The owner of the Japanese restaurant bowed.

“We hope you enjoyed our food and service. If not, don’t tell me. If so, tell others.”

He bowed again as he backed out of the Tatami room, slipping into his shoes outside.

Margarita turned to Lee.

“No, I am not Russian. I am Ukrainian.”

“Do you hate to speak Russian like other Ukrainians?”

She shook her head. “No, I love Russian. It has a beautiful sound. Do you speak the Русский язык?”

“Not anymore. Меня зовут Рик.”

“очень хорошо! So you speak it a little. Меня зовут Маргарита.”

“Nice to meet you, Margarita.”

“Thank you. You, too. Anya is Russian.” She pointed to the woman seated next to her.

“Hello, Anya.”

Anya nodded.

Margarita continued talking with the woman across the table about how, at the last train stop in Germany, a heavy German accent will announce in English thanking the passengers, or it used to be that way.

Lee observed the people in the room — a few native-born Americans, a Japanese, a half-Thai, a Russian, a Ukrainian, a German, a Greek and a few others he hadn’t identified.

The evening was going to be more interesting than he thought, surrounded by members of the intelligentsia working together on a plan to bypass Earth-based political movements and governments.

After the recent elections and government leader transitions around the world, several billionaires were willing to finance an offworld colony now more than ever, looking for a few visionaries with concrete ideas to implement as soon as possible.

A bird in hand is worth two military birds locked down on an aircraft carrier deck during a dogfight.

Lee turned to Karen. “Excuse me a minute.”

Karen adjusted herself uncomfortably. “Hurry up. My feet and knees are killing me.”

Neill yelled across the room. “Hey, Lee. Now I know what a six-foot tall person feels like. You can actually look down at the table from this view.”

Lee stepped into the hallway and bumped into Guinevere, the host and guest of the birthday party.

“Thank you for the gifts!”

Lee smirked. “You’re welcome.”

“The Estes rocket was funny. I’ll have to read your book sometime. Thanks for autographing it.”

“No problem.”

“The book on von Braun looks interesting, too.”

“Yes. It’s sort of ‘behind the scenes’ biography of his life that is often overlooked.”

“Cool.”

“Makes me look forward to the day when we can send people into space without worrying about…oh, never mind.”

“No, no, Lee. What were you about to say?”

“Uh…well, Margarita is an interesting woman. Very spirited!”

“Indeed. But weren’t you going to say something else?”

“Maybe. Let’s talk at the dance later tonight.”

“Okay. See you then!”

“Happy birthday once again.”

“Thanks!” Guinevere beamed and turned toward some friends getting ready to leave.