I picked up the metal counters and began examining them. They were crudely made, and without milled edges. Two of them appeared to be of aluminum; on one side was an ant in relief, and under it the inscription,
LABOR COMMON
37
on the other side, in bold letters, were the words,
HALF HEKTONE
FIFTY ONES
There were two smaller pieces, of a yellowish-gray, each stamped,
TWENTY-FIVE ONES
It did not take me more than a moment’s calculation to see that if the hektone was a hundred units of currency, or labor hours, I had only a hektone and a half instead of two. I told the clerk of the deficiency.
“Don’t lie! Sign that!” he shouted, pushing an inkpad and printed form toward me.