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trade fabric for gold? She wished she knew what was most in demand at Barevi. Maybe Chuck could remember something. Gold teeth were simply not enough of an “inducement.” What they needed was a real crowd-gatherer: something that even the most conservative of the Catteni would not ignore. Would kill to have!
    Leaving Floss in Beth’s hands and saying that she could be found in the mess hall, Kris went for a cup of coffee. The work roster, prominently located as one entered the mess hall, listed her as assigned to Zainal’s mission with no concurrent duties. Their latest recruits had been listed at the bottom as being part of the Barevi team. She was glad that she didn’t have to sign Floss up for mess hall duties—at least not immediately. Maybe by the time they returned from Barevi, Floss would be more willing to take her turn at the less glamorous duties. Even KP would be more appealing than marital duties to an old man.
    As she entered the big room, she glanced around and saw Eric, hunched over printouts. She waved at him,indicating a wish to join him and he nodded vigorously. She got her one cup of the rationed coffee, some fresh rolls, inhaling the aroma of the drink and fresh bread. She also wondered how much longer this treat would be available and if they could possibly search out additional supplies, possibly as trade goods since the Catteni had come to appreciate the caffeine hit. How many coffee beans and/or cups of the brew would buy a carton of stolen goods? She wondered, not for the first time, if the merchants had set any value on the cartons of spare parts they were now trying to sell. She had seen such a diversity of goods on display on her last trip. Surely not all of them—toasters and electric frying pans—were viable on Barevi. Much less automotive parts and spark plugs. Well, you never knew what would capture another species’ interest. Certainly not the Catteni, who now evidently prized coffee, chocolate, and gold caps. Did any of them realize how easily they had picked up Terran vices like coffee? She smiled at the notion of the conquerors corrupted.
    She made her way to Eric’s table and was cordially greeted, noticing that some of his paperwork included maps: maps that showed the destruction of vast areas of New York City.
    â€œI think I might be lucky. The building remains standing,” he began, tapping the map. “And there is relatively little damage below Fourteenth Street, where the dental supply house is. What’ll we be able to use for barter back on Earth?”
    â€œI think we’ll be able to take some wheat with us. Possibly even the rock squats, as fresh food would be appreciated,” Kris replied. “There are hunting parties out today to see what they can gather and, from the smell of the kitchen, some are being broiled even as we speak. And I smell fresh bread cooking.”
    â€œNow, all we need to figure out is how to hump heavy equipment down eighteen flights of stairs,” Eric said with a despondent sigh.
    â€œOh”—she smiled at him—“you didn’t know that the Catteni have ‘lift’ platforms that handle that sort of thing quite comfortably?”
    â€œNo, I didn’t, but see me grinning,” Eric replied, and he was, his eyes sparkling with relief and humor. “Glad I asked. Those units are very heavy and even with a lot of manpower, getting them down to where they can be loaded was worrying me.”
    She patted his hand. “Well, fret no more. That was actually the least of our problems.”
    â€œWhat’s the most?”
    Kris was thoughtful. “Being sure we have the right stuff to trade with the Barevi.”
    â€œCount on me, Kris! And, if we can find him, I know another dentist who does splendid work. Also in my building. He has the sort of personality that would deal well with the Catteni. Even as allies, they would be tricky, I suppose.” He gave her