Kennon sighed and gave up. Alexander wasn’t going to reveal a thing.
“All I hope,” Alexander continued affably, “is that you’ll find Outworld Enterprises as attractive as did your predecessor Dr. Williamson. He was with us until he died last month—better than a hundred years.”
“Died rather young, didn’t he?”
“Not exactly, he was nearly four hundred when he joined us. My grandfather was essentially conservative. He liked older men, and Old Doc was one of his choices—a good one, too. He was worth every credit we paid him.”
“I’ll try to do as well,” Kennon said, “but I’d like to warn you that I have no intention of staying as long as he did. I want to build a clinic and I figure sixty thousand is about enough to get started.”
“When will you veterinarians ever learn to be organization men?” Alexander asked. “You’re as independent as tomcats.”
Kennon grinned. “It’s a breed characteristic, I guess.”
Alexander shrugged. “Perhaps you’ll change your mind after you’ve worked for us.”
“Possibly, but I doubt it.”
“Tell me that five years from now,” Alexander said—“Ah—here are the contracts.” He smiled at the trim secretary who entered the room carrying a stack of papers.
“The riders are as you asked, sir,” the girl said.
“Good. Now, Doctor, if you please.”
“You don’t mind if I check them?” Kennon asked.
“Not at all. And when you’re through, just leave them on the desk—except for your copy, of course.” Alexander scrawled his signature on the bottom of each contract. “Don’t disturb me. I’ll be in contact with you. Leave your whereabouts with your hotel.” He turned to the papers in front of him, and then looked up for the last time. “Just one more thing,” he said. “You impress me as a cautious man. It would be just as well if you carried your caution with you when you leave this room.”
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