"Galactic will offer satisfactoryitems in exchange, as well as a solution to Terra's problems."
The Scoop, sensing Jennifer's surrender, slid its ponderous bulk nearerand opened its mouth, leaving half an acre of lower jaw resting flushwith the _Island Queen's_ deck. Without hesitation, Jennifer steppedover the rail and vanished into the yawning pinkish cavern beyond.
Appalled, Jeff rushed after her. "Jennifer! Have you lost your mind?"
"There is no danger," Chafi Three assured him. "Scoops are benevolent aswell as intelligent, and arrived long ago at a working agreement withthe islanders. This one has produced a crystal and is ready to berelieved of it, else it would not have attached itself to a convenienthuman."
Jeff said dizzily, "The Scoops make the crystals?"
"There is a nidus just back of a fleshy process in its throat,corresponding to your own tonsils, which produces a crystal much as yourTerran oyster secretes a pearl. The irritation distracts the Scoops fromtheir meditations--they are a philosophical species, though notmechanically progressive--and prompts them to barter their strength fora time to be rid of it."
* * * * *
Jennifer reappeared with a walnut-sized crystal in her hand and vaultedacross the rail.
"There goes another Scoop," she said resignedly. "The _Queen_ will haveto tack with the wind for a while until another one shows up."
"So that's why your sails bellied backward when you came in to harbor,"said Jeff. "The thing was _towing_ you."
A thin, high streak of vapor-trail needling down toward them from thesunrise rainbow turned the channel of his thought.
"That will be Satterfield and his task force," Jeff told the Chafis. "Ithink you're going to find yourselves in an argument over that matter ofsqueezing Terra out of the crystal trade."
They reassured him solemnly.
"Terra has no real need of the crystals. We can offer a tested geneticsprogram that will eliminate racial anxiety within a few generations, andsupply neural therapy equipment--on a trade basis, of course--that willserve the crystals' purpose during the interim."
There should be a flaw somewhere, Jeff felt, but he failed to see one.He gave up trying when he found Jennifer eying him with uncharacteristicuncertainty.
"You'll be glad to get back to your patrol work," she said. It had anoddly tentative sound.
Somehow the predictable monotony of consulate work had never seemed lessinviting. The prospect of ending his Calaxian tour and going back to ahalf-barren and jittery Earth appealed to Jeff even less.
"No," he said. "I'd like to stay."
"There's nothing to do but fish and sail around looking for Scoops readyto shed their crystals," Jennifer reminded him. "Still, Uncle Charliehas talked about settling in the Township and standing for Councilelection. Can you fish and sail, Jeff Aubray?"
The consulate rocket landed ashore, but Jeff ignored it.
"I can learn," he said.
--ROGER DEE
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Galaxy_ February 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
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