"Do you? I don't think so." She squirmed closer and put her arms around him "That's what's so funny. There's no food here and nothing to cook it on. Not only that, there never will be. You've got yourself a prize woman." "I think so too. I'm satisfied," he said. "Can't you feel my arms around you?" She would never be able to convince him that she could. 15 Now that Cameron was gone there was much more to be done in the hospital. Jeriann rushed to get through but small errors plagued her, nullifying a good part of her work. Finally she forced herself to be more careful, checking the biologicals with extreme caution. "I hear," said Maureen, sauntering in, "the nuptials were informal, catch as catch can." "No ceremony," said Jeriann. "We stopped in and registered and went on to my place." "What's the difference as long as you're sure of him," said Maureen. "I'm not. I'm sure of me." Maureen looked at her critically. "In your case it's good enough," she said with a trace of envy as she leaned against the machine. "Don't," said Jeriann sharply. "This thing is an art, not a science. The heat of your hand will alter the product." "Well, all right," said Maureen crossly. "If I had something worthwhile to do I wouldn't be so nervous." "I think it can be arranged," said Jeriann, smiling. "How would you like to be a colonist?" "On the next ship? Maybe." "It would be exciting. Also you'd be near Webber." Jeriann made a delicate adjustment. "I haven't made up my mind about him," said Maureen airily. "He's virile though." "He clanks a lot, if that's what you mean." "At least he doesn't pretend he's carrying the world on his shoulders without any----" Maureen stopped. "I guess I shouldn't say that in front of you." "You shouldn't," agreed Jeriann. "Nowhere I'll be apt to hear it. Now why don't you see Jordan about getting on the next ship?" After that the work went smoothly and she soon found she'd completed the day's quota and part of the next. She continued longer until she had tomorrow free. They had the whole day off to do what they liked, if she could persuade him to rest. She was humming when she went out and it was clear evening and there was a beautiful silver fleck in the sky. Only it was not beautiful because it was a ship--and it was not their ship. And neither was it the Star Victory. She'd watched it so often on the scanner that every line of it was etched in her mind. She hurried to gravity center, every step an effort. Why couldn't they have been discovered later? She would have preferred an alien ship, anything to this. Where had it come from? Jordan was waiting at the entrance. "I knew you'd be here. You saw the scout?" It was simple if she had thought about it. The Star Victory was large and carried auxiliary landing craft. "When did it come?" "Less than an hour ago. Go on in. I'll wait for Anti."