Bert nodded, his brow furrowed with a frown. "He mentioned getting together for a few drinks to celebrate the Deimos contract I'm going after tomorrow...."
"I guess I did spoil things, Miles." Carol flushed and looked at Berendt.
Miles shrugged. "No harm done, honey. Bert," he looked up at Tanner. "What Carol is trying to say is that we were planning on a few drinks to celebrate not only the Deimos contract, but also our engagement."
"Engagement!" The word left Bert's lips in a stunned gasp.
Carol nodded smiling and moved away from the desk with a lithe movement to stand before Bert. "That's right, Bert. We wanted you to be the first to know. Miles and I are going to be married as soon as we sign the Waring contract on Deimos. Miles wanted to have the wedding here on Earth, but like most women I've decided on an interplanetary wedding! You won't mind us going in the Viking in your place?"
The glance that Tanner threw at Miles Berendt was one of venom. Miles felt the whiplash of accusation that welled from Bert's eyes, from his darkening face, the clenching tight muscles around his lips.
"A few minutes before Carol came in you said that perhaps I wasn't up to the Deimos trip. What's the matter, Miles, didn't you have the guts to come out and say you planned on going, and why?"
Miles tried to keep his voice pleasant. "You're wrong, Bert. I meant to tell you tonight that Carol and I wanted to go in your place. What I said earlier was prompted by other reasons. I'm more than sure I was right about them now."
Bert laughed harshly, turned to Carol. "Miles suggested that I ought to see Doctor Lenning. While everybody seems to think congratulations are in order my partner infers I'm ready for a medic check-out. Bert Tanner, ready for the Lenning sanitorium on Venus. Where all space-happy company employees ease their tortured minds. A good place too for an unwelcome partner."
Carol's face showed shocked astonishment. "Bert! Have you gone insane—the things you're saying—"