Three years passed very quickly, and the space project was nearing completion. Brad and Alden were elated to think that they would be going back into space, but thinking about leaving the home that they had learned to appreciate, and which had nurtured them so lovingly, made them terribly sad.
They were both very healthy specimens, and it did not appear that their backup, Chris, would make the hazardous voyage. Chris was not in the least bit disappointed.
On the night before the voyage