"But your heroism, finding us, losing your ship—surely they'll make it permanent."
"Wendy, they'll want my head for all that. I ... I've tried to think that way myself, but I can't. I do believe, in the far future the name Welnicki will be honored by what I have done, but now—when Captain Kravitz comes—I have no right—"
"Every man has a right to happiness, Stevie. What if you married anyway?"
"Cashiered, automatically. Ten generations of Welnickis have given their lives to the Patrol with not one dishonorable action—"
"Stevie, you make me furious! How can marriage be dishonorable? We'll keep it secret and you can command the base here until you make commander. It's all so simple, really."
"I need to think," he said sadly. She laid her dark head on his shoulder and cried.
He thought: make her happy ... secret ... impassioned speech before the admirals ... galaxy to fill ... creative imagination confirms me now, gentlemen, time will vindicate me ... so tearfully anxious ... in for a copper, in for a solar ... make her happy....
"Wendy," he said in a low, halting voice, "let's do get married."
"Oh yes, Stevie! Yes, yes, yes!" She melted into his arms.
The crimson sun dropped below the sea rim and the sky faded to somber red. They walked back hand in hand, the president chattering gaily, the ambassador plenipotentiary oppressed under the cumulative enormity of his command decisions.