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EPILOGUE

Rex Ravelle came into the Schirra’s lounge and shook hands energetically.

“I heard you were back, Guy. Congratulations. Three days! How did you ever do it?”

“It wasn’t easy,” Guy Thomas said with an air of self deprecation.

Happy Harrison came in with the coffee the passenger had requested. He took in the conversation, wide-eyed. Oh, Happy was going to be the center of conversation at the crew’s mess tonight.

The second officer said, fascinated, “Listen, did any of them try to grab you for a husband?”

Guy nodded.

“Well, how’d you escape?”

“I had an armed guard.”

Rex Ravelle made a whistling sound. “Had to fight ’em off, eh? Listen, did you see this Hippolyte mopsy?”

Guy Thomas’ voice went confidential. “You’ll never believe this. I didn’t myself, but I was taken to see her in a throne room as big as a football stadium. The pillars were gold and the mosaics were made of jewels. There must have been two thousand armed guards and attendants.”

“All women, hey?” Happy Harrison said, eyes bugging still.

“Of course,” Guy told him. “I was the only man there. They let me know the Hippolyte didn’t like men around, always giggling and chattering.”

Rex shook his head. “The men must be really something.”

Guy said, “You should have met one named Podner Bates.”

Rex Ravelle said, half as though in envy, “Imagine all that happening to a quiet little guy like you.”

Captain Buchwald had come in behind his second officer. He said, “We’ll be underway in half an hour. Tell me, Citizen Thomas, how did Patricia O’Gara make out? I have been somewhat worried about that idealistic young lady.”

“Oh, she loves it there,” Guy said, very sincerely. “The last time I saw her, she was having a run-in with a whole group of men.”

The Captain shook his head ruefully. “I suppose it is the environment. She seemed such a nice girl.” MNQ/2008.03.25 55,200 words Quite simply, this was the worst dead tree typesetting that I’ve ever seen. If there’s any satisfaction at all to be derived from this release it’s that for the first time in at least 40 years, this book has been thoroughly proofread and corrected. Enjoy.