taken. The hogs practically destroyed the economy of Sumatra, because the cats, which had checked the hog population, had been destroyed." Bartok said. "Clever fable. All the Hog eats is us and domestic animals. And killing him will not destroy his species." "I'll accept that," I said. "The second condition is that I must learn if the Hog has near-human intelligence, and if we can communicate with him." Eijkman laughed harshly. "Communicate? The Hog has no intelligence." "Very well. The last condition is that you must pay my fee, since this private planet makes no donations to Galactic Government." I impulsively doubled my rates and said, "My fee is one thousand x-tops, fifty coupons, to be paid when I've killed the Hog." Eijkman said, "Gangster!" Macready said, "Give him platinum bars. Have too many now." I raised my voice above the arguing. "There's a standard form in my Travel Book. It relieves GG of any consequences and guarantees that I be paid. It must be signed by the highest authority on the planet." "The Jury is head here!" Eijkman said. "Order!" His Perfectness mumbled from above, "Give, uh, the alien the form." Eijkman looked as if he had swallowed something sour. He muttered, "His Perfectness suggests Criminal Alien Kinlock get the statement. Vote." The other four Maximums nodded. Eijkman said, "Am opposed. Four to one." Quesnay said, "Good—uh, give the uh statement. Guards, huh, find his baggage. Take him, er, to Dominant Rasmussen." Eijkman growled at me, "Will leave this planet at 18:00 o'clock Fourday!" VI: FIVEDAY EVENING By the time my papers had been located and the form filled and stamped by the Jury, and my luggage had been found and loaded on a three-wheeled cart, Joe's Sun was setting. A guard, who talked enough to reveal that his name was Smith, guided me through the stifling streets. Already the dark nebula was visible, and thunder-clouds on the horizon added to the possibility that the sky was having convulsions. Smith helped me pull the cart up a ramp to the planked
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