"Somehow I think that this is your membership card to the club," he said. He read it, smiled, and passed the sheet to Lanceford. "And now, Arthur, before I appoint you as a Niobe Staff member, I'd like to know one thing."
"What is that, sir?"
"Just why in the name of hell did you bring that pack in here with you? I've just realized where that smell is coming from!"
"I didn't dare leave it anywhere," Lanceford said. "Someone might have thrown it down a disposal chute."
"I wouldn't blame them. That's vorkum you have in there, isn't it?"
Lanceford nodded. "Yes, sir. I didn't want to lose it."
"Why not? We can always get more from the natives if we need it."
"I know that, sir. We can, but this is all I'll get for the next six months, and if I ration myself carefully, it might last that long. You see, sir, it's mildly habit-forming—like cigarettes—and one gets accustomed to it. And besides, you really don't know what flavor is until you've tried vorkum on chocolate."