human
I guess I owe you thanks, Alan said.
gpt
If they had hauled me off I'd be in real trouble.
human
They're very quick to lock people up when they don't have work cards. But police salaries are notoriously low. A five-credit bill slipped to the right man at the right time can work wonders.
gpt
Five credits, was it? Here----
human
Never mind. I'll write it off to profit and loss. What's your name, spacer, and what brings you to York City?
gpt
I'm Alan Donnell, of the starship _Valhalla_. I'm an Unspecialized Crewman. I came over from the Enclave to look for my brother.
human
He's a starman too?
gpt
He--was.
human
Was?
gpt
He jumped ship last time we were here. That was nine years ago Earthtime. I'd like to find him, though. Even though he's so much older now.
human
How old is he now?
gpt
Twenty-six. I'm seventeen. We used to be twins, you see. But the Contraction--you understand about the Contraction, don't you?
human
Mmm--yes, I follow you. While you made your last space jump he grew old on Earth. And you want to find him and put him back on your ship, is that it?
gpt
That's right. Or at least talk to him and find out if he's all right where he is. But I don't know where to start looking. This city is so big--and there are so many other cities all over Earth----
human
You've come to the right one. The Central Directory Matrix is here. You'll be able to find out where he's registered by the code number on his work card. Unless, Hawkes said speculatively,
gpt
Isn't everyone supposed to have a work card?
human
I don't,
gpt
But----
human
You need a work card to hold a job. But to get a job, you have to pass guild exams. And in order to take the exams you have to find a sponsor who's already in the guild. But you have to post bond for your sponsor, too--five thousand credits. And unless you have the work card and have been working, you don't have the five thousand, so you can't post bond and get a work card. See? Round and round.
gpt
Is that what they meant when they said I was unrotational?
human
No, that's something else. I'll get to that in a second. But you see the work setup? The guilds are virtually hereditary, even the fruit venders' guild. It's next to impossible for a newcomer to crack into a guild--and it's pretty tough for a man in one guild to move up a notch. You see, Earth's a terribly overcrowded planet--and the only way to avoid cutthroat job competition is to make sure it's tough to get a job. It's rough on a starman trying to bull his way into the system.
gpt
You mean Steve may not have gotten a work card? In that case how will I be able to find him?
human
It's harder, Hawkes said.
gpt
But there's also a registry of Free Status men--men without cards. He isn't required to register there, but if he did you'd be able to track him down eventually. If he didn't, I'm afraid you're out of luck. You just can't find a man on Earth if he doesn't want to be found.
human
Free Status? Isn't that what the policeman said----
gpt
I was in? Hawkes nodded.
human
Sure, I'm Free Status. Out of choice, though, not necessity. But that doesn't matter much right now. Let's go over to the Central Directory Matrix Building and see if we can find any trail for your brother.