Then Bert grinned. "Jeff, there's been a slight change in plans for blastoff at dawn. Miles and Carol are going to Deimos in the Viking. Sort of a wedding trip before nuptials. The ship all set for an extra passenger?"
Jeff nodded. "Certainly, Mr. Tanner. Miss Grant will find everything in order. But I thought you—"
Bert laughed again. "Oh, I'm not bowing out—afterall, the bride and groom have to have a best man, even on Deimos. That's me. I'll take the Space Queen II."
Carol smiled in delight. "That's a wonderful idea, isn't it, Miles?"
Miles nodded. "That would be a fine thing, Bert." He turned to Jeff. "But is the Space Queen ready for flight?"
Jeff shrugged. "Nothing to do but set the auto-pilot. An hour's work, adding final fuel supplies. I can take care of it ok."
"Then it's decided!" Carol brightened. "Bert will be best man at our wedding on Deimos! Let's have another toast!"
They toasted. And Bert felt smugly giddy. It was perfect. The fools! With Jeff here, and everything sweetness and light, the Viking's blowup would be nothing but an accident, an unexplainable accident. Bert Tanner would be in mourning for his two closest friends, and Jeff would feel a lasting guilt that somehow he had been responsible. Perfect.... And Bert felt a desire to get gloriously drunk. He walked over to the portable bar and made himself a healthy drink.
"Watch it, Bert, you'll have quite a hangover by the time you blastoff!" Carol chided him.