"Yes, I—"
"Wouldn't you rather your wife laid an egg than—"
"I don't know," O'Toole interrupted, "but I do know that I'd like to find out what the dispatch situation is at the moment."
Swenson grabbed a piece of paper and drew a diagram.
While O'Toole was studying the diagram, someone laid a Special Message on Swenson's desk. Swenson glanced at it:
Acme Interplanetary Express
147 Z Street
New York
Your ship Number 4 is hereby grounded at Luna City, pending an investigation of a riot involving your men, and for non-payment of bill for atomic slug purification. Your Number 4 is also charged with unpaid demurrage bill.
Planetary Commerce Commission
Swenson muttered: "Good!" and threw the Special Message in the wastebasket. Mister Cerobie, who had just entered the office, fished the form out and read it.