Major Holt spoke suddenly. The austerity had gone out of his manner with his energy. He said quietly: "You four--you gave me the worst scare I've ever had in my life. But do you realize that that sabotage attempt with the two truck-loads of explosive--do you realize that they'd have gotten the Platform if it hadn't been for that crazy trick you four planned, and the precautions we took because of it?"
Joe said depreciatingly: "It was just luck that they happened to pick the same time, and that Haney was up there with those machine-gunners at the right moment. It was good luck, but it was luck."
The Major said effortfully: "There are people called accident prones. Accidents happen all around them, and nobody knows why. You four--perhaps Joe especially--are not accident prones. You seem to be something antithetic to accidents. I would hesitate to credit your usefulness to your brains. Especially Joe's brains. I have known him too long. But--ah--Washington does not look at it in exactly the same way."
Sally touched Joe warningly. But her face was very bright and proud. Joe felt queer.
"Joe," said the Major tiredly, "was an alternate for membership in the Platform's crew. But for penicillin, or something of the sort that made a sick man get well quickly, Joe would be up there in the Platform's orbit now. His--ah--record in the instruction he did take was satisfactory. And--ah--all four of you were very useful in the last stages of the building of the Platform. Again Joe especially. His--ah--co-operation with higher authorities has produced--ah--very favorable comments. So it is felt that he should have some recognition. All of you, of course, but Joe especially. So----"
"Joe," said the Major, "is to be offered an appointment as skipper of a ferry rocket, carrying supplies and crew reliefs to the Platform. His rocket will carry a crew of four, including himself. His--ah--recommendations for membership in his crew will have considerable weight."
There was a buzzing in Joe's ears. He wanted to cry and to dance, and especially right then he would have liked very much to kiss Sally. It would have been the only really appropriate way to express his emotions.
Mike said in a fierce, strained voice: "Joe! I can do anything a big elephant of a guy can do, and I only use a quarter of the grub and air! You've got to take me, Joe! You've got to!"