Sollenar cried out: "What did you sell him, then?"
The principal engineer said: "We made an entertainment device for him."
"A little thing. This size." Sollenar cupped his hands.
"You have seen it, then."
"Yes. And nothing more? That was all he bought here?"
"It was all we had to sell—or give. We don't yet know whether Earthmen will give us things in exchange for currency. We'll see, when we next need something from Aresia."
Sollenar demanded: "How did it work? This thing you sold him."
"Oh, it lets people tell stories to themselves."
Sollenar looked closely at the Martian. "What kind of stories?"
"Any kind," the Martian said blandly. "Burr told us what he wanted. He had drawings with him of an Earthman device that used pictures on a screen, and broadcast sounds, to carry the details of the story told to the auditor."