"Of course," said Kevin, and left the white-walled infirmary, grinning from ear to ear.
By the time Teejay arrived, Steve was eating his first solid meal in two days. "Hello," he said. He almost found himself adding, "Captain"—but he checked the impulse just in time.
"McGann tells me you're ready to get to work today."
"That's right."
"Good. That stone worm won't stay in ice indefinitely—not when it lives on the sun-side of Mercury."
"Teejay, I want to—well, I want to thank you for saving my life."
The woman opened her cape, reached inside, took a pack of cigarettes from an inside pocket and puffed on one until it glowed. "Don't thank me," she said coolly. "It really isn't necessary. You're the only extra-zoo man aboard, Stedman, so we needed you. I'd have saved a valuable machine under the same circumstances."
"Well, thanks anyway."
"There's one thing more, Stedman. As far as I'm concerned, you haven't proven yourself yet. So the same conditions apply to our next landing point."
"Where's that?"