CHAPTER XII  

  CHAPTER XIII  

  CHAPTER XIV  

  CHAPTER XV  

  CHAPTER XVI  

  CHAPTER XVII  

  CHAPTER XVIII  

  CHAPTER XIX  

  CHAPTER XX  

   

    

       CHAPTER I     

       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. Five-year contract, renewal option, starting salary 15,000 cr./annum with periodic increases. State age, school, marital status, and enclose recent tri-di with application. Address Box V-9, this journal.”      

       Jac Kennon read the box a second time. There must be a catch to it. Nothing that paid a salary that large could possibly be on the level. 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.     

       A five-year contract—hmm—that would be seventy-five thousand. Figure three thousand a 

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