He loafed in his methane tank and purred, which meant that he wasthinking. He operated his cryo-computer as he purred and thought. He wascomputing the total net worth of all the Catforms in the recently organizedDecember Club.
He stopped purring and considered a sub-total, stretched, shook hishead slowly. Then he returned to his calculations.
When he had finished, he dictated a message into his speech-tube, toSanza Barati, President of December and his betrothed:
"Dearest Sanza--the funds available, as I have suspected, leave much tobe desired. All the more reason to begin immediately. Kindly submit theproposal to the business committee, outline my qualifications and seekimmediate endorsement. I've finished drafting the general statement to themembership. (Copy attached.) From these figures, it will take me betweenfive and ten years, if at least eighty percent of the membership backs me.So push hard, beloved. I'd like to meet you someday, in a place where thesky is purple. Yours, always, Jarry Dark, Treasurer. P.S. I'm pleased youwere pleased with the ring."
Two years later, Jarry had doubled the net worth of December,Incorporated.
A year and a half after that, he had doubled it again.
When he received the following letter from Sanza, he leapt onto histrampoline, bounded into the air, landed upon his feet at the opposite endof his quarters, returned to his viewer and replayed it:
Dear Jarry,
Attached are specifications and prices for five more