you

fuel instead of the men? Now that we know it doesn't bother me?"
"You know we cannot," said the flat voice. "You are functional, Mister Slade—obviously functional. But our need is for reality, not function. We will get you to your homeworld at least as quickly as any other system of freighter connections is likely to do."
"Figured," said Slade. "Well, I'm not going to watch that, my friend."
He turned and stared up the glistening flank of the spire behind them. "You kept your bargain, and you didn't lie. Can't blame you for not wanting to lose your fuel supply, and I can't blame the folks here for discouraging immigrants." He shrugged. "Our sort of immigrants. But I'll work my passage out in a mine or any curst place before I watch you burn up my men!"
The Alayan nodded again. "I understand, Mister Slade," he said through his vocalizer.
Despite the emotions wracking him, Slade was quite convinced that the alien did understand.
"But please remember," the Alayan continued, "that—men—are lost during any long voyage. Because of our precautions, no one has been shot while gambling or been driven mad by adulterated stimulants. Most of your men will disembark on Desmo, Mister Slade, in better health than they will have a year later."
"What'll you do then?" Slade said harshly. "Send yourselves to Hell? Or rot for want of fuel?"
The Alayan's faces danced with a radiance only hinted in the sunlight. "We transport intelligent life forms among the stars faster and more cheaply than any rival," the vocalizer said. "We never lie about the terms, though we do not emphasize them either. We will find a cargo on Desmo, Mister Slade. And we will find fuel."
The Alayan walked back toward one of the tenders. He moved with the fragile dignity of an aged man. Lord preserve those men who would sail again with the creatures . . . but Don Slade had done all that he could himself.
Do you have to feel you have failed because outlaws won't take your word that a situation is dangerous? Cop!
A door snicked open at the base of the tower. Slade could not be certain