Felix rose and headed out of the office. He was about to go to the Hangar and pilot Dawn back to his unit when someone appeared in front of him.
Felix recognized the man as Speaker Siegel's secretary.
"Mr. Martinis, did you need something?"
"Captain Griffith, do you have a moment?"
Martinis stood two paces away, a gentle smile on his face as he spoke to Felix. Felix answered directly.
"Nothing pressing, but I was about to return to my unit."
Then he looked at Martinis and asked, "What did you need?"
"The Speaker has invited you to dinner at his home."
Martinis explained why he had come.
Felix paused at the invitation. After a moment's thought, a possibility occurred to him, though it seemed unlikely right now.
He could not quite make sense of it, but he did not dwell on it. Looking up at Martinis, he said,
"Since the Speaker invited me, I certainly can't turn down his kindness. But I need to change out of this pilot suit.
"It wouldn't be right to show up wearing this."
Martinis followed Felix's gesture toward his clothes and smiled.
"The Speaker thought of that. He specifically asked me to buy you a new outfit."
With that, Martinis handed Felix the bag he was carrying. Seeing that Martinis had come prepared, Felix accepted it and went to the restroom to change out of his pilot suit.
Felix came out carrying his pilot suit in the bag. As he wondered whether he would have to take it to Siegel's home, Martinis spoke up.
"Captain Griffith, you can leave the pilot suit with me. I'll have someone take it to the Hangar and make sure it's stored safely."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Felix handed him the bag with a word of thanks.
Martinis