An Exchange Worth the Trip

Chen Chuan watched the ape approach and stopped to look at it.

Most creatures in the Convergence Zone kept their distance when they saw him, unless they were as witless as Rat Pigs. To his surprise, this ape showed no fear. It came straight toward him.

When it reached him, the ape mimed taking something from the pouch on its belly. Bright, glittering objects showed in its hand. It set them down by Chen Chuan's feet, picked up a stone and put it in the pouch, then took the objects out again. It repeated the motions several times.

Chen Chuan understood at once. It wanted to trade with him.

Some Pouched Ape groups in the Convergence Zone ranged widely and had dealt with humans, so they had developed this habit. They traded fairly, too: the more valuable the thing you gave them, the more valuable their return. Of course, value was determined by what they understood.

But in the Convergence Zone, anything its creatures considered rare and valuable was likely to be something he needed.

He thought for a moment, unfastened a waterskin from his waist, and tossed it over.

It was made from a Multi-Eye Devil Ray's skin membrane. It was exceptionally tough, and whenever there was moisture in the air, it gathered water on its own. In a desert, that was a fine thing to have.

He had collected some of the membrane and made two waterskins on a whim.

The ape caught the waterskin. It clearly recognized its value and wanted it badly, but it seemed unable to offer anything suitable in exchange. It scratched its head in frustration, set the waterskin down, ran a few steps, and called out. At once, dozens of apes leaped down from the Sand Tapir and bounded over.

The apes gathered