What then, they were asked, was there to prevent everybody becoming purely a taker, with no obligation to give anything in return? That being the case, how could a society survive at all? Again the Ganymeans seemed unable to understand the problem. Surely, they pointed out, individuals possessed an instinct to contribute and one of the essential needs of living was the satisfaction of that instinct; why would anybody deliberately deprive himself
of the feeling of being needed? Apparently that was what motivated the Ganymean in place of monetary incentives-he simply could not live with the thought of not being of any use to anybody. He was just made that way. The worst situation he could find himself in was that of having to depend on society for his wants without being able to reciprocate, and anybody who sought such an existence deliberately was regarded as a social anomaly in need of psychiatric help and an object of sympathy-rather like a mentally retarded child. The observation that this was regarded by many on Earth as the ultimate fuffillment of ambition reinforced the Ganymean conviction that Homo sapiens had inherited some awful defects from the Lunarians. On a more encouraging note they expressed the view, based on what they knew of the last few decades of Man’s history, that Nature was slowly but surely repairing the damage.
By the time the conference had finished Hunt found that all the talking had made him thirsty. He asked ZORAC if there was anywhere nearby where he might get a drink and was informed that if he went out through the main door of the room he was in, turned right and followed the corridor for a short distance, he would come to an open seating area where refreshments were available. Hunt ordered a GTB and Coke-the latest product of the fusion of the two cultures and an instant hit with both-and left the mêlée of producers and technicians to follow the directions and pick up the drink at the dispensing unit.
As he turned and cast an eye around the area to look for a suitable seat, he noted absently that he was the only Earthinan present. A few Ganymeans were scattered around singly or in small groups, but most of the places were empty. He picked out a small table with a few unoccupied chairs around it, sauntered across and sat down. Apart from one or two slight nods of acknowledgment, none of the Ganymeans took any notice of him; anyone would have thought it an everyday occurrence for unaccompanied aliens to wander around their ship. The sight of the ashtray on the table prompted him to reach into his pocket for his cigarette pack. Then he stopped, momentarily puzzled; the Ganymeans didn’t smoke. He peered more closely at the ashtray and realized that it was standard UNSA issue. He looked around. Most of the tables had UNSA ashtrays. As usual the Ganymeans had thought of everything; naturally there would be Earthmen around with the confer-
ence that day. He sighed, shook his head in admiration and settled back into the huge expanse of upholstered luxury to relax with his thoughts.
He didn’t realize Shilohin was standing nearby until ZORAC spoke in his ear with the voice that it reserved for her. “Dr. Hunt, isn’t it? Good afternoon.”
Hunt looked up with a start and then recognized her. He grinned at the standard salutation and gestured toward one of the empty seats. Shilohin sat down and placed her own drink on the table.
“I see we seem to have had the same idea,” she said. “It’s thirsty work.”
“You can say that again.”
“Well. . . how do you think it went?”
“It was great. I think they were all fascinated. . . . I bet it’ll cause some pretty lively arguments back home.”
Shilohin seemed to hesitate for a second before going on. “You don’t think Monchar was too direct . . . too openly critical of your way of life and your values? Those things he said about the Lunarians for example. .
Hunt reflected for a moment while he drew on his cigarette.
“No, I don’t think so. If that’s the way Ganymeans see it, it’s much better if it’s said straight. . . . If you ask me, something like that has needed saying for a long time. I can’t think of anybody better to say it; more people might start taking notice now