 O'Rielly starts to talk about "venus dames" unprompted and acting strangely. Why?
IMAGE OF SPLENDOR By LU KELLA From Venus to Earth, and all the way between, it was a hell of a world for men ... and Apprentice Burnerman O'Rielly particularly. The intercom roared fit to blow O'Rielly back to Venus. "Well, Mr. O'Rielly, you better know before we orbit Earth!" A dozen burners on this ship; why did something crazy have to happen to O'Rielly's? Ever since Venus blast-off O'Rielly had been in Four's watch room. By now the Old Woman herself, Captain Millicent Hatwoody, had probably inquired what was in charge of Burner Four. Well, ma'am, O'Rielly searched every cranny where even a three-tailed mouse of Venus could have stowed away. That male character trait, however, did not seem to be the overpowering reason why O'Rielly, instead of laying violent hands upon this one's person, heard himself saying in sympathetic outrage, "A shame you had to go to all that bother to get out here!" Yes, ma'am, O'Rielly was floating on a pink cloud with heavenly music in his head. Except on the Venus layover when he'd been roped into a dice game with a bunch of Venus lads who had a jug to cheer one's parting with one's money. Somehow he doubted that Burner Chief Terrence Callahan's mood, or Captain Millicent Hatwoody's, would be improved by knowledge of she who was in O'Rielly's shower now. "Venus dames," O'Rielly said dreamily, "don't boss anything, do they?"
 It's the effect that Venus women have on Earth men. The woman's presence changes his focus.
 He's out of sorts from working on the controls. The heat got to him.  He's had an experience with them in the past, and wants to discuss is with Callahan.  It's the effect that Venus women have on Earth men. The woman's presence changes his focus.  He's embarrassed about the controls malfunction and is trying to change the subject