l things. Supply sends them over in
cartons and I take care of the delivery."

"How?" Jason asked.

"By armored truck to the delivery site. Then I go back later to pick up
the food they've left in exchange."

"Can I go with you on the next delivery?"

Krannon frowned over the idea for a minute. "Yeah, I suppose it's all
right if you're stupid enough to come. You can help me load. They're
between harvests now, so the next trip won't be for eight days--"

"But that's after the ship leaves--it'll be too late. Can't you go
earlier?"

"Don't tell me your troubles, mister," Krannon grumbled, climbing to his
feet. "That's when I go and the date's not changing for you."

Jason realized he had got as much out of the man as was possible for one
session. He started for the door, then turned.

"One thing," he asked. "Just what do these savages--the grubbers--look
like?"

"How do I know," Krannon snapped. "I trade with them, I don't make love
to them. If I ever saw one, I'd shoot him down on the spot." He flexed
his fingers and his gun jumped in and out of his hand as he said it.
Jason quietly let himself out.

Lying on his bunk, resting his gravity-weary body, he searched for a way
to get Krannon to change the delivery date. His millions of credits were
worthless on this world without currency. If the man couldn't be
convinced, he had to be bribed. With what? Jason's eyes touched the
locker where his off-world clothing still hung, and he had an idea.

It was morning before he could return to the food warehouse--and one day
closer to his deadline. Krannon didn't bother to look up from his work
when Jason came in.

"Do you want this?" Jason asked, handing the outcast a flat gold case
inset with a single large diamond. Krannon grunted and turned it over in
his hands.

"A toy," he said. "What is it good for?"

"Well, when you press this button you get a light." A flame appeared
through a hole in the top. Krannon started to hand it back.

"What do I need a little fire for? Here, keep it."

"Wait a second," Jason said, "that's not all it does. When you press the
jewel in the center one of these comes out." A black pellet the size of
his fingernail dropped into his palm. "A grenade, made of solid
ulranite. Just squeeze it hard and throw. Three seconds later it
explodes with enough force to blast open this building."

This time Krannon almost smiled as he reached for the case. Destructive
and death-dealing weapons are