Page 10 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Unloading the Warehouse of Nim

PKU base and engaged a Cultivator. The Nworg farmer had become
very nervous upon hearing his own language coming out of a small
box strapped to Lugo’s shoulder, but a small gift of PKU commissary
pickled jalapeños soon established the basis for an amicable
conversation.
Thus Lugo learned about Collection Time. With great glee he had
confided in Kaga, “It’s tonight! All the Cultivators in this area have to
put their oldest Appliance out on their doorsteps. And they always
do: you know why? If they don’t, they won’t get anything at
Distribution Time! At least, that’s what they believe. It’s been so long
since the Engineers died out that nobody knows why they do certain
things, just that they have to do them.”
“That’s very interesting,” Kaga had replied. “Are you going to
submit a report on this new information?”
“Uh, no, not yet. I want to find out a few more things first-hand.”
“Wait a minute, Lugo! I hope you’re not intending to go out
tonight. We’ve got an exam tomorrow on astroeconomics and—”
“Never mind,” Lugo had said, with a wave of his hand. “I know
that stuff cold. See you!”
The next morning Lugo had arrived late for the test; Kaga watched
him feverishly punch buttons in an effort to catch up with the
questions. Afterward he cornered his friend in the corridor. Lugo was
haggard and bleary.
“Come on up to my room,” said Kaga. “I’ve got a special
neurotonic spray that will fix you right up. But don’t tell anyone
about it: I mixed it up myself.”
“Great!” said Lugo. “I definitely need something. You really are a
whiz with a gene splicer.”
Once revived, Lugo leaned back in a chair and sighed. “What a
night! Well, now I know it all. The whole cycle of Nworg Appliances.
Let me tell you what happened. First, I borrowed a hovercar from
the motor pool—”
He was interrupted by a loud groan from Kaga.
“Oh, no, don’t worry; I returned it in one piece. Anyway, I drove
to a Cultivator’s house and parked behind a granary out of sight of
his door. I set up a scanner to notify me if anything happened on the
porch and then I took a nap. It woke me up a bit later and I watched
as the occupant put out an Appliance and went back inside. It was a
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