Stori said, “But that wasn’t oron-tree country.” “No, it isn’t. That’s beside the point. Which is, that that country — and I suppose, sooner or later, most of Tarnis — is being readied for factory-type agriculture. There are other crops beside oron-nut oil. We know who is behind the survey. The Craftsmen. And we also know — now — who is behind the Craftsmen.” “Commerce-Lermencas. Which means Lermencas itself … ” Stori mused. “Which means … all kinds of things. Who’s going to supply that ‘well-regulated labor force’ the book talks about, do you suppose?” “Oh, Commerce-L. is going to supply the regulation, you may be sure of that. As for the labor, well, I guess that’s where the Volanth come in.” “Pshwew. … The poor hairy lack-lucks. No more piddling along at their own pace, with now and then a pleasant pause to play the he and she game. Too bad. Too bad.” But Tonorosant didn’t think it was too bad at all. He wasn’t at all sure but what the bad might be outweighed by the good.
