"Honestly, you could give me _two minutes_ at the mirror! Just two lousy minutes--" "Just keep your eyes off that Hartwig fellow, Cleveland. It looks just a little too obvious--" "Maria, would you _please_ get your big--" "Say, did you ever hear such a racket--" "Those are _my_ slippers, you dope! Can't you recognize the difference between a canal boat and a--" "God, I'm so nervous I could die--" "But honey, you look absolutely _ravishing_! I wish I could look _half_ as good--" "Come on! Come on! They're calling us--" Captain Johannson stepped to the front of the stage. "Ladies," he said gravely, "before I tell you the judges' decision, I have a rather important announcement to make." The audience murmured, and then became still. "When you first arrived at the Omaha Spaceport, I told you that none of you here would leave without some sort of reward. I meant that sincerely, and you'll find that I was telling the truth. But I have a different kind of prize to offer you ladies now, and I hope you'll pay careful attention as I describe it to you." The audience stirred again. "This has been a rather curious affair for all concerned," the captain continued. "On the surface, the Miss Outer Space contest may have seemed like a rather spectacular publicity stunt. It is certainly that. But we had another intention in staging this competition--a far more important intention, and one we have not revealed until this moment." * * * * * He looked directly at the women. "Did you look up at the stars tonight?" he asked them. "It's a fine, clear night, and if you did, you may have seen the planet which is the core of the work of the Omaha Spaceport--the planet Mars. There are people on that planet now, people from Earth. They're all men--young men. The finest that the planet Earth can boast. "These young men are performing some of the most important duties ever assigned to young men in the world's history. They are settling a new world for us--a brand-new planet, rich in mystery, danger, and untold wealth. They are living hard lives, and often short ones, to pioneer this new frontier. One of these days--perhaps many generations from now--our world will fall on its knees and thank God for the duty and the spirit which moved these young men to undertake this hazardous and lonely mission. Someday, an overcrowded and worn-out Earth will sanctify them for building a new home for the human race. "You've seen some of these young men on your visit to this spaceport. They are typical of the men on Mars today--vigorous, intelligent, competent young men, well-versed in the sciences and the humanities. Take a good look at them. It may be the last time you will ever see them, for when the orders arrive that will take them to Mars, they shall not return again. This is a lifetime assignment.