Captain asked Vena.
“A more-than-considerable amount,” she said dryly. “Exclusive contract on the forcefield applications.”
“How would they feel about bargaining for four to be turned over in about a year?”
Vena turned to the rulers and translated. The excited answer she got left no doubts in anyone’s mind that the Lacu’un were overjoyed at the prospect.
“Basically, Captain, you’ve just convinced the Lacu’un that you hung the moon.”
“Well—why don’t we settle down to a little serious negotiation, hmm?” the Captain said, nobly refraining from rubbing his hands together with glee. “I think that all our problems for the future are about to be solved in one fell swoop! Get over here, spacer. You and that cat have just received a promotion to Junior Negotiator.”
:Okay?: SKitty asked anxiously.
Yes, love, Dick replied, taking Erica’s place on a negotiator’s stool. Very okay!
A Tail of Two SKittys
The howls coming from inside the special animal shipping crate sounded impatient, and had been enough to seriously alarm the cargo handlers. Dick White, Spaceman First Class, Supercargo on the CatsEye Company ship Brightwing, put his hand on the outside of the plastile crate, just above the word “Property.” From within the crate the muffled voice continued to yowl general unhappiness with the world.
Tell her that it’s all right, SKitty, he thought at the black form that lay over his shoulders like a living fur collar. Tell her I’ll have her out in a minute. I don’t want her to come bolting out of there and hide the minute I crack the crate.
SKitty raised her head. Yellow eyes blinked once, sleepily. Abruptly, the yowling stopped.
:She fine,: SKitty said, and yawned, showing a full
“A more-than-considerable amount,” she said dryly. “Exclusive contract on the forcefield applications.”
“How would they feel about bargaining for four to be turned over in about a year?”
Vena turned to the rulers and translated. The excited answer she got left no doubts in anyone’s mind that the Lacu’un were overjoyed at the prospect.
“Basically, Captain, you’ve just convinced the Lacu’un that you hung the moon.”
“Well—why don’t we settle down to a little serious negotiation, hmm?” the Captain said, nobly refraining from rubbing his hands together with glee. “I think that all our problems for the future are about to be solved in one fell swoop! Get over here, spacer. You and that cat have just received a promotion to Junior Negotiator.”
:Okay?: SKitty asked anxiously.
Yes, love, Dick replied, taking Erica’s place on a negotiator’s stool. Very okay!
A Tail of Two SKittys
The howls coming from inside the special animal shipping crate sounded impatient, and had been enough to seriously alarm the cargo handlers. Dick White, Spaceman First Class, Supercargo on the CatsEye Company ship Brightwing, put his hand on the outside of the plastile crate, just above the word “Property.” From within the crate the muffled voice continued to yowl general unhappiness with the world.
Tell her that it’s all right, SKitty, he thought at the black form that lay over his shoulders like a living fur collar. Tell her I’ll have her out in a minute. I don’t want her to come bolting out of there and hide the minute I crack the crate.
SKitty raised her head. Yellow eyes blinked once, sleepily. Abruptly, the yowling stopped.
:She fine,: SKitty said, and yawned, showing a full