Axel chuckled softly.
"I won't worry with Willy Zinder on the crew," Joel was saying loudly. "No, sir—"
"Why don't you sit down?" snarled Spartan, still not turning his head. "You drive me crazy."
"Uh—ah—why yes, of course! I didn't realize—"
"Then do it!" snapped Spartan.
Joel almost stumbled as he backed away. Now, as he spotted Axel and me, he decided we were appropriate sympathizers. He walked over to us and said, "He's understandably touchy."
"I never pet rattlesnakes," said Axel.
Willy's voice, surprisingly cheerful, came over the loud-speaker. He was A-okay and was passing over the North Pole for the fifteenth time.
Communications responded and wished him good luck.
Dr. Spartan nodded. Then he turned his head and called out: "Miss Loring!"