the air of the planet is toxic to human beings;
Flandry has already absorbed enough to kill in a few days;
he will need an antitoxin pill every thirty days plus one more before leaving;
it is the law that everyone receives just one pill at a time;
the authorities must keep a careful record and must not be careless.
Flandry is quiet for a long time, then says that he believes he does understand.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Actually, after two or three centuries of its strangling monopoly, many local dispensers had become sloppy or corrupt. Bribery and cooking of the books led to the emergence of a black market in antitoxin.
Sean
I think Flandry traced through all the political-social implications (including the inevitable black market) in that single moment of silence. Natural wit coupled with vast experience of human beings, and reading a lot of history (his hobby).
That's why nothing on Unan Besar surprises him after that.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
One thing that did puzzle Flandry for a while was discovering that, however corrupt and oppressive it was, Biocontrol's rule was still government by scientists and technicians. Flandry comment on how odd that was because the scientific mentality was poorly suited for handling something as sloppy and messy as politics.
Sean
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