“Work this switch and see if it blinks.”
He did so. “It’s ours all right.”
“Will you land us, Perry?”
“Why, yes, if you wish.”
“I want you to.”
He set them gently down. A few moments later Captain Kidd was telling them in blasphemous terms what he thought of people who stayed away all day. There seemed to be some mention of inconsiderate, something about no sense of responsibility and a distinct intention of writing to the Times. Diana hastily procured a saucer of milk and one of sardines. He accepted her apology—tentatively.
When Perry came out of the refresher, he found Diana at the food preparer, her hands fairly flying about the place. He called to her.
“Dian’.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve still got your sandals on.”
She glanced down and smiled. “So I have. Your supper will be ready the sooner.” She placed a few more items on the tray. “Here, set it up.” She dived into her refresher and returned in less than five minutes, sandal-less, her hair fluffed out and her body glowing from a quick shower. She slid into her seat. “All ready? Get set. Go!” They ate like starved children for a few minutes. Then their eyes met and they both laughed without knowing why. They finished more slowly and Perry chucked the dishes in the fire. He returned and sat down beside her. The evening passed without much talk. They sat and watched the fire and listened to the music Diana had selected. She read some poetry to him. After that he asked her if she had anything by Rudyard Kipling and she produced a thin volume of his verses. He found what he sought and read aloud The Mary Gloster. Then he kissed a cheek wet with tears and made it damper with his own. A long time later she smothered a yawn. He smiled and spoke. “I’m sleepy, too, but I don’t want to go away and leave you.”
She looked at him, round eyed and serious.
“You needn’t leave me, unless you wish.”
“But—See here, darling, I want to marry you, but I don’t want to rush you into anything you might regret.”
“Regret? I don’t understand you. But as far as I am concerned we are married now, if you wish it so.”
“I suppose we could run out tomorrow and have the ceremony performed.”
“There is no need. These things are in the private sphere. Oh, don’t make it complicated.” She began to cry.
He hesitated for a moment, then picked her up in his arms and laid her on the widest part of the couch. Then he lay down beside her. A coal in the fire cracked and firelight flickered about the room.
VI
Perry pressed back on the control stick and his plane shot higher and higher. He had to fly high because the Princess, his passenger, lived back of the Moon. He struck a bank of keys and plumes of fire shot from the tail of his plane and the plane climbed and climbed. He felt a swelling in joy within him at his own skill and the power of his plane and the warm beautiful knowledge that the Princess loved him and rode beside him. The Princess smiled and reached out a graceful little hand and caressed his face. Her face grew closer to his. The plane and the Moon faded away but the face of the Princess was still close beside him.
“Awake, darling?” Her head was on the thick of his arm and her hand rested softly on his cheek. He blinked. His eyes blurred and crossed. He blinked again and she came back into focus.
“Awake? Oh, I guess so. Almost, anyhow. Good morning, beautiful. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
When their lips parted, he spoke again. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you love me? How did I find you? Why was I singled out for this end? Who am I to claim your love? Why are you so wonderful and beautiful and why do you love me?”
She laughed and hugged him. “I can’t answer any but the last. I’m not wonderful. I’m a very ordinary human woman with a lot of failings. I’m vain and I’m lazy and sometimes I’m bad tempered and cross. I’m beautiful because you think I am. And I want you to tell me that I’m wonderful and beautiful every morning of my life.”