Larkin went inside. The Martian had entered by the side door. He was
tall and slender, with a big chest and a skin the color of old copper.
His features were finely moulded, the face of a dreaming esthetic. In
one hand he held a jewel, one of the Martian opals, uncut. At a glance
Larkin knew that this opal was worth approximately seventy dollars
delivered on Earth.
In the other hand the Martian held a list which he was turning in
nervous, uncertain fingers.
"Yes, Seekin?" Larkin said.
The Martian smiled. A little uncertainly he pushed the list across the
counter.
"I do not need all of these for me and mine, but the ground is prepared
and ready, and if I have these minerals I will be able to grow more
than I need. Then there will be something over for someone else to use
in the time of scarcity." His voice was as soft as a breeze, there was
no hint of a demand in it. But there was a pleading in the eyes that
looked at the human.
Larkin took the list. Rapidly translating the Martian script, he saw
that Seekin wanted approximately five grams of powdered cobalt, copper,
boron, manganese, with traces of iron, zinc, and calcium. Phosphorus
also was included and a smattering of trace elements.
The trader went quickly to the bins and filled the order, tossing the
correct amount of the powdered elements into the agitator for mixing.
He spun the crank of the agitator and the machine hummed softly. The
powdered minerals poured from the spout. He bagged the mixture. His
practiced eye told him that the cost of these minerals, delivered here
on Mars, was approximately two hundred dollars.
The Martian's eyes became fixed longingly on the little bag when
Larkin laid it on the counter. There was an eagerness in the eyes that
was almost as strong as the eagerness for life itself. But there was
uncertainty too. He fumbled with the opal.
"This is all we have," he said.
Larkin grinned. "It's odd, isn't it, how things achieve a balance?
Those minerals come to just exactly the price of this jewel."