crew of them to Andromeda. We'll arrange, then, to
extend our honeymoons another week," Hilton said. "What will our policy
be? Keep it dark for a while with just us eight, or spread it to the
rest?"

"Spread it, I'd say," Kincaid said.

"We can't keep it secret, anyway," Teddy argued. "Since Larry and Tuly
were in on the whole deal, every Oman on the planet knows all about it.
Somebody is going to ask questions, and Omans always answer questions
and always tell the truth."

* * * * *

"Questions have already been asked and answered," Larry said, going to
the door and opening it.

Stella rushed in. "We've been hearing the _damnedest_ things!" She
kissed everybody, ending with Hilton, whom she seized by both shoulders.
"Is it actually true, boss, that you can fix me up so I'll live
practically forever and can eat more than eleven calories a day without
getting fat as a pig? Candy, ice cream, cake, pie, eclairs, cream puffs,
French pastries, sugar and gobs of thick cream in my coffee...?"

Half a dozen others, including the van der Moen twins, came in. Beverly
emitted a shriek of joy. "Bernadine! The mother of the race to end all
human races!"

"You whistled it, birdie!" Bernadine caroled. "I'm going to have ten or
twelve, each one weirder than all the others. I told you I was a
prophet--I'm going to hang out my shingle. Wholesale and retail
prophecy; special rates for large parties." Her voice was drowned out
in a general clamor.

"Hold it, everybody!" Hilton yelled. "Chip-chop it! _Quit_ it!" Then, as
the noise subsided, "If you think I'm going to tell this tall tale over
and over again for the next two weeks you're all crazy. So shut down the
plant and get everybody out here."

"Not _everybody_, Jarve!" Temple snapped. "We don't want scum, and
there's some of that, even in BuSci."

"You're so right. Who, then?"

"The rest of the heads and assistants, of course ... and all the lab
girls and their husbands and boy-friends. I know they are all okay. That
will be enough for now, don't you think?"

"I do think;" and the indicated others were sent for; and in a few
minutes arrived.

The Omans brought chairs and Hilton stood on a table. He spoke for ten
minutes. Then: "Before you decide whether you want to or not, think it
over very carefully, because it's a one-way street. Fluorine can not be
displaced. Once in, you're stuck for life. _There is no way back._ I've
told you all