"Well, you were busy. I had to do something." "You seem to do all right. They're both rather special." "Know them?" "Only by nodding acquaintance." "Well, any time you have time to spare for Cliff Lane, just let me know and I'll toss 'em overboard and come running." "And in the meantime?" "And in the meantime, I'm not going to rot." The dance swung into the finish, which left them both breathing hard. Lane escorted Patricia back to the table, where Downing sat silent. As they came up, a third man approached. Lane seated Patricia and then greeted the new-comer. "Hi, Billy. Lucky, we've got a girl for you, too." Thompson breathed out. "Oh," he said surveying the situation. Both situations looked him over and smiled. "Lenore, and Karen, this is Billy Thompson. He's in division." "Which division?" asked Lenore. "Subdivision," grinned Thompson. "I'm the guy they got to comb these guys out of each other's hair." "Poor man," sympathized Karen. "You gals match for him," laughed Cliff. He tossed a coin. "Heads!" called Lenore. "You lose--take him," chuckled Lane. Lenore put her arm through Thompson's. "Nope," she said brightly, "I win." The spotlight hit the table. "We might as well finish this," laughed the announcer. "I present the referee ... pardon me, folks, I mean the top man of the Terran sector; Flight Commander Billy Thompson!" The music started, and all three couples went to dance to a medley of Strauss' waltzes. IV. "It was all sort of whirligig, like," explained Patricia. "We didn't get home until along toward the not-so-wee large hours of the morning." "I know," responded her father dryly. "The whole gang of you were raiding the icebox at five." "The rest of them left shortly afterward." "All of them?" "No, Stellor outsat them and lingered to say goodnight." "What do you think of Stellor?" "I've always thought highly of Stellor. He's got everything. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it." "And Cliff Lane?" "Cliff is strictly on the impulse." "I wouldn't say that," objected her father. "After all, both of them got where they are because of their ability." "Well, Cliff gives the impression that he just thought of it." "Of what?" "Of whatever he was going to do next." "A good thing nobody ever asked you to decide between them." "It would be difficult." "Well, it won't be necessary. They're leaving after the next change of watch." "So soon?" "The Little Man gave the impression that all of us were fighting for time." "I see. You do believe that this is important?" "I can see no other reason for it." "Um-m-m. Well, I'll be down to see them off." "All of us will." "I was worried, last night. I could see a beautiful shindy in the offing." "And it didn't get bad at all?"