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but as an expression of prejudice, but she also knew that it was useless to let them upset her and hoped Alex wouldn’t take issue with the workmen. Alex had stopped walking and had turned to face the challenger.
    Mary touched his arm. “We’ve been through enough on Mars already. Let’s just go.”
    Alex heeded Mary’s words with the smile and a curt salute to the workman.
    “Catch you later, mate.”
    “Any time,” said the man.
    Inside Diver , Professor Baltadonis gave Alex an encouraging pat on the back.
    “Nice to see you have self control, he commented, winking at Mary.
    “Mary’s the one with the good sense,” replied Alex. “That’s why that shitgob out there still has a face to shave in the morning.”
    “Alex,” said Mary. “Enough.”
    Alex shrugged and turned his attention to Johnny. “There’s lockers in the back. Most of them are full but you should find some room. Have the contrab boys been over your stuff?”
    “Class one TF residents are exempt,” said Johnny. “You know that.”
    “Then maybe I should have a look,” said Alex. “I don’t honor their protocol.”
    “As captain of this ship, you’re the boss,” said Johnny. “Go right ahead.”
    Mary could tell that Alex liked what Johnny had said. It may have been Johnny’s first acknowledgement of Alex’s authority, but she knew it was sincere. She looked at Alex and smiled, and he knew from the smile that she sensed everything was okay with their new guest.
    Alex hadn’t thought much about it but now he realized that Mary’s secret mind reading abilities were going to be very helpful in the days ahead.
    Johnny picked up two of his bags and groaned under the weight of them even in the reduced Martian gravity. He grunted as he lifted his bags into an overhead locker.
    Alex hurried over and helped. “Dingers, Johnny, don’t bust a gut. Let me do that.”
    Johnny thanked Alex. Then he walked to the front of the cabin. He sighed deeply and turned to face them both.
    “I’m not naive,” he said. “I know this is tough on you. And you’re right that I am being greedy to horn in on your discovery. But there’s another side to this that you might not have considered.”
    Alex didn’t let Johnny’s speech stop him from checking out the ship’s systems. He walked to the pilot’s seat and sat down, but he kept an eye on the Professor.
    “What’s that, Professor?” asked Mary.
    “Academia,” said Johnny. “It doesn’t matter what you discover. Presentation is important, too. And I can help you organize your findings. I can also speak to Professor Stubbs.”
    Alex frowned. “I’m no idiot, Professor. I may be a layman but that doesn’t matter. I knew I needed proof and I got it. I documented everything.”
    “It’s good you did, too,” said Johnny. “You did a great job. But all that gets you is something to present ... your record. But ...”
    Alex turned away, annoyed.
    “I’ve heard all this before,” he said. “It’s bullshit. I have the records. I have the proof and I’m going to give it all to Stubbs on Earth. End of flick. Not you. Not Mary. Nobody is giving it to him but me. And after that, I’m done with it.”
    Mary smiled but said nothing. She expected the Professor to mount an argument in favor of ‘legitimate’ science, but what he said next surprised her.
    “You’ll never be done with this, Mr. Rose,” said Johnny. “And even I know you are going back to Jupiter.”
    “How’s that?” said Alex. He had turned away from the Professor and was powering up the ship.
    “Are you denying it?”
    Alex’s head swiveled toward the Professor. He closed his mouth and looked back at the console.
    “Got you, didn’t I?” asked the Professor, winking again at Mary.
    “Dingers,” roared Alex. “You’ve been aboard less than five minutes and I’m ready to space you!”
    Johnny smiled. “Good. Glad we agree. I can see already that we will be a big help to each other.”
    There was a moment