“That must be terribly expensive.”
“Yes and no. They ship them in sleep-freeze of course, and a lot of them never revive. But they cut their losses by butchering the dead ones and selling the meat at fancy prices to the colonists. Then the ones that live have calves and eventually it pays off.” He stood up. “Nora, let’s go to bed. It’s sad — but our boy is going to have to make a man’s decision. Give the mutt away, or have him put to sleep.”
“Yes, dear.” She sighed. “I’m coming.”
Nixie was in his usual place at breakfast — lying beside Charlie’s chair, accepting tidbits without calling attention to himself. He had learned long ago the rules of the dining room: no barking, no whining, no begging for food, no paws on laps, else the pets of his pet would make difficulties. Nixie was satisfied. He had learned as a puppy to take the world as it was, cheerful over its good points, patient with its minor shortcomings. Shoes were not to be chewed, people were not to be jumped on, most strangers must be allowed to approach the hOuse (subject, of course, to strict scrutiny and constant alertness) — a few simple rules and everyone was happy. Live and let live.
He was aware that his boy was not happy even this beautiful morning. But he had explored this feeling carefully, touching his boy’s mind with gentle care by means of his canine sense for feelings, and had decided, from his superior maturity, that the mood would wear off. Boys were sometimes sad and a wise dog was resigned to it.
Mr. Vaughn finished his coffee, put his napkin aside. “Well, young man?”
Charlie did not answer. Nixie felt the sadness in Charlie change suddenly to a feeling more aggressive and much stronger but no better. He pricked up his ears and waited.
“Chuck,” his father said, “last night I gave you a choice. Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes, Dad.” Charlie’s voice was very low.
“Eh? Then tell me.”
Charlie looked at the tablecloth. “You and Mother go to Venus. Nixie and I are staying here.”
Nixie could feel anger welling up in the man…felt him control it. “You’re figuring on running away again?”
“No, sir,” Charlie answered stubbornly. “You can sign me over to the state school.”
“Charlie!” It was Charlie’s mother who spoke. Nixie tried to sort out the rush of emotions impinging on him.
“Yes,” his father said at last, “I could use your passage money to pay the state for your first three years or so, and agree to pay your support until you are eighteen. But I shan’t.”
“Huh? Why not, Dad?”
“Because, old-fashioned as it sounds, I am head of this family. I am responsible for it — and not just food, shelter, and clothing, but its total welfare. Until you are old enough to take care of yourself I mean to keep an eye on you. One of the prerogatives which go with my responsibility is deciding where the family shall live. I have a better job offered me on Venus than I could ever hope for here, so I’m going to Venus — and my family goes with me.” He drummed on the table, hesitated. “I think your chances are better on a pioneer planet, too — but, when you are of age, if you think otherwise, I’ll pay your fare back to Earth. But you go with us. Understand?”
Charlie nodded, his face glum.
“Very well. I’m amazed that you apparently care more for that dog than you do for your mother — and myself. But — ”
“It isn’t that, Dad. Nixie needs — ”
“Quiet. I don’t suppose you realize it, but I tried to figure this out — I’m not taking your dog away from you out of meanness. If I could afford it, I’d buy the hound a ticket. But something your mother said last night brought up a third possibility.”
Charlie looked up suddenly, and so did Nixie; wondering why the surge of hope in his boy.
“I can’t buy Nixie a ticket…but it’s possible to ship him as freight.”
“Huh? Why, sure, Dad! Oh, I know he’d have to be caged up — but I’d go down and feed him every day and pet him and tell him it was all right and — “