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job as anyone can do,” said Gottesman.
    “We’ll just have to bide our time. Ghu knows, we’re used to that in the diplomatic branch. But here’s something you can do for us in the meantime, Captain. I understand Zenobia is pretty much an untamed world, out beyond the natives’ urban centers.”
    “I suppose so,” said Phule. “Out where we are is certainly wild enough. What do you have in mind, sir?”
    The ambassador cleared his throat, and said, “Well, as it happens, we’ve got a number of civilians who’ve done the government a few favors over the years, if you know what I mean. And it so happens that some of them have gotten the idea that there might be some fairly large game running loose on Zenobia-something on the order of the larger dinosaurs. Am I right about that, Captain?”
    “Well, there are some fairly large specimens here, if what I saw in the zoo back in the capital city is any indication,” said Phule. “I can’t say I’ve seen any such in the wild, though we’re out here in the desert, you know, and most of the animals I’ve seen out here are fairly small although a few of them are pretty nasty. But most of the larger creatures on this world seem to be swamp-dwellers. Anyway, the natives don’t really seem to want us trampling through their swamps-I get the idea those are prime recreation areas, from their point of view.”
    “I see,” said the ambassador. “Well, I may ask you to talk to some of their people to see if we can get some exceptions made. There are a couple of VIPs who’ve taken a fancy to do some serious big-game hunting, and they’ve gotten the notion that some of the beasties there on Zenobia are about as big as they come. Have you heard anything about an animal the natives call a gryff?”
    “Not much more than the name,” admitted Phule.
    “From what the natives say, I’d guess it’s a big, slow moving, and rather stupid herbivore. Not very exciting to hunt, I’d imagine.”
    “Nothing’s very exciting to hunt, as far as I’m concerned,” said the ambassador. “Much more civilized to play TetraGo in a comfortable chair with a cold drink close to hand. But there’s no accounting for tastes. I get the impression that if it’s big enough, that’s all the justification some of these fellows need. How much trouble do you think it’d be to get the Zenobians’ permission for a party of off-worlders to come in and bag a few trophies?”
    “All can promise is to give it a try.” said Phule, dubiously. “Give me a couple of days, and I’ll get back to you if I can convince them…”
    “Great, I knew I could count on you,” said Ambassador Gottesman. “And remember, you can always call on me if you need anything that State can help with. Gotta run…” And he closed the connection.

    “Well, the Zenobians aren’t going to like this one bit,” said Phule, looking across the Office-at Beeker, who’d sat there silently during the call. “I can imagine Chief Potentary Korg’s face when I run this idea past him.”
    “Something like this was inevitable, sir,” said the butler. “The State Department didn’t support you for this assignment out of altruism, you know. It was just a matter of time before the quid pro quo became obvious.”
    “Well, Gottesman has taken our side against the general more than once;” said Phule. “I can’t refuse him something in return. It’s only fair.”
    Beeker sniffed. “There’s nothing fair about it,” he said. “In fact, it has a distinct odor…”
    “So we’ll hold our noses and do what we can,” said Phule, with a resigned tone. “If the Zenobians say no, that’ll be an end to it.”
    “I doubt it, sir,” said Beeker, but Phule wasn’t listening.

Chapter 3
    Journal #653
    The job description of a junior Legion officer-and make no mistake about it, my employer was extremely junior does not in the normal course of affairs include diplomatic negotiations with the supreme rulers of alien