to find that the girl Nea was his assistant. She was
a hard worker and pleasant enough, though she said little to him. And the
only time he saw her flustered was when she ordered a young man of the
Brons out of the building. Jack felt a bit sorry for the fellow. He was
scarcely out of his teens and was all shook up because Nea was going out
there into space instead of staying here in Opal with him.

So the work went on at a furious pace, and before he realized that three
days had gone he was back at the improvised docks with Gunnar and his
family.

The parting was a quiet one. Gunnar told the boys to mind their mother
and not stay out late at night. "Get strong muscles on your legs and
shoulders," he told them. "A man is not too good at thinking, and he never
knows what will happen next. The muscles will keep him going, and after
the muscles are gone a fighting heart will carry him a little farther."

No tears were shed. They talked of little things, and laughed at old jokes
that Gunnar's grandfather had told them. One of those family jokes that
never seem very funny to an outsider.

After that, Freida worked the conversation around to the voyage that Gunnar
would soon be making.

"They say it is cold out there," she ventured cautiously.

"Oh, yes. Very cold." Gunnar agreed.

"Then you wrap up good, Gunnar. We wouldn't want you to have a chill."

Gunnar scoffed, "I never had a chill in my life."

"Oh, such talk. Don't pretend to be so big. I have nursed you through many
a chill." Then she produced her parting gift--a muffler that would have
swathed poor Gunnar from chin to belt.

"You promise you wear this if it gets cold," she urged.

"I tell you, mama, I don't need such things. You don't know how tough old
Gunnar is."

"Yes, I know. You promise to wear the muffler--"

Gunnar took it as he cast a sheepish look at Odin. "All right. All right.
I'll take it--"

After Freida's boat had disappeared, Gunnar tried to joke about the
muffler. But he was a bit proud of it too, and put it around his neck. The
ends almost brushed the ground, but it was so warm that he soon had to roll
it up and carry it with him.

The two went for a meal. But Gunnar ate little, grumbling at the food.
Once he assured Odin that he had never had a chill in his life--that Freida
was too thoughtful about him--

"Sure. Sure." Odin agreed.

Then, finally, Gunnar cleared his throat and spoke the things that were in
his mind.

"Frie