"It's a big one," repeated Captain Wiley.
They stared at the image in the _Wanderer's_ forward visi-screen, at the
great, shining gray ball. They stared hard, for it was like an
enchanted, God-given fruit handed them on a star-flecked platter of
midnight. It was like the answer to a thousand prayers, a shining symbol
of hope which could mean the end of loneliness.
"It's ten times as big as Earth," mused Lieutenant Gunderson. "Do you
think this'll be it, Captain?"
"I'm afraid to think."
A thoughtful silence.
"Captain."
"Yes?"
"Do you hear my heart pounding?"