Van Rijn proposes a prize or reward for whoever solves the Borthudian piracy problem:
"'...please to note, he who tries something active will take on the risk and expense. If he succeeds, he saves profits for all. Does not a tiny return on his investment sound fair and proper?'" (p. 85)
Van Rijn's idea of a tiny return is 10% of everyone's Antarean profits for the next 10 years. He acknowledges that he has started to have an idea - but it needs to be developed and will be dangerous. There is mild humor and irony in Poul Anderson's description of the ensuing discussion. In my copy of The Earth Book Of Stormgate, the irony is accentuated by an accident of pagination. When van Rijn has asked his question (see above):
"There was more argument. Van Rijn smiled with..." (ibid.)
"...infinite benevolence." (p. 86)
When a compact has been recorded, he beams and orders the butler to prepare an orgy though I wonder how he expects to include the Martian and the Centaurian. (The latter's masculine pronoun is printed inside inverted commas.)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Ha! I'm rereading THE DAVINCI HOAX, but now I want to reread either or both versions of "Margin of Profit."
As for how Old Nick's non human guests could take part in his proposed orgy, we can speculate he had female or whatever was the appropriately sexed members of their species waiting, off scene!
Ad astra! Sean
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