The Lani People

by J. F. Bone

CHAPTER I

The boxed ad in the opportunities section of the Kardon Journal
of Allied Medical Sciences stood out like a cut diamond in a
handful of gravel. "Wanted," it read, "Veterinarian - for
residency in active livestock operation. Single recent graduate
preferred. Quarters and service furnished. Well-equipped
hospital. Five-year contract, renewal option, starting salary
15,000 cr./annum with periodic increases. State age, school,
marital status, and enclose recent tri-di with application.
Address Box V-9, this journal."

Jac Kennon read the box a second time. There must be a catch to
it. Nothing that paid a salary that large could possibly be on
the level. Fifteen thousand a year was top pay even on Beta, and
an offer like this for a new graduate was unheard of - unless
Kardon was in the middle of an inflation. But Kardon wasn't. The
planet's financial status was A-1. He knew. He'd checked that
immediately after landing. Whatever might be wrong with Kardon,
it wasn't her currency. The rate of exchange was 1.2-1 Betan.

A five-year contract - hmm - that would the seventy-five
thousand. Figure three thousand a year for living expenses, that
would leave sixty-plenty of capital to start a clinic. The banks
couldn't turn him down if he had that much cash collateral.