"And furthermore," said Mayne, before it could be suggested that the owner might be Meeg, "what I have arranged here with Melin and Voorhis is that the cargo now belongs to all of the Terran people."
Eemakh began to scowl, an impressive contortion on a broad, olive Kappan visage. Mayne hurried on.
"This being the case, the Kappans have absolutely no right to deny us the privilege of contributing all these goods to the glory of their temple!"
"Oh, boy!" grunted Haruhiku. He rattled off the translation.
Mayne watched it hit home. Igrillik leaned over to peer at him unbelievingly. Eemakh seemed to have difficulty in focusing his glowing eyes on the Terran.
There were, of course, requests for clarification. Mayne left the repetitions to the pilot.
In the end, Eemakh arose and embraced him, a startling action that left Mayne feeling introspectively of his ribs. Igrillik called out something to the bodyguard attending the chief, causing Mayne to repress a shudder at the flashing display of big Kappan teeth. He assumed that a smile was a humanoid constant.
Haruhiku's pilot approached with a new message.
"Now they have to land near here, in half an hour or less," said the spacer.
"There's just one more thing," Mayne told him. "Voorhis is satisfied, Melin—look, he's gone to sleep on the table!—is relieved, the Kappans are friendly, and J. P. McDonald will be happy when he lands. Now I have to get myself off the hook for two million!"