Rick took the normal chair. The alien went to the highchair. It fitted perfectly. "And my-rescuer?" Rick asked. It was difficult to know how to speak. There were no referents, and Rick had no idea of what would offend ejther the human or the alien. Obviously he should avoid terms like "this critter" or "stretchy here," but what could he call the creature?
"His name translates as 'Goldsmith,'" Agzaral said. "Many Shalnuksi names derive from ancient occupations. That seems a nearly universal cultural trait among industrializing peoples. If you prefer his own language, it is 'Karreeel.' "The last was said with a twitter that Rick couldn't possibly pronounce.
"Pleased to meet you," Rick said. "An expression that we don't always mean, but given the way we met, I certainly do. Only-"
"Only you would like to know why he made the effort," Agzaral said. "I listened to part of your conversation with the other officer." He switched to the twitter-and-snarl language again and spoke briefly.
"We have need of you," Karreeel said. His facial slits flared briefly. "We have need of human soldiers, and we went to great expense and difficulty to locate you."
"But why us?" Rick demanded.
"Because you would not be missed," Agzaral said. "And you could be taken aboard his ship without anyone seeing it. There are severe regulations against allowing the ships to be seen."
"Flying saucers," Rick said. "But you have been seen-"
"Some have," Agzaral corrected. "Not Karreeel. The ships that have been seen were employed by students. Fortunately, none of those sightings can be proved." He sighed. It seemed to Rick a very human sigh. "It is my unpleasant task to investigate every instance in which a ship has been seen and reported."
"I see," Rick said. "And then what?"
"We have agents on Earth," Agzaral said. "They discredit the sighting reports."
"They've done a good job," Rick said. He remembered what he had thought of UFO stories, and the people who 'believed in flying saucers.' Brass-plated nuts. "The"-he hesitated at the unfamiliar word -"Shalnuksis -are studying us?"
Agzaral's lips curled in what Rick thought might be a thin smile. "No. Others study Earth. Including other humans. But the-" He paused. "I will not in future stop myself when I require a term that you will not quite understand. I will simply use the nearest equivalent. There is a High Commission which regulates trade with primitive worlds, particularly with Earth, and protects primitive peoples from crude exploitation. The Commission forbids trade or other intercourse with your planet."
"But why?" Rick demanded. He was surprised at how calm he felt. One part of his mind wanted him to scream and run in circles, flapping his arms, but instead he found it easy enough to sit calmly and politely conversing with a human who was not from Earth and an alien who resembled a stretched-out chimpanzee with a single nostril and no neck. It was all so completely ordinary; the conversational tones, the gestures- "Your planet is in an interesting stage of development," Agzaral said. "Trade will not be allowed until it is decided what – until the studies are completed."
"What the hell do you want with me, then?" Rick demanded.
"I want nothing," Agzaral said. "You are, for me, a great annoyance. Karreeel has an offer which I believe you should consider."
"Shoot-uh, go ahead. What's the offer?"
"My-colleagues-and I are merchants. More correct would be 'merchant-adventurers,'" Karreeel said. When he spoke, he paused frequently, and Rick wondered if he had some kind of translating machine, so that he could think of what he wanted to say and get the English. There was no sign of wires or a hearing aid, but that wasn't decisive.
"'Merchant-adventurers,'" Rick repeated. He couldn't help remembering that the Gentleman Adventurers of the Honourable East India Company had gone out and conquered India for England, and he wondered if the aliens had a similar fate in mind for Earth.
"Yes," said Karreeel. "We now have a need for human soldiers. The price of mercenaries has become-excessively high. We gambled that we could find soldiers here and yet not violate- Inspector-Agzaral's regulations. If you will agree, we will have succeeded."
"If we agree," Rick said.
Agzaral wagged his head in a manner that Rick thought strange; when he saw Rick's reaction, he checked himself and nodded. "You are under no compulsion to accept," he said. "When he has made his offer, I will tell you what alternatives are permitted for you."
"There is a planet, far from here," Karreeel said. "It has a primitive society, much more primitive than yours. The planet can support a highly valuable crop, one that cannot be grown easily anywhere else. We need assistance in getting those crops planted and harvested."
Rick shook his head. This didn't make sense. "Why don't you grow your own?"
The alien made a gesture with his left hand, and both his facial slits flared wide. "Why should one of us be condemned to live on a primitive world?"
"But we're not farmers-"
"We do not expect you to do any farming. There is a local population. Unfortunately, the planet is very primitive, in a state of-feudalism. Our need is not farmers, but soldiers to impose a government which will wish to plant our required crops, harvest them, and deliver the harvest to us."
"And what makes you think we'll be interested in living on a primitive world?" Rick demanded.
"Your reward should be obvious. You will rule as you will, without interference. You will have wealth and power, and you will have only to see that our crops are grown. We will supply you with luxuries and comforts in trade."
"This sounds like a long-term project," Rick said.
"Of course," Karreeel said.
Before Agzaral spoke, Rick knew what he was going to say.
"The task will last your lifetime," Agzaral said. "Captain Galloway, surely it must be obvious to you that you and your men will never return to Earth."
4
"Just a damn minute!" Rick exploded. "You kidnap us, and then-"
"Rescued," Agzaral said. "I asked you about it. I have taken the trouble to check the story. It is obvious to me that you would be dead if Karreeel had not taken you aboard his ship. Do you dispute that?"
Rick felt the anger drain out to be replaced by fear. "No. I can't dispute that. But why can't we go home?"
"Because you would be believed," Agzaral said. "Too many witnesses. Karreeel planned on that, of course. By deliberately taking aboard such a large number, he made it certain that someone would take you seriously if you returned to Earth."
"You mentioned alternatives," Rick said. Agzaral nodded. "You have few enough. None include going back to your own world. You would have to stay here, in that chamber where you are now, until transport could be arranged to another planet. Some of you could probably find positions as experimental subjects for the university. Others might-find different work. I do not know what would happen to the majority. The High Commission would have to decide. I would have to report that you have been offered employment and refused it. Humans unwilling to work do not always have a pleasant life on most of our worlds. And it may be several years before transport could be found-at least for all of you."
"That's not much choice at all."
"Or you may commit suicide," Agzaral said.