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belted, knee-length robes of blue-grey appeared from the drapes. They all had
two knives in their belts.
"Don't misunderstand me," said Coley, hastily, "I wouldn't have come here
unless I meant to do some business. How'd you like to make some money?"
Ynesh still stood without moving. But the three with knives disappeared back
into the drapery.
Coley breathed more easily. He walked forward to the desk and leaned close.
"I suppose," he said to the Yaran, "there's some sort of limit set on how much
interest you can charge, and how much you can lend the ordinary soldier."
Ynesh parted his thin lips.
"For every grade an amount of credit commensurate with the pay scale for that
grade. The interest rate is one tenth of the principal in the period of one
year, proportionately decreased for shorter lengths of time. This rate and
amount is set by the military Authority in Chief. Everyone but a Human would
know that, Human."
"Call me Coley," said Coley.
"Gzoly," replied the Yaran, agreeably.
"You wouldn't want to risk going above the amounts or charging a greater
interest rate, I take it?"
said Coley.
"And lose my license to lend?" said Ynesh. He had not pulled back from Coley.
They were talking, Coley suspected, with more cozy intimacy than probably any
Human and Yaran had talked to date. It was marvelous what the right sort of
topic could do to eradicate awkwardness in communication between the races. "I
would hardly be sensible to do that, Gzoly."
"What if somebody else would take the risks for you say, take your money and
lend it without a license, quietly, but for better than the usual rates of
interest, in any amount wanted?"
"Now who, Gzoly, would do that?" said Ynesh.
"Perhaps certain soldiers wouldn't object to acting as agents," said Coley.
"They borrow the money from you and relend to their fellow soldiers at higher
rates? Under the blanket, no questions asked, money in a hurry."
"Ah, but I wouldn't be able to lend each one of them more than his
grade-amount of credit, since it would surely be traced back to me," said
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Ynesh, but in no tone that indicated that he considered the topic closed.
"Moreover, where would be the extra profit? I'd have to lend to them at legal
rates." He paused, almost imperceptibly. The effect was that of a silent
shrug. "A pity. But that is the Game."
"Of course," said Coley. "On the other hand, there are no rules set up for me.
I could lend them as much as they wanted, at any rate I wanted. And also since
I'm a Human, you could lend me the money
originally at a higher-than-legal rate of interest."
"Ah," said Ynesh.
"I thought the idea would meet with your approval," said Coley.
"It might be worth trying in a limited way, Gzoly," said Ynesh. "Yes, I think
it might. I will be glad to lend you a small trial sum, at, say, a fifth part
in yearly interest."
"I'm afraid," said Coley, straightening up from the desk, "that you happen to
be one of those real people who would cut open the insect that spins the
golden nest. A fifth in interest would force me to relend at rates that would
keep my agents from finding any borrowers, after they had upped their own
rates to make their cut. I'm afraid I couldn't do business with you unless I
borrowed at no more than a ninth part."
"Ridiculous. I'm laughing," said Ynesh, without cracking a smile or twitching
a facial muscle. "If you're one of those people who always like to feel
they've beaten a little off the price for form's sake, I'll let you have your
first sum at five and a half."
"Goodbye," said Coley.
"Now, wait a minute," said Ynesh. "I might consider . . ." And the classical
argument proceeded along its classical lines, terminating in a rate to Coley
of eight and three-quarters part of the principal on a yearly basis.
"Now, the only question is," said Ynesh, after the rate had been settled,
"Whether I can trust you with such a sum as I had in mind. After all, what
proof have I "
"I imagine you've heard by this time," said Coley, drily. "The military
Authority has confined me to this area. If I try any tricks you won't have any
trouble finding me."
"True," said Ynesh, as if the thought had just struck him for the first time.
. . .
Coley went out with money in his pocket and intrigued the Yaran who sold food
in one of the eating and drinking establishments by ordering a large number of
different items and sampling them all in gingerly fashion. The search was not
a particularly pleasant one for Coley's tastebuds; but he did eventually come
up with a sort of a stew and a sort of a pudding that tasted reasonably
good and assuaged a two days hunger. He also tried a number of the Yaran
drinks, but ended up gagging on their oily taste and settled for water.
Then, having eaten and drunk, he glanced around the establishment. Not far off
across the room a
Yaran soldier with the green belt of the lower ranks was seated glumly at a
table holding an empty bowl and a stick of incense that had burned itself
completely out. Coley got up, went over and plumped down on a stool at the
same table.
"Cheer up," he said. "Have a drink on me. And tell me how'd you like to make
some money . . . ?"
* * *
It took about a week and a half for Coley's presence in the commercial area
and in the military establishment to make itself felt. Early the third day,
Coley discovered where the girl was being held in a sort of watchtower not far
from the main gate. However, there was no getting in to her and obviously she
could not get out though from the few glimpses Coley had had of her
uninterested face when it occasionally showed itself at the window of the
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