Free The Long Result by John Brunner

fluorine-carbon compound we use to heighten the visual memory.’
    ‘Won’t you sit down?’ Madeleine murmured, offering a chair.
    ‘Thank you, but my knees bend the wrong way for your furniture. I shall be more comfortable on the floor.’ He chose a spot near the liquor console and dropped in a single complex motion to a relaxed squatting posture. Janna settled beside him and excitedly demanded that he tell her what it was like where he came from.
    After that, all other conversation died a sudden death. Everyone gazed at the long, graceful head of the Regulan poised at a quizzical angle on the heavily maned neck. Finally Janna was persuaded to circle the room and say good night. Watching her reluctant progress to her bedroom, Jacky chuckled.
    ‘She’ll be boasting about meeting you all next week at school!’ he told Anovel, who gave his strange, rather sad-looking smile in reply. It crossed my mind that at least youweren’t likely to find a Stars Are For Man League among Janna’s classmates.
    After that we all enjoyed Madeleine’s marvellous food, including Anovel, who explained that – as with wine – though he derived little nourishment from Terran dishes he liked the exotic flavours. It had been established long ago that a Regulan’s metabolism could cope with the ingestion of virtually any carbon-based organic substance, and several which weren’t carbon-based. Anovel had explained that a rocket crash wasn’t likely to do him much damage – for that, you’d need a nuclear explosion. It looked as though poisoning him was equally out of the question.
    Later there was music from Jacky’s fine collection of tapes, and the evening slid into a mellow haze. During a lull, I glanced around for Patricia, but she wasn’t to be seen; I assumed she’d gone into the garden, for the doors were open to the mild spring night and a bird was singing. I felt great. The liquor had taken care of all my former tension. I considered setting off in search of Patricia, but then a casual remark caught my attention and I leaned forward on my chair.
    ‘What time is it?’ someone had asked.
    I was making to consult my watch, but Anovel answered readily, ‘It’s just gone twenty-three.’
    Jacky gave him a puzzled glance. ‘Do you – ah – do you carry a watch?’
    ‘I don’t need one. You humans are the only race which uses them. Did you not know?’
    ‘That’s right,’ Helga spoke up. ‘All the other species we know operate at a constant subjective time-rate. Ours varies. Tell me, Anovel – I’ve been meaning to ask you. You aren’t here on Bureau business, are you? I don’t recall seeing your name on any of our lists.’
    ‘No, I’m making a private tour – a complete round of theinhabited worlds. I was at Epsilon Eridani before this, and I plan to go on to Sigma Sagittarii.’
    ‘How can you do that?’ Madeleine asked in amazement.
    ‘I’m with what you call a “zoo ship”.’
    Martin, her spacecrew cousin, chipped in. ‘We hire ships out to research foundations, and they provide transport between worlds for members of the various races with an itch to travel. In return, the passengers offer themselves for study wherever they stop. It’s a way of enabling scientists to get first-hand knowledge of other races’ metabolisms.’
    ‘I know someone who’s done that,’ I said. ‘A girl who went to study tectogenetics on Sigma Sagittarii.’
    ‘Mildred Bilinska?’ Helga inquired. ‘Yes, I know her too.’
    ‘Did she enjoy her trip?’ Anovel asked.
    ‘She said she’d had a fine time,’ I answered. ‘Of course, she was glad to give up living in a suit when she returned. But you Regulans are lucky that way – you aren’t bothered.’
    Anovel used his marvellous imitation of a laugh again. ‘Yes, we’re very lucky in that respect.’
    ‘Surely it must take a long time to complete such a trip,’ Madeleine commented. ‘Isn’t it – well – difficult to spend so long away from