"Ten of you? What are you talking about? Who is this young whipper-snapper?" "That," said Sam Wilkes conversationally, "is my son. And I'd be careful if I was you, Mister. The last guy who called him names is still pickin' up teeth. Son, I reckon you know what the hell you're talkin' about. But the rest of us don't. So if you'd please explain--?" * * * * * Red Wilkes grinned. He said, "Moira, honey." And Moira entered from the porch. There was a smile on her face and somehow there was a smile in her eyes, too, and Bobby got the strange feeling that if you could see inside her, there'd be a smile in her heart. She looked at Mom, and Mom gave a little gasp, like she could tell just by looking at Moira what Moira meant. Red Wilkes continued to grin. He said, "Colonel, commanders of space vessels have the privilege of marrying folks, haven't they?" "Why--why, yes," said Travers. "Then," said Red mildly, "how'd you like to get out the little black book and start tying knots? Because, you see, Moira has told me she's willing to take a chance." Pop said, "Moira, darling, you're not just doing this because ... because...." "No, Pop. I'm doing it because I want to. Because I love Red and he loves me. It's been that way since the day we met. We--we've been meeting secretly for the past six weeks. We meant to break the news sooner or later. And now seems to be about the best time." "Particularly," pointed out the groom-to-be, "since our marriage turns two families into _one_ family. And I think that will spike your guns, Mr. Wade?" Wade was no longer crimson. He was purple. "You can't do this, Colonel!" he screamed. "It's illegal. Anyway, they won't be truly related. The two families will just be in-laws--" But there was an open, admiring grin on the lips of Lieutenant-Colonel Travers, S.S.P. He said, "Maybe I _can't_ do it, Mr. Wade--but by the Pleiades, I'm going to! And as for the law--according to all decisions I've ever read, in-laws are valid relatives. You're the one who was yelping about the law providing many loopholes for ingenious men. Well, here's a big, juicy loophole. How do you like it?" Wade, howled, "I protest! It's unfair! I refuse to allow--" Red Wilkes looked at his father hopefully. "Shall I, Pop?" he asked. And Sam Wilkes shook his head. "No, son. It ain't fittin'. Not on your wedding day." Which gave Dick an idea. He rose, grimly. "It's not _my_ wedding day!" he said. "Wade--" But somehow Mr. Wade had vanished. Toward the ship. * * * * * Afterward, Colonel Travers lingered to shake hands all around. "I commend you both," he said, "for the fine spirit you have shown; the fine work you've done in making Eros a member of the Solar family. You prove what I have always claimed--that the pioneer spirit in Man is not dead, nor will it ever die so long as there remain new frontiers to conquer.