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the negotiations and
Kontar's departure, the moment that both of us had avoided talk-
ing about was fast approaching. Kontar was the first to bring it
up, about a week before his departure, one night when he was at
my house.
"Have you ever thought about coming back to Ailouros with me,
Brad?" he asked.
I lit a cigar before I answered. "It just wouldn't work," I
said. "I know we like each other." I hesitated before going on.
"Maybe I should even say I love you. But I couldn't go to Ailou-
ros as your pet human. I had to fight like hell to get off the
streets of Northeast Minneapolis and get where I am now. I'm
supporting myself and doing a damn good job of it. I won't
change that-even for you."
Kontar drew me into the curve of his arm before he answered.
"And I love you, human. You misunderstand my proposal. We want
to employ you as our liaison with Earth in carrying out the trade
agreement. You'll be well paid-extremely well paid since you
will need to be very wealthy indeed to live in a manner befitting
your position as the true beloved of the fourth in line
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