Bergdorf walked the few steps to the water's edge. "I won't even have to go swimming," he said as he walked into the water a few steps, bent and came up with what looked like a handful of rocks. "Oysters?" I asked, turning one over in my hand. "Yep. Nice little _O. lurida_. About three years old, I'd guess, and just ripe for breeding. You know, I've never seen them growing so close to the shore. They must be stacked on top of each other out there a ways. There's probably millions of them in this lagoon alone!" "Well, we've found where they're coming from. Now all that's left is to figure out what to do about it." "We'd still better check Beta. They might possibly have reached there." "Not unless someone's planted them," I said. "You're forgetting the ocean currents." "No. I was thinking of planted areas." "Well, think again. You may know your biology, but I know Niobians. They're too suspicious to bring untried things too close to where they live. They've been that way as long as I can remember them, and I don't think that anything--even something as delightful as an oyster--would make them change overnight." "I hope you're right." "Oh, we'll check Beta, all right," I said. "But you can send a couple of your boys to do it. There's no sense in our wasting time with it." I heard the noise behind us before Bergdorf did. We turned in time to see four Niobians emerge from the jungle and glide purposefully toward us. The tribal tattoos on their chests identified them as members of Tovan Harl's commune. I nudged Heinz and murmured, "We've got company." The natives approached to within a few paces. They stood politely to leeward while one of their number approached. "I'm sorry," he said without the normal introduction, "but this is leased land. You will have to leave at once. And you will please return the oysters to the lagoon. It is not permitted to remove them." "Oh, all right," I said. "We're through here anyway. We'll visit the other islands and then be off." "The other islands are also leased property. When you leave I will radio the other guards, and you will not be permitted to land." "This is not according to your customs," I protested. "I realize that, Mr. Lanceford," the native said. "But I have given oath to keep all trespassers out." I nodded. It wasn't usual. I wondered what Harl had in mind--possibly a planetary monopoly. If that was his plan, he was due for a surprise. "That's very commendable," Bergdorf said, "but these oysters are going with me. They are needed as evidence." "I'm sorry, sir," the native said. "The oysters stay here." "Don't be a fool, Heinz," I interjected. "They're in the right. The oysters are their property. If you try to take them you'll be in trouble up to your ears." "But I need those oysters, Arthur! Probably the only adult oyster tissue on Niobe is on these islands. I need a sample of it."