"What's up, Annie?"

"I just got here myself," she said. There were hairclips still in her sandy-colored curls. "The boss told me to flag you down the instant you arrived."

Even from completely across the Colonel's spacious office, Kinsman could see that Murdock was a round little kettle of nerves. He was standing by the window behind his desk, watching the activity on Pad 204, clenching and un- clenching his fists behind his back. His bald head was glisten- ing with perspiration despite the room's frigid air-conditioning. Kinsman stopped at the door with the secretary.

"Colonel?" she said softly.

Murdock whirled around. "Kinsman. So you're here."

"What's going on? I thought the next manned shot wasn't until ..."

The Colonel waved a pudgy hand. "The next manned shot is as fast as we can damned well make it." He walked around the desk and eyed Kinsman. "Christ, you look a mess."

"It's three in the morning!"

"No excuses. Get over to the medical section for a 105 preflight checkout. They're waiting for you."

"I'd still like to know—"

"Tell them to check your blood for alcohol content," Murdock grumbled.

"I've been celebrating my liberation. I'm not supposed to be on duty, remember? My leave starts at 0900 hours."

"Your leave is canceled. General Hatch just flew in from Norton and he wants you."

"Hatch?"

"That's right. He wants the most experienced man available."

"Twenty astronauts on the base and you have to make me available."

Murdock fumed. "Listen, dammit. This is a military operation. I may not insist on much discipline from you glamour boys, but you're still in the Air Force and you will follow orders. Hatch says he wants the best man we've got. Personally, I'd rather have Colt, but he's back East attending a family funeral or something. That means you're it. Like it or not."

With a grin. Kinsman said, "If you saw what I had to leave behind me to report for duty here you'd put me up for the Medal of Honor."

Murdock frowned in exasperation. Anne tried unsuccess- fully to suppress a smile.

"All right, lover-boy. Get your ass down to the medical section on the double. Annie, you stick with him and bring him to the briefing room the instant he's finished. General Hatch is already there."

Kinsman stood at the doorway, not moving. "Will you just tell me what this is all about?"

"Ask the General," Murdock growled, walking back toward his desk. "All I know is that Hatch wants the best man we have and wants him fast."

"Emergency shots are volunteer missions," Kinsman pointed out.

"So?"

"I'm on leave. There are eighteen other astronauts here who—"