The Galaxy Primes | Page 8

"We will have order, please. Lola Montandon, our
anthropologist, will take charge. Keep it orderly, Lola, if you have to
throw half of them off the field. I'm going over to Administration and
check in. One of you reporters can come with me, if you like."
The man in the purple shirt got his bid in first. As the two men walked
away together, Garlock noted that the man was in fact a Second--his
flow of lucid, cogent thought did not interfere at all with the steady
stream of speech going into his portable recorder. Garlock also noticed
that in any group of more than a dozen people there was always at least
one guardian. They paid no attention whatever to the people, who in
turn ignored them completely. Garlock wondered briefly. Guardians?
The Arpalones, out in space, yes. But these creatures, naked and
unarmed on the ground? The Arpalones were non-human people. These
things were--what?
At the door of the Field Office the reporter, after turning Garlock over
to a startlingly beautiful, leggy, breasty, blonde receptionist-usherette,
hurried away.
He flecked a feeler at her mind and stiffened. How could a Two--a high
Two, at that--be working as an usher? And with her guard down clear
to the floor? He probed--and saw.
"Lola!" He flashed a tight-beamed thought. "You aren't putting out
anything about our sexual customs, family life, and so on."
"Of course not. We must know their mores first."
"Good girl. Keep your shield up."
"Oh, we're so glad to see you, Captain Garlock, sir!" The blonde, who

was dressed little more heavily than the cigarette girls in Venusberg's
Cartier Room, seized his left hand in both of hers and held it
considerably longer than was necessary. Her dazzling smile, her
laughing eyes, her flashing white teeth, the many exposed inches of her
skin, and her completely unshielded mind; all waved banners of
welcome.
"Captain Garlock, sir, Governor Atterlin has been most anxious to see
you ever since you were first detected. This way, please, sir." She
turned, brushing her bare hip against his leg in the process, and led him
by the hand along a hallway. Her thoughts flowed. "I have been, too, sir,
and I'm simply delighted to see you close up, and I hope to see a lot
more of you. You're a wonderfully pleasant surprise, sir; I've never
seen a man like you before. I don't think Hodell ever saw a man like
you before, sir. With such a really terrific mind and yet so big and
strong and well-built and handsome and clean-looking and blackish.
You're wonderful, Captain Garlock, sir. You'll be here a long time, I
hope? Here we are, sir."
She opened a door, walked across the room, sat down in an overstuffed
chair, and crossed her legs meticulously. Then, still smiling happily,
she followed with eager eyes and mind Garlock's every move.
Garlock had been reading Governor Atterlin; knew why it was the
governor who was in that office instead of the port manager. He knew
that Atterlin had been reading him--as much as he had allowed. They
had already discussed many things, and were still discussing.
The room was much more like a library than an office. The governor, a
middle-aged, red-headed man a trifle inclined to portliness, had been
seated in a huge reclining chair facing a teevee screen, but got up to
shake hands.
"Welcome, friend Captain Garlock. Now, to continue. As to exchange.
Many ships visiting us have nothing we need or can use. For such, all
services are free--or rather, are paid by the city. Our currency is based
upon platinum, but gold, silver, and copper are valuable. Certain jewels,
also...."

"That's far enough. We will pay our way--we have plenty of metal.
What are your ratios of value for the four metals here on Hodell?"
"Today's quotations are...." He glanced at a screen, and his fingers
flashed over the keys of a computer beside his chair. "One weight of
platinum is equal in value to seven point three four six...."
"Decimals are not necessary, sir."
"Seven plus, then, weights of gold. One of gold to eleven of silver. One
of silver to four of copper."
"Thank you. We'll use platinum. I'll bring some bullion tomorrow
morning and exchange it for your currency. Shall I bring it here, or to a
bank in the city?"
"Either. Or we can have an armored truck visit your ship."
"That would be better yet. Have them bring about five thousand tanes.
Thank you very much, Governor Atterlin, and good afternoon to you,
sir."
"And good afternoon to you, sir. Until tomorrow, then."
Garlock turned to leave.
"Oh, may I go with you to your ship, sir, to take just a little look at it?"
the girl asked, winningly.
"Of course,