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Cooper, Michael D., [pseud.]

"The Runaway Asteroid"

Places had been previously set.
Tired as the men were, it took them only seconds to assemble at the
table. George said a few words of thanks and passed the first bowl to
his right where Joe was seated. Joe grasped the large serving spoon.
The bowl was steaming with the mixture and wisps rose lazily from the
ladle as it made several trips from serving bowl to Joe's plate. After
he had dished out at least two pounds of stew, he shoved the bowl on to
the man at his right and took two biscuits from the central supply.
"Only two biscuits, Joe?" prodded Mark. "Has hunger made you too weak
to eat?"
"I'll show you whether I'm too weak to eat. Watch this!" He shoveled a
heaping spoonful of stew into his mouth. His chin lifted a notch, his
eyes closed, and a satisfied moan escaped his closed lips. He slowly
lowered the spoon to the table and lifted both hands as if he were
about to embrace someone.
"Taste good?" asked Zip, reaching for the aromatic bowl as it came his
way.
Joe chewed and swallowed. "Someone back at the Academy told me once
that there was no such thing as a dumb question. He was wrong. That was
one." Joe turned to George. "George, this is delicious! I've never
tasted anything better!"
George glanced over at the food cans that had been in storage for
several years.


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