The scene--an office. Behind the desk sits the Interviewer. Across from him sits Master Mospheiran. The Interviewer is examining some papers in a folder.

Interviewer: "Well, your test scores tell us you’re healthy, intelligent, and reasonably stable, psychologically speaking. That’s all in your favor. There is, of course, also the matter of the background check. Now, since you’d applied to enter the Foreign Studies program, a background check had already been started, so you’re familiar with how that works."

Master Mospheiran: "Yes, sir."

Interviewer: "There do seem to be a few areas of concern. To begin with, there’s your sister’s arrest record."

Master Mospheiran: "Those charges were dropped, sir, and she cooperated fully with the police in finding and prosecuting the actual perpetrator."

Interviewer: "Yes, it was all over the news, of course. And the Jackson police have confirmed what was published. We do understand that. But on the face of it, it doesn’t look good. It’s not something that will keep you off the station in and of itself, it’s just an area of concern, as I said."

Master Mospheiran: "Is that the only thing?"

Interviewer: "No, actually. The other area is the more serious one. Now, I’m sure that as a candidate for the Foreign Studies program, you understand that a positive attitude towards atevi is essential for anyone working on the station."

Master Mospheiran: "Of course."

Interviewer: "Nevertheless, there is such a thing as too positive an attitude."

Master Mospheiran: "I’m not sure I understand you, sir."

Interviewer: "A few months ago, you checked some materials out of the University library. Those materials are overdue."

Master Mospheiran frowns.

Master Mospheiran: "I’m not sure what overdue books have to do with liking atevi too much."

Interviewer: "It’s the, ah, nature of the materials, rather than their being overdue, that’s in question here. Now, I know that given your prospective course of study, it’s hardly surprising you should show an interest in such things. But there is some question as to your motivations."

Master Mospheiran blushes.

Master Mospheiran: "I do have an interest in atevi, sir, I don’t deny that. I took those materials out for a school project, and I thought I had returned them--obviously I didn’t, and I’ll have to take care of that. And as you say, it’s sort of expected, since I’ve been trying to get into Foreign Studies."

Interviewer: "I don’t want you to feel you’re being singled out, here--the fact of the matter is, they’ll ask you the same questions in Foreign Studies as I’m asking you here today. And you wouldn’t be the first to be, shall we say, attracted to the exotic. But working with atevi, day to day, in real life--well, we’d prefer to have people who can keep their wits about them, people who will think things through."

Master Mospheiran: "I don’t mean to be disrespectful, sir, but the paidhi seems to be able to think things through pretty well."

Interviewer: "The paidhi is something of a special case. And as it happens, he formulated the guidelines for selecting station workers himself."

Master Mospheiran is silent.

Interviewer: "Don’t think it automatically disqualifies you--we’ll just have to consider your application a bit more closely, is all. After all, your psych tests were all quite good, and you haven’t done anything really extreme, like, say, writing to the paidhi’s security requesting undergarments. You’d be surprised how many of our applicants do things like that."

Master Mospheiran: "Just out of curiosity, sir, what percentage of your applicants don’t ask the paidhi’s security for underwear?"

Interviewer taps the edge of a stack of paper against the desk.

Interviewer: "Very few, actually. We turn a lot of people down. We even had one young man who, as it turned out, wanted to go up to the station just to import underwear."

Master Mospheiran: "That’s an awfully long way to go to get some atevi underwear. Why not just import some from the mainland?"

Interviewer: "You’re a practical young man. I like that. The problem is, the production and sale of used undergarments isn’t exactly a big industry on the mainland. And it is something of a niche market. It’s easier to work through personal association. And the best place to make such an association, such people think, is on the station."

Master Mospheiran: "Are you telling me there’s a black market in atevi underwear? I never thought of that, but I guess that makes sense. Doesn’t the shuttle come down more or less empty? Getting things up there is expensive, but getting them down would be easier. And I bet once you made associations on the station, you could get connections to the mainland, where shipping would be cheaper. I can’t believe I just said that. I guess I don’t get the job, huh?"

Interviewer: "On the contrary. I’m very impressed with your intelligence and initiative. A young man like you could go far. I’m sure after a more than satisfactory stint on the station, you’ll have no trouble getting recommendations for Foreign Studies, and excellent references for any job you might apply for."

Interviewer and Master Mospheiran are silent for a moment.

Master Mospheiran: "Somebody’s already thought of this. Somebody’s already doing it."

Interviewer: "True, but that somebody doesn’t have access to a comprehensive list of potential customers. Now, you’ve already had your physical, and I’m happy to say that our little conversation has cleared up any misgivings we might have had about sending you. Here are the consent forms--sign there, and there. And this one. Here’s a list of items you’ll need on the station, packing recommendations, luggage weight limits, that sort of thing. Ah, I almost forgot--two copies of station regulations. Read them carefully, sign one copy and return it. Keep the other one for your records. You’ll leave next week, your flight information is right here."

Master Mospheiran: "Thank you, sir."

Interviewer: (rises) "No, thank you. I’m sure our confidence in you is well-placed. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to call me. Here’s my card."

Master Mospheiran rises, and takes the card and pockets it.

Interviewer: "Have a good flight. It was a pleasure doing business with you."