 What is most ironic about the conclusion of the story?
Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science Fiction December 1955. Yes, I'm sure you did," she said, finishing the ritual; but her voice broke, and she turned her head away. But I don't think I ever really believed it was possible—not until this morning when you said tonight was the take-off. It existed only because of the huge ship standing poised in the take-off zone five miles away in the desert. Its future as a town rested with the ship, and the town seemed to feel the uncertainty of its future, seemed ready to stop existing as a town and to give itself back to the desert, if such was its destiny.
 Mary's fear of losing Phil became a self-fulfilling prophecy
 While Sammy is the least qualified to go into space, he was the only replacement for Phil  Everything that used to give Phil joy will now represent pain and suffering  Mary's fear of losing Phil became a self-fulfilling prophecy  Phil trained all of his life for one moment, and gave it all up within the period of one day