"Five hundred and eighty-four days is a long time to be stuck on a mudbank." — John Wyndham

One got tired, and not infrequently a little stupid, by the end of a shift.

He listened closely, and nodded several times, though not always where a nod seemed appropriate.

The Americans had got into the habit of regarding the moon as a piece of U.S.-bespoken real estate that they would get around to developing when they were ready.