Page 17 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Unloading the Warehouse of Nim

“But that is getting away from the question of Nworg origins.
Wherever they came from, their social development can be inferred
using some of the computer simulation techniques we’ve learned in
the Academy. I have been doing just that in my spare time, and I
concluded that the Nworg did not send forth a complete cross-
section of their population in the colonizing module. So, who’s
missing? The algorithms indicate it is the Traders, the mediators
between the production of Appliances and their consumers. They
were obviously excluded by the home planet Rulers as unnecessary to
what they saw as a purely mechanical process of supplying non-
essential goods. But Traders had to have existed on the home world
of the Nworg; of that we can be reasonably certain, thanks to the
Laws of Socio-economic Development.”
Lugo broke in. “And you got Lotfalla to believe all this?”
“I showed him the output. It speaks for itself. Now, for the
solution: the Engineers are gone, and the cat is out of the bag. The
Cultivators are engaged in chaotic plundering and hoarding of
Appliances. The warehouse will soon be stripped bare and
production will cease— unless the Rulers take steps to restore order.
But, as I said before, they can’t go back. They must take our advice.”
“Which is what?”
“First, to let us retrain some of the Cultivators as Traders. Then
the Appliances can be re-integrated into the Nworg economy.
Second, to make a deal with the PKU to supply the factory with
additional raw materials for the production of enough Appliances to
meet the real demand. This last suggestion had a special appeal to the
Colonel, since it would be a feather in his cap to be the first to
negotiate a real trade agreement with the Nworg. When I left him I
could tell he was favorably inclined to my proposals. I, of course,
shall remain anonymous, and the investigation into our activities
these past weeks will be dropped. So, you can relax: the heat is off.”
“Whew!” sighed Lugo. “What a relief! You really got me out of a
tight spot, Kaga. How can I ever thank you?”
“Don’t bother. It was an interesting problem to solve. Just try to
follow the rules a little closer; I may not be around the next time you
get in a jam.’’

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