Lon's head was released. The skipper jerked a thumb. Men went out.
Lon looked about desperately for Cathy. She was there--dead white and
terrified, but apparently unharmed. She stared at Lon in wordless
pleading.
"You're a suspicious guy, aren't you?" asked the skipper sardonically.
"Somebody lays a finger on you and you start fighting. But you've got
the idea. I'll say it plain so we can get moving. You're Lon Simpson.
Carson, down on the planet, reported some nice news about you. You made
a gadget that converts any sort of leaf to _thanar_. Maybe it turns
stuff to other stuff, too." He paused. "We want to know how to make
gadgets like that. You're gonna draw plans an' explain the theory. I
got guys here to listen. We're gonna make one, from your plans an'
explanations, an' it'd better work. See?"
"Carson sent for you to do this," Lon Simpson said thickly.
"He did. The Company wants it. They'll use it to make _zuss_ fiber and
sicces dust, and stuff like that. Maybe dream dust, too, an' so on. The
point is you're gonna tell us how to make those gadgets. How about it?"