«How about exploration?»
«We puppeteers have no taste for abstract knowledge. And how should we explore?» Meaning that whatever race flew the ship would gain the advantages thereby. A puppeteer wouldn't risk his necks by flying it himself. «What we need is a great deal of money and a gathering of intelligences to design something which may go slower but must be less bulky. General Products does not wish to spend so much on something that may fail. We will require the best minds of each sentient species and the richest investors. Beowulf Shaeffer, we need to attract attention.»
«A publicity stunt?»
«Yes. We wish to send a pilot to the center of the galaxy and back.»
«Ye … gods! Will it go that fast?»
«It would require some twenty-five days to reach the center and an equal time to return. You can see the reasoning behind —»
«It's perfect. You don't need to spell it out. Why me?»
«We wish you to make the trip and then write of it. I have a list of pilots who write. Those I have approached have been reluctant. They say that writing on the ground is safer than testing unknown ships. I follow their reasoning.»
«Me, too.»
«Will you go?»
«What am I offered?»
«One hundred thousand stars for the trip. Fifty thousand to write the story, in addition to what you sell it for.»
«Sold.»
* * *From then on my only worry was that my new boss would find out that someone had ghostwritten that neutron star article.