The War God, riding in a slightly different orbit, had been gradually closing on them until she could be seen as a ‘star’ by naked eye — a variable star that winked out and flared up every sixteen seconds. Through the Stone’s coelostat the cause could easily be seen; the War God was tumbling end over end, performing one full revolution every thirty-two seconds to provide centrifugal ‘artificial gravity’ to coddle the tender stomachs of her groundhog passengers. Each half revolution the Sun’s rays struck her polished skin at the proper angle to flash a dazzling gleam at the Stone. Through the ‘scope the reflection was bright enough to hurt the eyes.
The observation turned out to be both ways. A radio message came in; Hazel printed it and handed it with a straight face to her son: ‘WAR GOD TO ROLLING STONE — PVT — ROG OLD BOY, I HAVE YOU IN THE SCOPE. WHAT IN SPACE HAVE YOU GOT ON YOU? FUNGUS? OR SEA WEEDS? YOU LOOK LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. P. VANDENBERGH, MASTER.’
Captain Stone glared at the message stat. ‘Why, that fat Dutchman’! I’ll “fungus” him. Here, Mother, send this: “Master to Master — private message: In that drunken tumbling pigeon how do you keep your eye to a scope? Do you enjoy playing nursemaid to a litter of groundhogs? No doubt the dowagers fight over a chance to eat at the captain’s table. Fun, I’ll bet. R. Stone, Master”.’
The answer came back: ‘ROGER DODGER YOU OLD CODGER, I’VE LIMITED MY TABLE TO FEMALE PASSENGERS CIRCA AGE TWENTY SO I CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THEM — PREFERENCE GIVEN TO BLONDES AROUND FIFTY KILOS MASS. COME OVER FOR DINNER. VAN.’
Pollux looked out the port, caught the glint on the War God. ‘Why don’t you take him up, Dad? I’ll bet I could make it across on my suit jet with one spare oxy bottle.’
‘Don’t be silly. We haven’t that much safety line, even at closest approach. Hazel, tell him: “Thanks a million but I’ve got the prettiest little girl in the system cooking for me right now.”‘
Meade said, ‘Me, Daddy? I thought you didn’t like my cooking?’
‘Don’t give yourself airs, snub nose. I mean your mother, of course.’
Meade considered this. ‘But I look like her, don’t I?’
‘Some. Send it, Hazel.’
‘RIGHT YOU ARE! MY RESPECTS TO EDITH. ‘TRUTHFULLY, WHAT IS THAT STUFF? SHALL I SEND OVER WEEDKILLER, OR BARNACLE REMOVER? OR COULD WE BEAT IT TO DEATH WITH A STICK?’
‘Why not tell him, Dad?’ Castor inquired
‘Very well, I will, send: “Bicycles: want to buy one?”‘
To their surprise Captain Vandenbergh answered:
‘MAYBE. GOT A RALEIGH “SANDMAN”?’
‘Tell him, “Yes!”,’ Pollux put in. ‘A-number-one condition and brand-new tires. A bargain.’
‘Slow up there,’ his father interrupted. ‘I’ve seen your load. If you’ve got a bike in first-class condition, Raleigh or any other make, you’ve got it well hidden.’
‘Aw, Dad, it will be — by the time we deliver.’
‘What do you suppose he wants a bicycle for, dear?’ Dr Stone asked. ‘Prospecting? Surely not.’
‘Probably just sightseeing. All right, Hazel, you can send it — but mind you, boys, I’ll inspect that vehicle — myself; Van trusts me.’
Hazel pushed herself away from the rig. ‘Let the boys tell their own whoppers. I’m getting bored with this chit-chat.’
Castor took over at the key, started to dicker. The passenger skipper, it developed, really was willing to buy a bicycle. After a leisurely while they settled on a price well under Castor’s asking price, attractively under the usual prices on Mars, but profitably over what the boys had paid on Luna — this for delivery F.O.B. Phobos, circum Mars.
Roger Stone exchanged affectionate insults and gossip with his friend from time to time over the next several days. During the following week the War God came within phone range, but the conversations dropped off and stopped; they had exhausted topics of conversation. The War God had made her closest approach and was pulling away again; they did not hear from her for more than three weeks.
The call was taken by Meade. She hurried aft to the hold where her father was helping the twins spray enamel on reconditioned bicycles. ‘Daddy, you’re wanted on the phone? War God, master to master — official.’