 What was the number that Betty called?
By H. B. FYFE [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. The glowing semi-disk of Jupiter was more than half a million miles distant. "A little percentage here and there on the cargoes never shows by the time figures get back to Earth. It had been built for Ganymede, but not for Jeffers. Five hundred credits a week base pay, five hundred for hazardous duty. Because you're off the Callisto run as of now! He winked and walked out, deliberately leaving the door open behind him so as to enjoy the incoherent bellowing that followed him. Let Jeffers and his gang steal the Great Red Spot off Jupiter if they like! Tolliver began to have his doubts the next day; which was "Tuesday" by the arbitrary calender constructed to match Ganymede's week-long journey around Jupiter. His contract guaranteed a pilot's rating, but someone had neglected to specify the type of craft to be piloted. On the bulletin board, Tolliver's name stood out beside the number of one of the airtight tractors used between the dome city and the spaceport, or for hauling cross-country to one of the mining domes. He soon found that there was nothing for him to do but hang around the garage in case a spaceship should land. He swore when he found the assignment unchanged by "Friday." Sometimes there's no reason but them for sending a ship back with a crew instead of in an economy orbit. Under a portable, double-chambered plastic dome blown up outside the ship's airlock, a crewman helped him load two trunks and a collection of bags into the tractor. Her trim coiffure was a shade too blonde which served to set off both the blue of her eyes and the cap apparently won from one of the pilots. Trying already to be just one of the gang, instead of Lady Betty! Is her old man the treasurer, or does he just know where bodies are buried? "Were they ribbing me, or is it true that none of the four of them goes back with the ship?" They found they could send back loaded ships by 'automatic' flight—that is, a long, slow, economical orbit and automatic signalling equipment. Then they're boarded approaching Earth's orbit and landed by pilots who don't have to waste their time making the entire trip." And Daddy's little girl is trying too hard to sound like one of the gang. "Oh, they told me there was nothing alive on Ganymede!"
 To her Space Patrol colleagues
 To her Space Patrol colleagues  To the family’s private security team  To the Ganymede superiors  To Daddy’s private office at Koslow Space headquarters