"Thank you, Herr Colonel," said Helmut as Hans and I climbed into thecar. "Please take this by way of recompense."He pressed the Storch's ignition key...into his hand."But neither my driver nor I can fly a plane!" the colonel protested."That's unfortunate. Perhaps you'll be able to trade it for anothervehicle with someone who can. I wish you luck, Herr Colonel."Hans would be driving of course with Helmut and me in the rear - anyother arrangement would have looked odd and might attract. But that's the way I see it. We were part of a grand experiment. And now that it's succeeded we're being allocated to the Zantoran Chancellors." Allocated Les?"Shamsky looked at Calvin Moore. His expression bordered on that of terror. "That's right Cal. Allocated. To be their happy little mates and housewives."***The men sat and waited for the inevitable. No one had said a word for quite some time. A sense of dread permeated the room.McLain saw the need to address his crew one final time.. But I will leave if you ask me to." His voice and hands pleaded with me not to make him leave, not to mention my own heart."I don't want you to go," I whispered, a tear sliding down my face; I smiled, my eyes still closed. "I'm crazy about you; ask my aunts sometime. They've been bugging me for years to go out with you." Why didn't you?" His slightly cool fingertips wiped the trail of moisture from my cheek, leaving a cool phantom touch in its place."You never asked," I shrugged and opened my. What can Ipossibly do when this ordeal is over? Obviously my hair is to befirmly and permanently curled by this machine. Even though Idon't have any relatives or close friends, my landlady, and thewomen at the grocery store, and the restaurant are bound to knowmy hair has been curled. How can I face them? What if somebodyrecognizes me from the pictures,- and "conversion" what doesMs. Merrill mean by that?-- Is that just a figure of speech? "Your other hand!" Janice said shocking me back from.