“Thanks,” Chris said, and meant it. He _did_ understand. “I’ll take you up on that one of these days. Right now--Look, how about turning that around? It wouldn’t be as uncomfortable as camping out, I’m afraid, but at least it’s _different_. Changed a lot since your time, too, Johnny--You ever been up, Lee?” She shook her head. She could feel the pinkness of her cheeks, and her own quickened breathing. She tried to see Johnny’s face, but he moved back a step into the shadow. She couldn’t even tell if her own feeling was more excitement or apprehension. “We’ll think it over,” Johnny said. “Might be an idea.” His tone was completely flat. “You understand,” Chris said, “This has nothing to do with what we discussed? I’m talking about just a visit.” “Carfare’s pretty high, isn’t it?” “It’s on the company. The boss has some privileges.” “Well, we’ll think it over.” And this time, she thought, he really _meant_ it. He _would_ think about it. _What did Chris say to him? What did it?_ * * * * * They stood outside together, and watched the heli lift. Johnny switched off the landing lights, and the Moon jumped out of the background and hung like a lantern right over the patio wall. Lisa stared up with a new fascination. After a while she became aware of Johnny’s eyes watching her, with mixed amusement and tenderness. She moved closer to him. And broke the spell. “Nice to see Chris,” he said abstractedly. “Maybe we ought to take him up on that some time--if you want to, I mean. But I--well, Hell, I wish he’d picked some other time to come. I was only half here tonight. Look, babe, you mind if I sit up some? Got a little work I’ve been thinking about--design stuff. I was working on while you were in town today.” _Mind?_ “Go ahead,” she said, and made a face at him. “At least I’ll be able to finish that book of mine without giving you bad dreams.” _Mind?_ She watched him till he disappeared through the kitchen door, reading the angularity of his shoulders, the swinging of his hands, the forward thrust of his head, and delighting in what she read. _We should see more people_, she thought. But Chris was special. She got ready for bed slowly, and lay there a long time, with the book open in front of her, but not really reading. _What a day!_ The dance session--Kutler--Christensen--and maybe even a trip to the Moon! And on top of it all, Johnny working again. After a while, a sentence caught her attention, and she began reading. It was after two when she finished the book, and turned out the light. She fell asleep almost instantly, and dreamed of cute little fat viruses, teaching her telepathy, so that she didn’t have to wait for her baby to talk before she could communicate with it. Her baby.... _Dollars Dome--10:30_ P.M. _(C.S.T.)_ Her name was Rita. She stood immobile behind the high counter, head bent in a posture of reverie--almost of prayer--to the microscope eyepiece.