Rlinda was barely able to believe her good fortune. “If that’s my duty, I’m happy to serve.”

Sarein wore a dreamy look. “Chairman Wenceslas is also very supportive of any venture that brings my world into the larger fold of galactic commerce. He told me so himself.”

They entered a large chamber that opened to a breathtaking view of the tree-strewn forest levels. Sarein gestured for Rlinda to sit at a long table of iron-hard wood spread with a hundred colorful delicacies. Rlinda gaped hungrily at the selection of trays and goblets, decanters of juices and fermented drinks, steaming hot beverages and chilled ices swirled with colored sugars and glistening edible seeds.

“Before we can properly discuss the market potential of Theron products, I’ve arranged for you to sample our best. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all! A merchant is required to personally vouch for the quality and desirability of all food products.” Rlinda patted her large stomach and wide thighs. “As you can see, I enjoy my work a great deal.”

Sarein began sliding platters toward her, rattling off the names and derivations of each dish. She pointed to one after another after another. “Rindberries, splurts, puckers… hmmm, seedberries—you have to be very hungry or very patient to put up with these things.” She pushed the plate aside without even letting Rlinda taste one.

“Jigglefruit, sweet and gelatinous, but it makes a big mess. Dangoes. Napples—very crunchy, but you might get sleepy if you eat too many. These white things are pair-pears, because they grow double on the branches. We’ve also got eight kinds of our best nectar, and urns of pollen used for spices, spreads, even as candy.”

The plump merchant valiantly tried to keep up with tasting each item Sarein offered, bowl after bowl of varieties of nuts. “Perrin seeds, saltnuts, crackles. Here, these spreadnuts have a very creamy interior. The Caillié colonists named everything in a rush during their first years of sampling the foods on Theroc. Later on, they figured out the detailed scientific taxonomy… but who really needs it?”

Since Theroc had no native mammals, the people ate caterpillar fillets, insect steaks, lightly browned and covered with a tart sauce made from fermented fruits. Rlinda hesitated at the thought of eating insects, then shrugged and fell to her meal with gusto. One delicacy, equivalent to the richest veal, was sliced cutlets from a pupating condorfly larva.

“I’m glad you’ve done all the experimentation for me already.” Rlinda smacked her lips and closed her eyes to savor the taste as she chewed.

She removed an electronic pad and began to detail her favorite selections, itemizing the fruits, nuts, and spiced beverages according to her estimation of potential markets. The cloths and meats, mushrooms, scented oils and botanical perfumes would find customers. In her own mind, since she was such a well-versed gourmand herself, she imagined how some of these exotic flavors would combine with other cuisines and ingredients from far-flung planets on her trade route.