Page:Astounding Science Fiction (1950-01).djvu/29

 at a table in the above-ground cocktail lounge of the Platinumrest. The plexiglass dome that covered them had recently been shined, removing all traces of meteor scars, and the stars shone through beautifully.

Tappan was telling one of his innumerable fund of stories about his experiences in the underworld while they sipped their drinks, and although he was careful to tell it objectively, Shelia thought she could detect traces of his being the hero of the incident. She was fairly new at Station Seven, having been at One for a year when job at Seven was opened. She had accepted, for the salary was even better than the average on the Moon. When she discovered that she was to be private secretary to the great Tappan, she did not know whether to be happy at the chance, or to quit. However, she discovered that, in addition to being a pleasant employer, he was a very handsome man, and seemed to show some interest in her. It was annoying at times, though, to work for him. She never knew whether he was laughing at her or not, and she was certain that, just as he seemed to know what his criminals were thinking, he could read her mind to a certain extent. It was embarrassing.

Two men entered the room. One of them she knew. It was Corrigan the mineral exchange man, but the other one she had never seen around Station Seven before. They seemed unable to find a table, and Tappan, after glancing inquiringly at her and waiting until she smiled assent, motioned them over.

Corrigan introduced his companion as Mr. Van der Bush, a diamond buyer. Van der Bush bowed formally, and said, with a faint accent, "Verry pleased to meet you."

Tappan began telling Corrigan about the magazine article which had been alarmed about him, and they laughed merrily at the incongruity of it. Van der Bush said, "Yes, Mr. Corrigan has been telling me about the wonderful job you haff been doing here, Mr. Tappan. How you haff reformed him ant the others and made useful citizens again of them."

Tappan winced slightly at the mention of the word, reform. Shelia knew it was one of his pet hates, and expected him to say something, but he refrained, glancing hard at Corrigan.

They talked of the project. Corrigan told them some of the facts behind the constantly changing prices of minerals on the Moon. Hearing him as he gave information about his business, one would have put him down as a man who had grown up in the brokerage business, probably serving an apprenticeship in New York on the Stock Exchange, or some other place of the sort on the Earth, instead of over a green tabletop.

The music started. Shelia looked as if she wished to dance. Tappan smiled at her and said, "You know I'm not a very good dancer. Perhaps Mr. Van der Bush—" He was UNDESIRABLE ALIEN