“What have we got here—a tea party?” he blurted.
“No, a private discussion,” Rock answered evenly, trying to control his temper.
“Three of you are supposed to be on duty,” Mugger went on. “You fellows think you’re on a vacation or something?”
“We were only doing routine work in the solar mirror relay.” Hugh spoke for Ed, Leo Avery, and himself, who were the three Mugger had been talking about. “We’ve only been here a few minutes.”
“What do you think would happen to the station if I took off any time I wanted to?” he demanded, drawing his short body up to its full height.
Getting no reply, Mugger ranted on. “I’ve stood just about all I’m going to from you guys! The next time one of you goofs off I’m going to have you sent back so fast Earthward your heads will buzz!”
He glared at each of them in turn.
Shep stepped forward, a full half head taller than the little man, his face reddening from the fury mounting in him. “I don’t know about the others, Mr. Mugger, but I’m fed up with this station and you too!”
Mugger’s jaw muscles twitched and his eyes flashed. “Do all of you feel this way?” he snapped.
The others hesitated. It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to cut oneself off from his job 25,000 miles above Earth and with no other work in sight, but neither could a fellow let his buddy stand alone in something on which all of them were in sympathy. Rock made the first move.