nstantly know what had to be done about it.

A gigantic crane-truck came in through the wide doorway. It dangled a
pushpot. It rolled over to the launching cage in which the spaceship lay
and set the unwieldy metal object against that cage. There was a _clank_
as the pushpot caught hold of the magnetic grapples. The crane went out
again, passing a second crane carrying a second pushpot. The second
beetle-like thing was presented to the cage. It stuck fast. The crane
went out for more.

Major Holt came across the floor of the Shed. It took him a long time to
walk the distance from the Security offices to the launching cage. When
he got there, he looked impatiently around. His daughter Sally came out
of nowhere and blew her nose as if she'd been crying, and pointed to the
data board. The major shrugged his shoulders and looked uneasily at her.
She regarded him with some defiance. The major spoke to her sternly.
They waited.

The cranes brought in more pushpots and set them up against the steel
launching cage. The ship had been nearly hidden before by the rocket
tubes fastened outside its hull. It went completely out of sight behind
the metal monsters banked about it.

The major looked at his watch and the group about the data board. They
moved away from it and back toward the ship. Joe saw the major and
swerved over to him.

"I have brought you," said the major in an official voice, "the invoice
of your cargo. You will deliver the invoice with the cargo and bring
back proper receipts."

"I hope," said Joe.

"_We_ hope!" said Sally in a strained tone. "Good luck, Joe!"

"Thanks."

"There is not much to say to you," said the major without visible
emotion. "Of course the next crew will start its training immediately,
but it may be a month before another ship can take off. It is extremely
desirable that you reach the Platform today."

"Yes, sir," said Joe wrily. "I have even a personal motive to get there.
If I don't, I break my neck."

The major ignored the comment. He shook hands formally and marched away.
Sally smiled up at Joe, but her eyes were suddenly full of tears.

"I--do hope everything goes all right, Joe," she said unsteadily.
"I--I'll be praying for you."

"I can use some of that, too," admitted Joe.

She looked at her hand. Joe's ring was on her finger--wrapped with
string on the inside of the band to make it fit. Then she looked up
again and was crying unashamedly.

"I--will," she repeated.