The alien thought that over for a time. "You do not intend to return me to Earth?" he asked.
"Is there any reason why you should expect us to?" Srtes replied.
"To me it seems there is," he said. "I fulfilled my part of the contract. Shouldn't I expect you, as a fair return, to see that I got back to Earth?"
Srtes' expression betrayed a mild irritation. "We had no contract," he said. "You were given to us to do with as we wished. Now that our study is completed, we owe you nothing."
"I expected as much," the alien said, almost without interest. "Will you tell me then, what I can do to help myself? I presume you do not intend to furnish me with food and shelter indefinitely."
"You will be permitted to keep your room until you find new quarters. The rest is your own responsibility."
He considered that for a long moment. "Do you have any suggestions as to how I might go about earning my living?" he asked.
"If you have any serviceable skill, you will probably be able to find employment for it. If not—" Sites shrugged.
"How would I know what skills would be useful here? I know practically nothing about you."
"I'm afraid that's your own problem," Srtes said. "If you are unable to adapt, you will not survive. It is the natural law."