human
How come you've cut jets, spaceman?
gpt
I've finished my job, that's how come. And I've been trying to get a little rest. Any objections?
human
Okay, don't shoot. Where's that animal of yours?
gpt
Rat? Don't worry about him. He's in my cabin, chewing his nibbling-stick. I can assure you it tastes a lot better to him than your bony ankles. Alan yawned deliberately.
human
Now how about letting me rest?
gpt
If you _want_ it that way. I just thought I'd tell you about the doings in the Enclave when we land. There's been a change in the regulations since the last time we were here. But you wouldn't be interested, of course.
human
Hey, wait a minute! Judy's father was the _Valhalla's_ Chief Signal Officer, and she generally had news from a planet they were landing on a lot quicker than anyone else.
gpt
What's this all about?
human
A new quarantine regulation. They passed it two years ago when a ship back from Altair landed and the crew turned out to be loaded with some sort of weird disease. We have to stay isolated even from the other starmen in the Enclave until we've all had medical checkups.
gpt
Do they require every ship landing to go through this?
human
Yep. Nuisance, isn't it? So the word has come from your father that since we can't go round visiting until we've been checked, the Crew's going to have a dance tonight when we touch down.
gpt
A dance?
human
You heard me. He thought it might be a nice idea--just to keep our spirits up until the quarantine's lifted. That nasty Roger Bond has invited me,
gpt
What's wrong with Roger? I just spent a whole afternoon crating dinosaur meat with him.
human
Oh, he's--well--he just doesn't _do_ anything to me.
gpt
Did you accept?
human
Of course not! Not _yet_, that is. I just thought I might get some more interesting offers, that's all,
gpt
I wish you luck,
human
Oh--you're _horrible_!
gpt
I know, he admitted coolly.
human
I'm actually a Neptunian mudworm, completely devoid of emotions. I'm here in disguise to destroy the Earth, and if you reveal my secret I'll eat you alive.
gpt
But why do I always have to go to dances with Roger Bond? she asked plaintively.
human
Oh, well. Never mind,