Paul Hagbolt looked at the heights ahead, where the Pacific Coast Highway swung inland and began to climb. Beyond this approaching bend, between the road and the sea, loomed the three-hundred-foot plateau on which stood Vandenberg Two, home of the Moon Project and the U.S. Space Force’s newest base and rocket launching and landing area. Gleamingly wire-fenced around its foot and showing only a few dark red lights along its crest which stretched off endlessly, the space base towered mysteriously between the diverging highway and ocean — an ominous baronial stronghold of the future.

The highway hummed more hollowly as the convertible crossed a flat concrete bridge over a wash and Margo Gelhorn sat up sharply beside him. Miaow flinched. The girl’s gaze swung back past Paul. “Hey, wait a minute.”

“What is it?” Paul asked, not slowing down. The highway had begun its climb.

“I’d almost swear,” Margo said, staring back down the road, “that I saw a sign with the words ‘Flying Saucer’ on it.”

“Flying Saucer-Burgers?” Paul suggested. “Same shape, you know.”

“No, there wasn’t a cafe or anything like that. Just one little white sign. Right before the wash. I want to go back and have a look at it”

“But we’re almost to V-2,” Paul objected. “Don’t you want to see the moon through a ’scope while the eclipse is still on? You’ll be able to see Plato, only we’ll have to put up the top and leave Miaow locked in the car. You can’t take pets into Vandenberg.”

“No, I don’t,” Margo said. “I’m sick of being given the slick Project treatment. What’s more, I abominate any organization that denies cats are people!”

“All right, all right,” Paul chuckled.

“So let’s turn back right now. We’ll be able to see the moon better facing that way.”

Paul did his best to drive past the little white sign, but Margo brought him up short. “There! Where the green lantern is! Stop there!” As the car bumped on the uneven shoulder, Miaow sat up and stretched and then looked around with no great interest.