Curtis Delman smiled. "Well, Captain, it's foolhardy for me to plan nearly two years ahead, but I hope so, too." They shook hands. With a steward supporting him on either side, the ancient lawyer climbed carefully down the steps. A spacelines official had thoughtfully provided a chair. He sat down. The usual array of microphones and tele-cameras was grouped around him. Someone appealed for silence. In the hush that followed, only his own persuasive voice was heard. [Illustration] "I have no prepared statement," he said, "but I assume you gentlemen wish to ask me some questions. In that event, I'd just like to stress that I'm not as young as I used to be--or perhaps I should say, _as I hope to be_--and I'd be obliged if you kept them short and to the point." There were about thirty reporters present and among them he recognized several faces that he had seen before. A few would belong to the local network, but most of them were probably attached to one of the Universal syndicates. It was a red-headed youngster who got in the first question; the others were quick to follow. "Is it true, sir, that this will be your fourth visit to Rejuvenal?" "Yes, perfectly true." "Has anyone else been there four times?" "No. To the best of my knowledge, I'm the first person to attempt it. Several others have been at least twice." "Because no one else could afford it?" "I didn't say that. Most people tire of life. I don't." Years of experience had accustomed the lawyer to these interviews. The purring cameras failed to distract him. In fact, he almost relished the buzz of competent confusion around him. "How long does the trip take?" "Two hundred and fifty days out, the same back, and ninety days on the planet." "Don't you find that a tedious journey?" "Long, yes. Tedious, no. Don't forget, one has expectations. Besides, the early trips from Earth to Jupiter took twice as long." "Now they take four days." "No doubt, but that doesn't alter the argument." "Mr. Delman, what is the speed of change?" "You mean the rate at which the burden of years drops from one's shoulders?" "Yes, sir." "Almost exactly one year for every twenty-four hours spent on the planet." "So that, in ninety days, you're ninety years younger?" "Correct." "How old are you now, sir?" * * * * * Delman scratched his head reflectively. The reporters laughed. "That's a difficult question. So far as natural decay is concerned, I think I'm a hundred and fifteen. Of course, my actual life-span has been nearer three hundred and eighty-seven; but please don't credit me with being a Methuselah. I've a long way to go yet." "Is it a fact that the round trip costs five million dollars?" "I'm afraid I can't answer that. It's a condition of the contract that passengers refrain from disclosing the price of their tickets." "It is expensive, though?"