Four and a half months later, Joss was number 152. The crew slots were almost ready for permanent posting. The successful crew would be permitted to bring spouse and child. Unmarried crew would receive marriage licenses upon request and were expected to marry. No one older than forty would be accepted as crew or passenger. Adults would be crew, specialists, or their spouses.

Joss arrived at his rooms after finishing work at the spaceport, for he had been reassigned to an engineering position restoring the spaceships. SFS Pioneer would be the first ship ready and leave in two months. SFS Odyssey would leave eight days later. The third and last ship, SFS Argo, had not received a departure date due to a shortage of materials and MOX fuel.

Abe saw him enter and babbled excitedly, holding out his arms. Joss picked him up and kissed his cheek. "Have a good day, Abie?" Abe gabbled happily.

Gabi came out of their bedroom. "Hi, darling. Would you like a snack before we meet Renny and Delia?"

"No, just a shower, thanks." He handed her the baby. "Are we leaving the baby with Amelia for the night?"

"Yeah, we'll pick him up in the morning. I laid out a change of clothes for you."

Amelia snuggled her nephew. "I'll see you in the morning. Have a good time," she said, when they arrived at her room. Abe and I will have a good time. He still sleeps ten hours a night, right?"

"Of course," said Gabi. "Thanks, Amelia."

They found a table at the Falling Star and ordered drinks. Soon Renny and Delia joined them. Renny looked calmer and happier than Joss had seen him in years.

"We're engaged," said Renny. Delia nodded.

"Congratulations," said Gabi. "Wonderful you got a license."

"Everyone on the placement lists for the starships got them if they didn't have them." Renny grinned. "Lots of good news. I got a place on the Argo. Delia and I are getting married tomorrow. Will you two be our witnesses?"

Joss and Gabi looked at each other. She nodded. "We'd love to," said Joss. "We'll ask Amelia to watch Abe."

"Bring him," said Delia. "What's more natural than children at a wedding?"

When the announcements were made for placements, Joss was 151. He wanted to smash the com. He put his head in his hands. He couldn't tell Gabi. Anela atmosphere and ecology would break down and every living thing on the Ringworld would die two to three months before the collision. You're first in line, he told himself. There's still time to get a slot on one of the three ships."

He went to Clemson's office to talk things over with his old professor. Clemson was too old to get a berth and had accepted his remaining days calmly. Joss knew he hadn't told his wife.

"What do you think will happen when Ringworld begins to die? After the last starship leaves?"

"Panic, fighting over supplies, anarchy. Whatever happens when a civilization dies," Clemson said. "You're first in line for a position." He looked at his pupil. "I hope you make it."

"Thanks," Joss said. He started to ask about fuel shortages when someone tried the doorknob, which was locked, then pounded on the door. Whoever it was kept pounding.

Clemson said, "I hear you. Stop pounding and I'll unlock the door."

The pounding stopped and the door unlocked. Immediately Wanda pushed it open and walked over to Clemson's desk, ignoring Joss.

"What's going on? I was supposed to make the cutoff. At least 30 people on the pilot lists dropped off. That puts me within the 250 pilots."

"Wanda, more is required than the technical tests. Some people advanced due to better psychological results and some moved down. There's nothing you or I or anyone can do."

There was a long, hard silence. Wanda stared at Clemson, then lifted her nose in the air. "We'll see." She looked at Joss. "I suppose you squeezed in."

"No," he said quietly. "Almost. I'm on the shortlist."

Wanda marched out, slamming the door behind her.

Joss and Clemson looked at each other. "She's very unstable, I think," Joss said. "That do whatever it takes attitude is good, but it only goes so far. If I make a ship, I hope she's not on it."

"She probably won't. She has difficulty dealing with authority who won't see things her way, and she uses people. Like Stratton. You probably won't have to deal with her."

Joss went home, accepting what the future would bring. He slept well, and in the morning. He spent his days working on the Pioneer, and evenings with Gaby and Abe, occasionally out with Renny and Delia, or with Gabi's family.