"Maculay went to Venus," said the doctor, "where reformers,
theologians, and politicians have not taken all of the fun, chance, and
sting out of life."
"But how are you going to get him back?"
Hanson shook his head. "I'm not," he said; "no spaceline would take
me. I'm seventy, a little creaky in the arthritis, a bit leaky in the
pump, and a trifle sclerosic in the arterios. I admit that I am the
healthiest doddering old man on earth--but it is on earth that I shall
stay."
"Then--" said Ava uncertainly. Her eyes began to widen with growing
understanding and she backed away slightly.