CHAPTER SIXGeneral Klovis, commander of United States Star Base One, thoughtfully stripped the cellophane from a cigar and put it in his mouth. As commander he had certain privileges, one of them being the right to smoke at any time he chose, but it was a right he refused to use. A commander, he insisted, should have an affinity with his men and so he confined his cigar smoking to the few periods during the day when general smoking was permitted. He didn’t know that far from being appreciated his self-imposed hardship was derided by his men. They took the logical line that if top brass couldn’t do as they wanted then what was the use of being top brass? Also they didn’t believe the General played fair even though the air-crews solemnly swore that it was so.
“It’s been a long time,” said K
