"But you don't sing any more. You're sure you're well? There's nothing
I can do for you?"
"No." Her voice low. "No, thank you."
"But I want you to be happy. Look, 'Tina--let's you and me play
cribbage tonight like we used to? We haven't had a game for weeks. How
about it?"
"Oh, Greg--would you like to? Really?"
Her dullness slipping away from her like a dropped cape; her voice
throbbingly eager. Then another voice at his elbow, a throaty,
heart-stirring voice. "Oh, Greg--me, too? May I play? Will you teach me
the game?"
Greg turned, smiling. "Why, of course. We'll get Sparks and make it a
four-handed game. Eh, 'Tina?"
But 'Tina drew back, her eyes hurt again and distant. Her voice faint.
"N-no, Greg. You and Crystal. I don't think I want to...."
Which Greg could not understand. But gradually, out of his confusion
and miscomprehension, one truth came clear. And with its coming there
was a sudden singing in his heart, a fire in his veins. He loved
Crystal Andrews. And Crystal Andrews loved him!
* * * * *
Then one day they woke to find the floor of the cave glistening darkly
with a pool of water. The snow was melting from the mouth of the cave.
When they attacked the weakened snowbank with shovels and brooms,
laughing and fighting their way clear of the white barrier, they
discovered that the dark days had ended, that once again the sky of
Titan was silver-blue and bright, that already the warmth had turned
the snow mantle to chuckling rivulets that ran merrily down the hills,
leaving fresh green in its wake. The miracle of Titan's "winter" had
passed, and the land would again be theirs for three warm weeks.
Greg's brain was afire with a hundred projects. A viaduct to carry
water into the cavern during the next cold period. They had had to
depend on melted snow this time. A study of the stars with their new
sextant. The clearing of ground for the gigantic signal. He turned to
the others enthusiastically.
"We've got to work now, folks, as we never worked before! Tommy, I
want you to get right to work on that new viaduct we were talking
about. Andrews, your first job will be to replenish the wood supply.
Try the west woods, that's the best timber. 'Tina, see what these short
'winters' do to the vegetation, will you? I don't imagine they're dead.
Nature has ways of counteracting its own excesses. I believe we'll find
the vegetation here on Titan is phenomenally hardy. But see, anyway.
"Aunt Maud--you and Enid set out those traps we made during the dark
spell. We'll have a hot stew tonight. Breadon, suppose you and Sparks
and I go down to the plain and start planning our signal system?
Crystal--"
Crystal was at his side, her hand on his arm. "I'm going with you,
Greg."
"What? But they need you--Oh, all right!"
He smiled. Behind him Aunt Maud snorted and disguised the snort with
a rattling cough. 'Tina looked at him oddly for a moment before she
turned obediently toward where last week there had been a vegetable
patch. Her eyes were hurt. Greg could not understand why.
It was not until he was halfway down the hill that he remembered he
had promised to let her help with the sign project. Of course it was
too late to do anything about it then. Besides, Crystal's feet were
unsteady on the melting path. She needed his arm about her for support.
And her hair had a tantalizing fragrance all its own....