"Don't go yet, Bert. We're just getting ready for dinner."
"Dinner?" The young man spun like a top. Then he recalled his dignity. "Oh—dinner! Why, I guess ours is almost ready, too. 'Bye—"
"We'd be glad to have you stay," said Greg levelly, striving to keep the amusement out of his voice. "I think there's a roast tonight. Something that looks like a young suckling pig, can't exactly tell, though, till we taste it. These Titanian animals are different. Then there's a salad and potatoes and beans, a fruit compote, and I think 'Tina baked a pie today."
Andrew's eyes widened as his lips twitched. "I—I wouldn't want to be any trouble," he said faintly.
"No trouble at all," said Greg. Then, unable longer to restrain himself, "But of course if you think they'll be expecting you—?"
"No, I'll stay!" blurted Andrews hastily. "Thanks. I can wash up somewhere?"
"Inside. Ask Aunt Maud for soap. She's the custodian of that." Then, as the young man disappeared into the cave hurriedly, Greg grinned at Hannigan. "One!" he said.
"You want to hear about what I seen?" demanded the redhead. "Listen, it was terrific! Great big marsh, full of the damnedest life-forms and craziest vegetation anybody ever met up with. Hot, too! Steamy, like the Grand Marshes of Venus, only not quite as stinking—"
He stopped, annoyed. "One what? You ain't listening to a word I'm saying. Don't you want to hear?"
"Later, Sparks," said Greg. "Right now I'm wondering how long it will take the others to fall in line."