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"I can see that," Kennon said uncomfortably. "You ought to dismantle them. They're enough to give a man the weebies." Alexander chuckled. "Oh they're safe. The firing mechanism's safetied. But we keep them in operating condition. You never can tell when they'll come in handy." "I knew Kardon was primitive, but I didn't think it was that bad. What's the trouble?"
The spaceline schedules showed only one departure in the next month, a Shortliner for Earth, and from Earth the road to Kardon was long and tortuous, involving a series of short jumps from world to world and a final medium-range hop from Halsey to Kardon. If everything went right and he made every connection he would be in Kardon four months after he left Beta.
The boxed ad in the opportunities section of the Kardon Journal of Allied Medical Sciences stood out like a cut diamond in a handful of gravel. "Wanted," it read, "Veterinarian for residency in active livestock operation. Single recent graduate preferred. Quarters and service furnished. Well-equipped hospital.
"How should I know?" Kennon asked. "But I'm sure Alexander will. That's his field." "All you have to worry about is whether he'll co-operate," Brainard said. "He'll co-operate once he knows the score," Kennon said confidently. "And he'll have to make some form of restitution. But it shouldn't involve Kardon. Actually the Lani were never in a position to develop that world.
Fifteen thousand a year was top pay even on Beta, and an offer like this for a new graduate was unheard of unless Kardon was in the middle of an inflation. But Kardon wasn't. The planet's financial status was A-1. He knew. He'd checked that immediately after landing. Whatever might be wrong with Kardon, it wasn't her currency. The rate of exchange was 1.2-1 Betan.
He had no doubt that the Family would fight. Too much money and prestige were involved. To prove the Lani human would destroy Outworld Enterprises on Kardon. Yet this thought did not bother him. To his surprise he had no qualms of conscience. He was perfectly willing to violate his contract, break faith with his employers, and plot their ruin. The higher duty came first the duty to the human race.
See where that basic data fits?" "But I've always known that." "You just think you have. Search your memory and see if I'm not right." Copper shook her head. "It's very strange," she said. "But that's not important. This idea of going back to Kardon, though that's a different thing that is important." "I have to do it. Not only because it's a personal moral obligation but also because of the Lani.
Like Australia in reverse." Kennon looked blank, and Alexander chuckled. "Australia was a subcontinent on Earth," he explained. "Its ecology, however, was exceedingly primitive when compared with the rest of the planet. Flora's on the contrary, was and is exceedingly advanced when compared with other native life forms on Kardon." "Your grandfather stumbled on a real bonanza," Kennon said.
I can refer you to Dr. James Brainard, Huntersville Medical Center. Yes, I'll accept charges. Now will you give me that number? BCA 7-8941 thank you." Kennon hung up, dialed the number, and waited. "Hello," he said. "Mr. Alexander? This is Dr. Kennon. Yes I suppose you do, but I've been trying to get back to Kardon for the past month. You are?
He was returning to Kardon, and Copper was not coming with him. She had a duty to their son and he had a duty to his contract with Alexander, to the Lani on Flora, and to Copper and none of these could be satisfied by further running. He had to return and settle the account. A tall man in a conservative yellow-and-black suit was waiting patiently in front of his room.
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