Gorov was  released on  the thirtieth day,  and five hundred  pounds of theyellowest gold  took his place.  And with him was  released the quarantinedand untouched abomination that was his ship.
Then, as  on the journey into  the Askonian system, so  on the journey out,the   cylinder  of  sleek   little  ships   ushered  them  on   their  way.
Ponyets watched the dimly sun-lit speck that was Gorov's ship while Gorov'svoice   pierced   through  to   him,   clear   and  thin   on  the   tight,distortion-bounded ether-beam.
He was saying, "But it isn't what's wanted, Ponyets. A transmuter won't do.
Where did you get one, anyway?""I  didn't," Ponyets  answer was  patient. "I  juiced it  up out of  a foodirradiation chamber.  It isn't  any good, really. The  power consumption isprohibitive on  any large  scale or the Foundation  would use transmutationinstead of  chasing all over the  Galaxy for heavy metals.  It's one of thestandard tricks every trader  uses, except that I never saw an iron-to-goldone  before.  But  it's  impressive,  and  it works  ? very  temporarily.""All right. But that particular trick is no good.""It got you out of a nasty spot.""That is  very far  from the point.  Especially since I've got  to go back,once we shake our solicitous escort.""Why?""You yourself explained it  to this politician of yours," Gorov's voice wason edge.  "Your entire sales-point  rested on the fact  that the transmuterwas a means to  an end, but of no value in itself?  that he was buying thegold,  not the  machine.  It was  good psychology,  since it  worked, but?
"But?" Ponyets urged blandly and obtusely.
The  voice from the  receiver grew shriller,  "But we  want to sell  them amachine  of value  in  itself, something  they  would want  to use  openly;something that would tend  to force them out in favor of nuclear techniquesas a matter of self-interest.""I understand all that,"  said Ponyets, gently. "You once explained it. Butlook at  what follows  from my sale,  will you? As long  as that transmuterlasts, Pherl  will coin gold; and  it will last long  enough to buy him thenext   election.    The   present   Grand   Master    won't   last   long.""You count on gratitude?" asked Gorov, coldly.
"No ? on intelligent  self-interest. The transmuter gets  him an election;other mechanisms?
"No! No!  Your premise is twisted. It's not  the transmuter, he'll credit ?
it'll be the good, old-fashioned gold. That's what I'm trying to tell you."Ponyets grinned  and shifted  into a more comfortable  position. All right.
He'd  baited the  poor fellow  sufficiently. Gorov  was beginning  to soundwild.
The trader  said, "Not so fast, Gorov. I  haven't finished. There are othergadgets already involved."There was  a short  silence. Then, Gorov's voice  sounded cautiously, "Whatother gadgets?"Ponyets  gestured  automatically  and  uselessly, "You  see  that  escort?""I   do,"   said   Gorov   shortly.   "Tell  me   about   those   gadgets.""I will,  杋f you'll  listen. That's Pherl's  private navy escorting  us; aspecial  honor to  him from the  Grand Master.  He managed to  squeeze thatout.""So?""And  where do  you  think he's  taking us?  To his  mining estates  on theoutskirts of Askone, that's  where. Listen!" Ponyets was suddenly fiery, "Itold you I was in th............