Gary glanced at her, pleased and gratified.
"We?" he repeated.
The girl nodded determinedly. "Yes, we. Because if you'll have me, Gary, I want to join your expedition."
"Well, now," drawled Flick Muldoon, "as far as that goes, I've been beefing a little, yeah. But on purely technical grounds. I didn't say I was going to pull a sneak on the shindig. Hell I'll try anything once. You can count me in, Gary, lock, stock, and barrel."
Gary said gravely, "Thanks both of you. And you Dr. Bryant?"
The older man smiled thinly.
"I won't deceive you, Gary. I confess I still have my doubts as to the practicality of your ambitions. Nevertheless, I'd be a poor scientist if I were to refuse to lend my small efforts to such a magnificent undertaking. Of course, you may count on me. Boris—" He turned to his Eurasian colleague—"I'm sorry our conversations are to be thus abruptly terminated by what may seem to you a somewhat impulsive decision. But there may be something in Dr. Lane's warning."
To the surprise of everyone, the rather easily-annoyed Dr. Anjers this time showed no annoyance whatsoever. Instead, his bland, cherubic face was puckered with thought, and when he spoke it was with firm decision.
"No, you are completely right, my friend. Dr. Lane has not convinced me—yet. But if he is right, this is no matter for slow ponderings. We must act at once. And I, too, if you will permit, would like to become a member of your party."
Gary Lane smiled, ashamed now of his earlier treatment of this staunch little scientist, of the near-accusations he had twice cast upon the little man. He said simply, "I would be proud and glad to have you with us, Dr. Anjers. Of course, we five will not be all. We must have a pilot, an experienced astrogator, and crewmen to handle the ship itself—"