"There is an element of truth in that," admitted Melin. "Still, it would be rash to expect such a return every time a tramp spaceship lands to swap with some aboriginal easy marks."
"I suppose," said Mayne, "that our orange-eyed friends speak no Terran?"
"I hope not!" exclaimed Voorhis.
"Well, anyway," Melin said after a startled pause, "how can we be expected to pay off on hopes? He wants the paper figure for the ship; but he refuses the paper figure for the cargo."
Mayne shrugged. He turned to Haruhiku.
"If Captain Voorhis and Mr. Melin don't mind, lieutenant, I'd like to get the chief's view of all this."
"Hah!" grunted Voorhis, clapping both hands to his head.
Melin contented himself with rolling his eyes skyward.
With Haruhiku translating, Mayne began to get acquainted with the Kappans. The visitor from the neighboring city chose mostly to listen attentively, but Igrillik, the priest, occasionally leaned over to whisper sibilantly into Eemakh's recessed ear. Mayne fancied he saw a resemblance between the two, despite Igrillik's professional trappings—a long robe of rough material that had been dyed in stripes and figures of several crude colors, and a tall cap to which were attached a number of pairs of membraneous wings.
