"You can say that again! Back home, we just put the food in the gadget, press the button, and whammo. This stuff is practically _primitive_." "Say, did you see the face on that Captain Lester when he tasted that strawberry cake of mine?" "Gee, he's cute. If I was running this thing, I'd make it a law that nice-looking guys like him get Earthbound jobs--" "That photography business was something. I haven't been snapped so much since that Shutterbug show in Chicago--" "Hey, Janie, what happened to your second-looie? I didn't see him around all day. What'd you do to him last night?" "No, we couldn't get inside the hangar, but we saw enough. Honest, that spaceship is a _dream_. It's so _white_, I mean, just like that sheath dress I packed--" "Say, when do we get a chance to wear some decent _clothes_, for Pete's sake? I'm sick of these damn shorts and halters--" "Settle down, dear. Wednesday's the big day--" "God, I'm tired! I don't know if I'll ever survive that endurance test tomorrow, whatever _that_ is--" "Lights out at nine tonight, girls--" "I'd give fifty bucks for some food right now. I'd even eat something I made myself." "Who wants to be Miss Outer Space anyway--" * * * * * Second Lieutenant Hartwig set his shoulders squarely as he faced the ranks of women. "The exercises will be held at the Spaceport Play Area," he said crisply. "That's not quite four miles from here. The tests will last about two hours, so if we make good time we can be back here before three." "What about lunch?" asked a small voice. "We'll get our lunch at the Play Area. It won't be anything much, sandwiches mostly. As I say, we must be back here at three, so you ladies can take your outer-space question period. That's the last phase of the contest, except for Show Night tomorrow, of course." "How do we get there?" asked the redhead, in the front rank. "We walk," the lieutenant said grimly. "_Walk?_" A chorus of disapproval came from the girls, mixed with some resigned groans. "That's right," said the lieutenant. "It's not as far as you think, and there'll be field wagons for those who are too tired to walk back after the tests. I needn't tell you," he added, "that walking back might count against your score. But it's your privilege." "Nice guy," said the redhead bitterly, out of the side of her mouth. The blonde, Janie, who had dated him on their first night, looked hurt. "He _seemed_ nice," she said. "He was so sweet about things--" "Let's cut out the chatter," said the young officer. "Pretend you're in the Army now, girls. No talking in ranks, and let's have some semblance of marching order." "My feet hurt already," said Maria. "This stinks," said the redhead tersely. "I knew I should have quit yesterday--" "Not me," said Cleveland. "I got this far. They won't bully me out of it now!" * * * * *