"A safe journey, Paxel, and again, my regards to your mother and your father," Zainal said as Paxel made his way out of the hangar. A backward wave from Paxel acknowledged the civility even as Zainal turned to ask Kris, "Who is most drastically needed to return from Terra?"
"Without prejudice, I'd say Chuck would be invaluable," and Dorothy nodded from where she sat, grinning broadly.
"Maybe he even thought to make a list of the most urgently needed items. Won't we need to know which cartons to ransom?" Pe-ter asked. "Wouldn't want to buy a pig's ear for a purse."
"Would it be quicker to take Baby and go to Terra and collect the people we need?" Kris asked.
"Might be in the long run," Zainal agreed. "We do have destina-tions for most of them. Like the Doyle brothers. I'll need Ninety, Gino, and Mack Dargle, and you, please, Kris. Can you leave your daughter?" He knew how she doted on six-month-old Amy but she nodded a quick reassurance. This mission had a priority she couldn't ignore to play Mommy. Besides, in her absence both Amy and Zane would be well taken care of at the creche.
"What about our military?" Peter asked, referring to various ad-mirals and generals who had been dropped on Botany and were now busy with the reconstruction of Earth's facilities.
"Hmmm." Zainal considered this. "I'd certainly like their think-ing on this ransom business. Especially Ray Scott and John Beverly." "Yes, Scott has a reputation as a strategist but he has no Catteni." "No, but I'd value his opinion. I'll take any help I can get on this one."
"Good idea," Dorothy and Peter said simultaneously. Peter was plucking at his lower lip, a trait that most recognized as "Peter thinking."
"It's also a problem in public relations," Peter said. "We can get there with ransomables, but how do we know the merchants will then be willing to trade?"
"Kamiton said they would."
"Ha!" Peter sat forward with his hands clasped in front of him. "He didn't read the signs right when he thought he could get them to make restitution. I think we need a little more to make sure they'll exchange." "How would you suggest we do that, Peter?" Kris asked.
"I'm thinking about it," he said with a grin. "No better man."
"Wish your people had advertising or a public-service radio chan-nel. Get word about."
Zainal grinned. "Actually, a few rumors wouldn't be hard to start." "That's what we need. How?"
"By the very people we want to trade with us." "The merchants?"
"They tend to trade gossip, too," Zainal said with a cunning smile.
"And spread news."
"And?" Peter prompted him.
"And we can prime them, as it were."
"So they'll be lusting after our goods," Peter said, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
"We can hope," Zainal remarked, slightly skeptical.
"If we put out the right lures, they'll come. Especially if they are becoming consumer-oriented."
"We could also bring Botanical specialties," Kris said. "Like rock squats. Remember how our refugees liked them?"
"No, but I'll take your word for it," Zainal said with a grin, as he had been absent from Botany during the period when the colony had been a sanctuary for the families of Emassi who wanted them safe prior to the attack on the dread Eosi leaders.
"Even managed to get the boys to hunt with us," Peter said, amused by the recollection.
"Well, we should arrange a hunting party, then."
"And perhaps gather some of the tubers. I suspect that food is in short supply on Earth. Invasions do wreak havoc on crops."
"So, what needs to be done first?" Dorothy asked just as Peter reached the printer that had several sheets in its tray.
"Got a list here of Catteni-speakers who are away," he said and handed it to Zainal.
"And I have the list of possible barter goods," Kris said, pointing to her scribbled note listing what Mike Miller had told her.
"We do have a dentist," Jerry Short said, stopping in the doorway. "Name of Eric Sachs. Used to practice in New York. He's been on call at the hospital but doesn't have much equipment here. I've asked him to join us as soon as he can."
"Thanks, Jerry." Zainal made a check on his own notes and then paused. "How do you spell 'dentist'?" he asked.
Everyone told him at once but he got the word down on his pad, grinning as he wrote. "Thanks. I think these 'dentists' will be very useful. And we can get the equipment. What is generally needed?" "I've never needed much dentistry except to have my wisdom teeth pulled," Kris said, looking around.
"Well, I have-you know the Colgate-bright smile," Peter said and exposed his white, even teeth. "A good smile is essential in pub-lic relations. However, to preserve the image I wanted to present, I did get my front teeth"-he tapped them-"capped as a business ex-pense. Good teeth are a lifelong investment."
"What about gold ones?" Kris asked.
"That's not part of my culture," he said. "But a sign of importance or affluence in others. In present context, if it works, it'd be wonder-ful." He paused, raising his hand for silence. "To be Johnny-on-the-spot, we can also possibly provide the essential professional."
"Essential professional?" Zainal was totally confused.
"We bring our resident dentist with us-and he makes crowns on the spot?" Kris asked. Peter's wide smile answered her. "But a dentist needs a lot of equipment and supplies we don't have."
"Aren't we planning a trip to Earth anyway? We can pick up what we need, and sell the Catteni those gold teeth they're so fond of."
Kris snapped her fingers. "Just like that!"
"Why not? Who'd be stealing dental equipment?"
"Point," Kris conceded. As if on cue, there was a tap at the door and it swung open.
"I'm Eric Sachs," the man said, peering around the door. "Back on old Earth, I used to be a dentist. I was informed that I was wanted in here."
"Ah, good of you to come so quickly," Peter said, jumping to his feet and gesturing for the man to enter.
Aware of the scrutiny of everyone in the room, Eric Sachs moved with athletic ease toward the chair that Peter waved him to. He was of medium height, stocky build, dark hair cut close to his skull, as was the current trend on Botany, pleasant features, and brown eyes that sparkled with amused intelligence. He took the seat, facing Zainal, stretched out his legs, and folded his hands across his waist. Kris could see that the nail on his right thumb was distorted. He caught her glance and smiled at her.
"It wasn't my patients biting me," he said, "though some of them have. But my silly habit of holding dental X rays in exactly the position I want. Bad case of health and safety in the workplace but useful in obtaining clearer films. I'll probably lose more than the nail but:" He shrugged, philosophical over the price he would have to pay for that lack of attention to proper X-ray procedure.
"Thank you, Dr. Sachs" Zainal said, "Let me ask you a few questions about some procedures which may have more than ordinary significance for us right now"
"Such as?"
"Do dentists use pure gold for gold caps or tooth replacement?" "We use seventy-five percent or eighteen-carat gold, which expands and contracts almost identically with tooth enamel, so gold is the best material. In some of the newer procedures the range is thirty percent gold supplemented by platinum and mostly silver-nine to forty percent."
Zainal looked askance at Kris and she nodded, after checking that platinum was one of the metals that Mike had on hand.
"What sort of equipment would you need to practice?" Peter asked. "Is it portable enough for you to set up your office where needed?"
"Well, as I have currently no equipment whatever, beyond a tooth-pick and specula, any office will suffice. There are portable dental units. Armies travel with them," Eric said with another easy smile. He obviously intended to enjoy this unusual interview.