Page 88 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Claiming the Vegimal Property

night and day, maintaining our lonely vigil in this worthless location,
keeping alive the faith of—”
“It goes on like this for hours,” said Lugo into Kaga’s ear.
“Well, I don’t need to hear any more of it.” Kaga pulled himself
back over the edge and stood up. “Is it necessary to bid them
farewell?”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” replied Lugo. “They probably would be
saying the same thing to themselves if we weren’t here. Let’s go.”
They got into the Terrall and started back down inland toward the
base. Captain Kaga looked exhausted, but Lugo observed the hint of
a smile on his friend’s face.
“So tell me, Captain Kaga: what is the solution to establishing who
the authority is on this island?”
Kaga leaned back a little in his seat as the Terrall reached level
ground. “I followed your trail, Lugo. I got the same answers you did.
Each band of Vegimals has a different opinion. Therefore, there is no
answer! You can’t deal with a nomad chief, or a proto-socialist, or a
petty despot, or a mystical ancestor. Perhaps they have no concept of
ownership because they are part vegetable. Anyway, the Vegimals are
self-sufficient; they don’t want any material goods from us. The PKU
cannot make a normal agreement for trade with this population.”
“Then the mission has failed,” said Lugo miserably. “I’ll probably
get demoted.”
“Not at all,” said Kaga. “There is one thing that all the Vegimals
want, and that only we can provide: our speedy departure. I have
never had such a negative reception. They don’t need the
snorfogium, and I don’t think any of it lies under good soil. I’m sure
they won’t object to us taking it all if we just go away afterwards.”
“I get it! There won’t even be a question of ownership. It’s like we
found something on a world without intelligent life, dug it out of the
ground, and left. That would solve the problem!” Lugo was
heartened. “To us it’s something for nothing, but the Vegimals will
be pleased as punch.”
“That’s right,” nodded Captain Kaga. “We have nothing else to
offer. Our money to these roots is evil.”

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