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almost until take-off time.
    I lay on my back, trying to compose my thoughts sufficiently to allow me to sleep. I had partially succeeded when I was jerked awake by the sound of low voices. Over in the corner, two of the indicator lights glowed on the intercommunication panel.
    By means of the intercom we, the four members of the crew, could talk to one another. If we wished, we could all converse at the same time. We could, of course, eavesdrop as well. Normally we never did. If any one of us was expected to take part in a discussion, his own coloured indicator light would show. My own light was not flicking but Jet’s amber and Lemmy’s green were.
    I realised I must have forgotten to switch off my receiver after we had all wished each other good night. I started to get out of bed. But then I stopped myself. It might have been my own thoughts that were being spoken out loud by the two familiar but disembodied voices.
    “Were you asleep, Jet?”
    “Does it sound like it?”
    “I can’t sleep either.” Lemmy sounded lonely and just a little anxious. “I can’t believe it, Jet. It’s all a dream, isn’t it? Tomorrow we’ll wake up and find ourselves back on the superstrato run, won’t we?”
    “I hope not, Lemmy. I’d hate to have gone through the last nine months’ training for nothing.”
    “That’s what worries me. That it might be for nothing.”
    “I don’t understand you.”
    “Suppose something goes wrong.”
    “Why should it?”
    “Something could have been forgotten. Some miscalculation made.”
    “The chances are remote. Everything has been checked and rechecked, both by human and electronic brains.”
    “But it could happen. There’s always a chance.”
    “About as much chance as you have of winning the football pools.”
    “I won fifty pounds not two months back.”
    “I mean the big prize--thousands of pounds.”
    I’ve got a feeling, Jet. Nobody’s ever made this run before. Anything could happen.”
    “Not to the ship.”
    “To us then.”
    “You’ve got the jitters, Lemmy. We all have. It’s only natural. Think back to the first superstrato crossing we made. We felt much the same way then, remember?”
    “This is different, Jet. You’d think that at least they’d have sent an unmanned rocket first.”
    “You couldn’t bring it back, so what would be the point?”
    “Well, at least they’d know it could get there, that would be something.”
    “Luna will get there--and back, too. Little more than three weeks from now, Lemmy, you’ll be laughing at yourself for talking this way.”
    “I’m not laughing now.”
    “Try to sleep. Tomorrow you’ll be OK.”
    “I told you--I can’t sleep. Have you looked at the ship lately?”
    “I switched on the screen just before I got into bed. Why?” “They’re still pumping the juice into her.”
    “They’ll be doing that for an hour or two yet. You’d do better to switch your viewer off and try to forget about it.”
    “I’ve tried, but it’s all I think of.”
    “Then take your pill. In ten minutes you’ll be sound asleep.”
    “Why don’t you take yours?”
    “That’s just what I intend to do--now.”
    “Oh. You sure you wouldn’t like to talk a few minutes longer?”
    “No thanks, Lemmy.”
    “All right. Good night.”
    “Good night.”
    “Jet--“
    “Oh, go to sleep.” There was a sharp click and the amber light went out.
    I settled back between the sheets, reached out for my own pill, swallowed it and waited for sleep to overtake me.
     
     

Chapter 4 - TAKE-OFF FROM EARTH
     
    It was still dark when I awoke. I looked at my watch. Half-past four. I switched on the televiewer and a blurred image of the ship’s gantry appeared on the screen. It sharpened as the instrument warmed up and showed the launching platform to be deserted but for the guards. There was no sign of a fuelling truck or any other vehicle.
    I lay and watched the bored perambulations of the sentries for nearly half an hour before I