A chill of apprehension wormed its way up his back again, and he knew it wasn’t caused by the air-conditioning system. He sought out the food counter and began crossing the noisy room. Here, as outside, everyone seemed to be in a hurry. There was a more playful, relaxed atmosphere here, but there was still the feeling that everything had to be done fast or not at all. He was walking toward the food counter when the voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Ted! Ted Baker!”
He whirled rapidly, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar faces milling around the counter. Now who...?
“Over here, boy. Here!”
Ted’s eyebrows climbed onto his forehead, and his teeth showed in a wide grin. “Jack! Well, for crying out loud. What...”
“Come on over, boy,” Jack called. Ted gestured impatiently, surprise and happiness mingled on his face. He shouldered his way through the crowd, nimbly dodging balanced trays and hurrying figures. He reached the food counter at last, smiled happily and held out an eager hand.
“Boy, this is a surprise,” he said, pumping Jack’s free hand. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m going up to the Space Station,” Jack replied. He held his tray balanced on his left hand as he moved along the counter. He was slightly taller than Ted, a little broader across the chest and shoulders. His arms were heavy and muscular, curling with red hair that matched the naming crest atop his head. His gray eyes were set on either side of a freckle-spattered nose, and he had full lips that tilted impishly. “You want something to eat?” he asked.
“No, no.” Ted said. “Boy, it’s good to see you.”
He moved alongside Jack as the other boy made his way down the counter, picking up a large slab of chocolate cake and a glass of milk. He was really happy to have found Jack among all these strangers, and he kept smiling as he watched Jack pay the cashier. Jack joined him, and they crossed the room, finding an unoccupied table in a far corner.
Jack put his tray down and pulled up a chair. “There,” he said.
Ted sat opposite him, pulling his chair close to the table. “You know,” he said, “I guess I didn’t hear you right. You didn’t say you were going up to the Station, did you?”
Jack sliced a large piece of cake, scooped it onto his fork, and stuffed it into his mouth. “Yep.”
“But how come? You’ve already been there. I mean, you were graduated from the Academy last year, weren’t you?”
Jack shoveled another piece of cake into his mouth. “Yep.”
Ted tried again. “Does your speciality involve further training at the Station?”
“Nope.”
Ted scratched his jaw and sighed, cocking one eyebrow. “I guess you’re not feeling very talkative.”
A smile tilted the corners of Jack’s mouth, and his gray eyes narrowed. Somehow, Ted didn’t like the smile. It was more like a superior smirk, a condescending pat on the head for a curious little boy. The smile troubled him, but he tried to tell himself he was wrong. After all, he’d known Jack quite well at the Academy, even though the older boy had been a term ahead of him.
“Is it some kind of secret?” he asked. “Your going up there, I mean?”
“I suppose I can tell you,” Jack said, shrugging his broad shoulders. He picked up the glass of milk and half drained it. Ted watched, then fidgeted uncomfortably as he waited for Jack to begin. Instead, Jack turned to the chocolate cake again, seemingly fascinated by it.
Ted let out an exasperated sigh. “Look, Jack,” he began, “if you’re going to tell me, then I wish...”
“I’m going to the Moon,” Jack interrupted calmly.
Ted stopped speaking abruptly as the full impact of Jack’s words hit him. He clamped his jaws shut, and his eyes opened wide. When speech returned, he could only manage a stammering “Wh-wh-what?”
Jack smiled his superior smile again, and shoved the cake plate away from him. “You heard me.”
“The Moon, you said?”
“The Moon.” Jack nodded calmly.
Ted leaned across the table, lowering his voice as if he were discussing a military secret. “The Moon? Our satellite?”
“How many moons are there?” Jack asked.
Ted studied Jack’s face for a moment, and then leaned back in his chair. He waved an open palm at Jack and said, “You’re kidding me.”
“All right,” Jack said, shrugging, “I’m kidding you.”
“No one’s ever been to the Moon,” Ted insisted, as if trying to convince himself.
“I know.”
The noises in the background seemed to have faded, and Ted had the strange feeling that he and Jack were sitting alone in a large vacuum, and that he was the butt of some strange joke.
“Are you really going to the Moon, Jack? Is this on the level?”
Jack’s face turned serious for a moment. “I’m not kidding, Ted. I’m going up to the Station, and a rocket to Luna is waiting there.”
Ted spread his hands wide in helpless wonder. “Why, that’s terrific! Jack, that’s wonderful! You, going to the Moon, why...” He cut himself short and asked, “You’re not going alone, are you?”
“Heck, no,” Jack said, chuckling. “There’ll be five of us, all told.”
“But why you? I mean, the first trip to the Moon. I should think...”
“Well,” Jack said, “there are several good reasons for my going along.”
“Let’s hear them.” Ted leaned forward excitedly. “Brother, you must be in seventh heaven. I can hardly sit still.”
“I’ve gotten used to the idea by now.”
“How can you ever get used to that idea?” Ted said. “It’s a wonder you aren’t turning cart wheels. But how come you’re...”
“I started to explain,” Jack interrupted. “My marks at the Academy were pretty high, you know.”
“Sure, I know.”
“In fact, I placed highest in the graduating class. That’s what finally swung the deal, I suppose.”
“Well, that’s wonderful.”
“Don’t get the idea that I’m just going along for the ride,” Jack said quickly. “The Air Force figured an Academy man would be valuable on the expedition. All those courses in navigation, engineering, geology...”
“Sure,” Ted agreed. “I can see where they’d come in handy.”
“The idea is for me to be a sort of pinch hitter,” Jack went on. “If anything goes wrong with any member of the crew, I’ll be able to take his place. Except the doctor, of course.”
Ted nodded wordlessly. His eyes were shining and he couldn’t keep the smile off his lips. He wanted to slap Jack on the back and congratulate him for his good fortune, carry him around the room on his shoulders.
“Then, too, there’s the strictly commercial angle,” Jack said. “The gimmick.”
“How do you mean?”
“Simple,” Jack said. “Nobody gives you anything for nothing. If this trip to the Moon is successful, just about every guy and his brother will want to join the Academy — especially if an Academy grad is one of the first men to land on the Moon. Don’t forget, Ted, we’re going to need a lot of spacemen if this trip is successful. This may be the gateway to interplanetary flight.”