Rodriguez.
“And for pans and such?”
“Of course,” said Rodriguez.
“What do you think the likelihood would be of their possessing a native metallurgy?” asked Brenner.
“Zero, at best,” grinned Rodriguez.
“You do not think it likely?”
“No,” said Rodriguez. “Now if you were talking about the six-inch Abderan weed snake or the marine slug of Chios that would be different.”
“You do not think it likely?”
“The thought is absurd,” said Rodriguez. “Look at them. Consider them. Their brains are about the size of your fist. They do not even work clay. They do not even have a native pottery.”
“They trade for their scarps,” said Brenner.
“Of course,” said Rodriguez.
“Where do they obtain them?” asked Brenner.
“Company Station,” said Rodriguez.
“I examined a scarp recently,” said Brenner. “It did not bear the company mark.”
“Is that what this is all about?” asked Rodriguez.
“Yes,” admitted Brenner.
“The scarp may not have been marked,” said Rodriguez. “It might have been missed, the stamper malfunctioning. It might have been defective, and rejected by quality control before being marked, but somehow, by intent or otherwise, been included amongstst trade goods. The company might not even mark them all. It may have been received through the company, or through a company employer, and had its source in an independent supplier. It might even have been made in a shop at Company Station by a mechanic, and not even be a company scarp.”
“Of course,” admitted Brenner. “There are many possible explanations.”
They walked on, in silence, beside the sled for a time.
“Do you know the one that had the scarp?” said Rodriguez.
“Yes,” said Brenner. Over the past few days he had become adept at distinguishing amongst the Pons. As was common with the Pons, as with most sorts of creatures, rabbits, gits, sheep, and such, one recognized them at the beginning only by general, obvious characteristics, and then, later, as one grew more familiar with them, one drew finer distinctions. One begins by recognizing sorts, and, later, individuals within the sorts. Many creatures in the galaxy, incidentally, had difficulty in telling the members of Brenner’s and Rodriguez’ species apart. Whereas to a member of their species, they appeared quite different, indeed, obviously so, even so acute, if ponderous, an intelligence as that of a megabregma might confuse them. To be sure, there was not much interest in the galaxy, amongstst most creatures, in telling the members of Brenner’s and Rodriguez’ species apart. Indeed, there was generally not much point in doing so. Whereas Brenner was now adept at telling the Pons apart, he being interested in them, at least to some extent, and having made a serious effort, if only as a scientist, to do so, it must be admitted that Rodriguez, in spite of his considerable intelligence, had given the matter little consideration. He did not have a great deal of interest, certainly at least at present, in individualizing Pons. It did not seem to him important to do so. He regarded them all as rather ineffectual and despicable, and, for most practical purposes, interchangeable. And, in this, Brenner thought he might actually have the most appropriate perspective. For certain purposes of study, one git or slug, so to speak, would do as well as another.
“Which one?” asked Rodriguez.
“That one,” said Brenner.
Brenner was naturally intrigued at Rodriguez’ apparent interest. Whereas Rodriguez had earlier, at least to Brenner’s satisfaction, settled the matter quite adequately, sufficiently accounting for it, appropriately dismissing it for its inconsequentiality, he had not, apparently, at least upon reflection, managed to similarly assuage his own curiosity. It would be something of an anomaly, of course, to find a company object, particularly a manufactured article, an object for sale or trade, which did not bear the company mark. Rodriguez’ interest, of course, once expressed, immediately revived Brenner’s.
“You!” barked Rodriguez.
The Pons looked up, like small animals startled by a sudden, unexpected, possibly dangerous noise, then holding so still and silent as to be almost invisible.
“You!” said Rodriguez. “Yes, you! Come here. Quick! Quick!”
Rodriguez gestured, impatiently.
Reluctantly the Pon approached, its eyes wide like small moons. It was a small, timid creature.
“Do not be afraid,” said Brenner, slowly, clearly, softly, coaxingly, soothingly.
To be sure, Rodriguez could have broken its neck with one hand.
When it was close enough Rodriguez reached out and drew it to him by the robes.
The other Pons watched, curiously. They made no move to intercede for, or to protect or defend, their fellow creature. That was not the way of the Pons. They were not powerful animals, of course, and, too, perhaps, what was one Pon more