The Stones of Nomuru

Salazar's friend Cabot Firestone had invited Salazar to dinner, so sundown found them drinking in Firestone's small apartment. The psychologist was about Salazar's age, but tall and broad with a big, square-cut red beard flecked with gray. A widower, Firestone lived alone in Henderson, as did Salazar. The latter told Firestone of the recent events.

"Zeus almighty!" said Firestone. "You always seemed a quiet, self-contained chap. I wouldn't have expected swashbuckling adventures on your part."

"Didn't have much choice," said Salazar.

Firestone said thoughtfully: "It looks as if Ragnarsen and other missionaries, with the best intentions, have brought religious fanaticism to a world that had been free of it. Ragnarsen's a mild, benevolent guy, but you see what destructive uses his teachings can be put to."

Salazar grunted assent. "The Kooks' only religion is veneration of their ancestors, and nobody tries to convert an outsider to that. If Kampai isn't scragged soon, we may have wars of religion like the Terran ones: crusades, jihads, extermination of minor sects, and so forth."

"And if you point that out to missionaries, they say: 'Better they should die and be saved than live and be damned!' " Firestone changed the subject. "By the way, how's Kara now?"

"Far as I know, okay. She came back to Henderson for her newspaper job."

"A splendid woman. Are you and she contemplating anything?"

Salazar almost told Firestone, as he had young Frappot, to mind his own business; but Firestone was his best friend. They had gone to college together. In addition, Firestone was the only other downeaster Salazar knew on Kukulcan. So he merely said: "No. At least, not right now. I hadn't seen her since our poor little Rodney's funeral, and that time she refused to speak to me."

Firestone said, "I took her out to dinner, just before she went on your dig. Hope you don't mind."

"Jeepers cripus, why should I? She's her own boss."

"Sure, but people do retain feelings toward former spouses. I thought—there wasn't any—I mean, it was just a restaurant dinner."

Salazar waved aside Firestone's excuses. "Whose bed she ends up in is no business of mine."

"How about you, Keith? I mean, have you got your sights on another woman? I wouldn't ask, except that such things are a matter of professional interest."

Salazar grinned sardonically. "I know; you like to gossip and then pretend it's psychological research. The answer is no. I've struck out in that game and figure I'd better stay on the bench. Besides, all the women I could stand seem to be already hitched, or else they're community-chest types I don't care for."

"That's due to the surplus of men here," said Firestone. "It gives the women an unfair advantage in picking and choosing; just the opposite of Terra, where the surplus is of women."

"I know." Salazar gazed at the wall as if looking afar. "That's why most Terran nations allow a limited legal bigamy, to take care of the surplus. We're not so enlightened here."

Firestone smiled quietly. "You'd be surprised how much informal polyandry we have here—ménages à trois with husband, wife, and her lover cohabiting more or less peacefully."

Salazar shrugged. "I've heard of such broad-minded husbands, but I don't know any."

"Had you and Kara been quarreling before you broke up?"

"No; so I don't even have the excuse that people in my position give, that the marriage had 'broken down' or 'fallen apart' like a piece of defective machinery. I first learned what the Bible means by 'a contentious woman' when I married Diane.

"Let's face it: I was a copper-riveted fool to run out on Kara. It was like demonic possession, if I believed in that sort of thing. Down underneath I knew it was impossible and that some day I should be sorry; but so strong was the urge that I went ahead anyway. Diane's not even better-looking than Kara, aside from being younger."