‘Not mathematical,’ objected Pollux.
Castor nodded. ‘Just poetry.’
‘And not very good poetry.’
‘Shut up!’ ordered their father. ‘Boys, it’s quite evident that you have gone to considerable trouble to change the subject. Why?’
The twins swapped glances; Castor got the go-ahead. ‘Uh, Dad, the way we see it, this Venus proposition hasn’t been thought out’
‘Go on. I suppose you have an alternative suggestion?’
‘Well, yes. But we didn’t mean to bring it up until after Venus departure.’
‘I begin to whiff something. What you mean is that you intended to wait until the planetary aspects were wrong — too late to shape orbit for Venus.’
‘Well, there was no use in letting the matter get cluttered up with a side issue.’
‘What matter? Speak up.’
Castor said worriedly, ‘Look, Dad, we aren’t unreasonable. We can compromise. How about this: you and Mother and Buster and Meade go to Venus in the War God. Captain Van would love to have you do it — you know that. And —’
‘Slow up. And what would you be doing? And Hazel? Mother, are you in on this?’
‘Not that I know of. But I’m getting interested.’
‘Castor, what’s on your mind? Speak up.’
Well, I will if you’ll just let me, sir. You and the rest of the family could have a pleasant trip back home — in a luxury liner. Hazel and Pol and I — well, I suppose you know that Mars will be in a favorable position for the Hallelujah Node in about six weeks?’
‘For a cometary-type orbit, that is,’ Pollux added.
‘So it’s the Asteroids again,’ their father said slowly. ‘We settled that about a year ago.’
‘But we’re a year older now.’
‘More experienced.’
‘You’re still not old enough for unlimited licenses. I suppose that is why you included your grandmother.’
‘Oh, no! Hazel is an asset.’
‘Thank you, boys.’
‘Hazel, you had no inkling of this latest wild scheme?’
‘No. But I don’t think it’s so wild. I’m caught up and then some on my episodes — and I’m tired of this place. I’ve seen the Martian ruins; they’re in a poor state of repair. I’ve seen a canal; it has water in it. I understand that the rest of the planet is much the same, right through to chapter eighty-eight. And I’ve seen Venus. I’ve never seen the Asteroids.’
‘Right!’ agreed Castor. ‘We don’t like Mars. The place is one big clip joint’
‘Sharp operators,’ added Pollux.
‘Sharper than you are, you mean,’ said Hazel.
‘Never mind, Mother. Boys, it is out of the question. I brought my ship out from Luna; I intend to take her back.’ He stood up. ‘You can give Mr d’Avril notice, dear.’
‘Dad!”
‘Yes, Castor?’
‘That was just a compromise offer. What we really hoped you would do — what we wanted you to do — was for all of us to go out to the Hallelujah.’
‘Eh? Why, that’s silly! I’m no meteor miner.’
‘You could learn to be. Or you could just go for the ride. And make a profit on it, too.’
‘Yes? How?’
Castor wet his lips. ‘The sand rats are offering fabulous prices just for cold-sleep space. We could carry about twenty of them at least And we could put them down on Ceres on the way, let them outfit there’.
‘Cas! I suppose you are aware that only seven out of ten cold-sleep passengers arrive alive in a long orbit?’
‘Well… they know that. That’s the risk they are taking.’
Roger Stone shook his head. ‘We aren’t going, so I won’t have to find out if you are as cold-blooded as you sound. Have you ever seen a burial in space?’
‘No, sir.’
‘I have. Let’s hear no more about cold-sleep freight.’
Castor passed it to Pollux, who took over: ‘Dad, if you won’t listen to us all going, do you have any objections to Cas and me going?’
‘Eh? How do you mean?’
‘As Asteroid miners, of course. We’re not afraid of cold-sleep. If we haven’t got a ship, that’s how we would have to go.’
‘Bravo!’ said Hazel. ‘I’m going with you, boys.’
‘Please, Mother!’ He turned to his wife. ‘Edith, I sometimes wonder if we brought the right twins back from the hospital.’