To the men of the starship Quetzal their task seemed routine

to establish diplomatic relations and enter into trade negotiations with the people of a newly discovered planet. Since to all appearances the folk of Gwydion were the most thoroughly amiable in all the galaxy - words for such concepts as war, theft, anger, murder and jealousy did not even exist in their language - there could hardly be a problem.

But as the season changed on Gwydion, so did the people...