Dulcie was allowed to talk to Rob, and the first thing she said was, “Can I speak to Clay?”
“He’s coming down the hall,” Rob told her.
“Tell me,” she said, “how did Clay do on his first assignment?”
Rob paused a moment, then replied, “Somebody lit the fuse under him like you said, Dulcie. He didn’t blow into little pieces, though. The explosion knocked the worst out of him but left behind something fine and unselfish.”
“I’m so glad I could cry!” the girl blurted.
“Here he is now,” Rob said. “I’ll let him tell you himself.”
Clay took the mike from Rob. Rob watched in admiration as Clay modestly told her the whole story, minimizing his own glory. Clay might be the last of the male Gerards, he thought, but he would certainly not be forgotten. As long as men had breath to speak, they would talk about the real hero of Operation Big Boy—and how he almost came to miss the trip altogether.
THE GHOST SHIP OF SPACE
Rock Merrill looked interestedly at the man who had introduced himself as Tony Kalmus. He had told the young former cadet that he had come all the way from Earth to see him.