Rocket from Infinity by Lester del Rey Page A

her,” Ellen said. “She loves everybody.”
    But it was impossible not to pay attention to Colleen. She refused to let go, and Pete, trying to dislodge her as gently as possible, came to his feet.
    Instantly, Ellen leaped forward and flung herself upon him. He went to his knees and both the young Barrys whooped with delight. Finding himself smothered, Pete struggled blindly, the impetuous pair too much for him on such short notice. Then his prayer for help was answered.
    â€œEllen—Colleen! Get up off that floor. I’m ashamed of you.”
    â€œAw, Mom. We were just showing Pete how to wrestle.”
    They untangled themselves and drew away and Pete got back on his feet. “Thanks, Mrs. Barry,” he grinned. “They were too much for me.”
    â€œGirls,” she scolded. “You’re too young to call older people by their first names. This is Mister Mason.”
    â€œJane called him Pete,” Ellen complained.
    â€œShe’s older than you are,” Rachael Barry said, as Pete brushed carpet lint off his jacket. “Please sit down, Pete.” She sighed. “It’s so very difficult, raising three healthy, active children without a father.”
    â€œI can sympathize with you.”
    â€œIt was so nice of you to drop in. Jane should be home before long. She went out to do a little prospecting.”
    â€œShe’s here now. I came with her.”
    â€œOh, that’s nice. By the way, Pete, when were you born?”
    â€œIn August. The ninth.”
    â€œThat makes you a Leo. That’s a very good sign.”
    â€œJane’s in the kitchen making tea, Mom,” Ellen said.
    â€œI’ll bet she’s in the bathroom fixing up her hair. When she comes out she’ll be wearing a dress and her hair will be all combed.”
    â€œJane had a little accident,” Pete said, pushing his words in between those of the Barry girls. “I towed her home.”
    â€œOh, that was nice of you. So neighborly. I wish the miners were more neighborly.”
    â€œIt’s just that everyone is so busy making a living. Then too, not many of them are married. Mining is a pretty rough life for wives.”
    â€œThat’s what I keep telling everyone,” Rachel Barry said.
    Pete wished Jane would come back. He didn’t feel at ease with Rachel, not being used to the company of females.
    At the moment he was struck by Rachel’s apparent lack of interest in Jane’s accident. This seemed inconsistent with her reputation as a devoted mother to the Barry brood. Then, possessing a certain insight into people, he realized that Rachel had a sublime faith in destiny. You worked and did your best, and destiny would see to it that nothing really bad ever happened.
    Then he learned another thing about his hostess. When she wanted something, she asked for it. “Pete,” Rachel said, “we want to move the Snapdragon closer to the main stream of the Belt. That will make it easier for Jane to prospect.”
    Pete almost said that a seventeen-year-old girl had no business prospecting for ore in the first place, but he remembered that it was none of his business.
    â€œIt’s so far from Pallas to the good fields. Will you help us?”
    â€œMove the ship, you mean?”
    â€œYes. Jane and I can do it, of course, but we really need a man to help.”
    â€œWhat about Homer? I’d think that—”
    â€œOh, Homer is a dear, but he has so many problems of his own. A body can’t depend on him.”
    â€œWhy, I’d be glad to help.”
    That wasn’t true. Pete wasn’t glad at all. He had his own work and he felt that it was Homer’s job. But he could hardly refuse in the face of Rachel Barry’s direct request.
    â€œDo you think your father would mind if we moored some place on Juno? It’s a very big planetoid and we’d be no trouble at all.”
    â€œI’m sure he wouldn’t