Nuoy almost fell out of his chair at the words. He had expected argument, hedging, perhaps compromise. In the world he knew, men told lies to each other, then told other lies to get out of the first ones they had told. As golden as Captain Martin's statement was, Nuoy had thought it was a lie, that there was a catch in it somewhere. He had expected the captain to try to lie out of it. He hardly knew what to do when the captain did not try to lie.
"I would like to see your proof," Nuoy finally spoke.
"You're looking at some of it," Captain Martin answered.
"Eh? You? What kind of proof is that?"
"If you will check the records, you will discover that I was 32 years old when the Andromeda left the Solar System. I am now 52 years of age. If you doubt what your own eyes tell you about my physical condition, I suggest you have your doctors examine me."
"They have worked on you. They have made you immortal?"
"They have worked on the whole crew."
"They did?" Nuoy gasped. "How much did they charge?"
"Nothing," Captain Martin answered.
"What? No charge?" Nuoy sounded as if he did not believe his ears.