It was nearly eight o'clock. I approached the _Pericles_ warily. We were all supposed to meet by the livestock gate. Dozens of people were milling about, some ranchers, some colonizers, bargaining at the last minute over a sheep or a goat or a horse or a cow to replace a dead or sick animal. That some of the men were detectives I did not doubt. I saw Celia close to the entrance with Freddie. We exchanged glances of recognition, but kept widely separated. Solly came up. "I checked with the captain about Dolly and me waiving our right to have a child during the voyage, and taking Freddie with us instead. You were right. He wouldn't buy it." "That was tremendously generous of you even to offer." "But," said Solly, "there's been one cancellation!" Our eyes met. "What's the fare?" I inquired. "Two thousand." Solly looked down for a moment, then threw back his head. "Look, that's still your money, even if you did give it to us. Dolly and I are willing ... would be happy to pay Freddie's fare. And take care of him as our own if you and Celia can't get on." "My son has no future on Earth," I said. "If Celia's willing, I am. Go talk to her." Solly went to Celia. She did not once look in my direction and I was glad. In the end, Freddie went with Solly, and I could tell what the lie was. Solly was going to show Freddie the insides of the wonderful ship. It was a quarter after eight. Only forty-five minutes before take-off. Celia and I were going to be left behind. There didn't seem much reason for further pretense. I took my wife's hand. "Little did we know how important your going-away present would be. Solly used two thousand of it to pay Freddie's fare." Celia shook her head. "He didn't have to do that." "Sweetheart, all we have left is about a hundred and fifty credits." "That may be all _you_ have left," she said proudly, "but that isn't all _we_ have left. If my addition is correct, we have ninety thousand cash credits in my purse, right at this minute!" "What! How do you mean?" Celia put her arm in mine. "I played a dirty trick on you, darling. You signed and I added another zero." "You took out a hundred thousand! No wonder that teller made such a fuss." "Dear, I thought you might have to use a little bribery. I knew Freddie was in trouble, and that was my fault, of course. I'm the villain in his home-life!" She smiled ruefully, then looked at the _Pericles_, her eyes brimming with tears. "But I had no idea they'd try to take him away from us!" My thoughts pulsed wildly. "Look, Celia! We can both get aboard! Give me the money!" I took her purse and ran over to the huddle of colonizers. "I've got ninety-thousand cash credits! Who'll give up his place on the _Pericles_?" The group turned to face me in astonishment. One man came forward. I thought I saw a gun hidden in his sleeve. "Ninety thousand?" "That's right. Who wants it?"