“Jack Talbot. I… I wanted to apologize, Ted. I wanted to tell you that you were right. The Moon trip was too important for someone like me to spoil. I’ve told them all about it down here, Ted. Everything. They’re releasing all charges against you.”
“What about you, Jack. I wouldn’t want you to…”
“I don’t deserve it, but they’re giving me another chance. I… I think maybe they feel I’ve learned a little something, Ted. Something a guy like you knew all along.”
“Well, well, Jack…”
“Baker!” the general’s voice snapped. “He’s right. What he said about all charges being dropped is true. And Baker?”
“Yes, sir?”
“You’re a good man, Baker. We won’t forget what Merola’s told us about you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“All right, we’re going to sign off now. You men get a good night’s sleep. You can call us in the morning again.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Out.”
They didn’t go straight to sleep. They sat around talking for a long time, planning everything they would do, planning every move now that their time on the Moon was unlimited.
And at last, when they were too tired to talk any further, they crawled into their couches and bid each other good night.
Ted lay back, his arms behind his head, his eyes fastened to the viewport.
Far off in the distance, like a pale blue globe hung against the sky, he could see Earth.
It was strange, but it didn’t seem very far away any more.