business?"
Gary said seriously, "Very important business that has been delayed altogether too long. A—a matter of a merger, you might say."
Nora sighed. Whether it was with relief, or whether there was in that sigh a hint of acquiescence to follow was hard to tell. But she smiled and nodded. And:
"In that case," she said, "I have no choice. I have to do what my boss tells me, Hugh. I'll go with you, Gary."
And they left the bridge.
Muldoon snickered. "Business!" he snorted. "Business my hat! Biological business, if you ask me!"
And Warren shook his head dejectedly. "Oh, well," he shrugged. "What the hell! Somebody's got to stick around to drive the ship...."