"[1] A nondescript spacer with little education named Cerne Obrien finds a cache of extremely valuable "retron crystals", but crashes on an idyllic planet before he can sell them.

Obrien lives a peaceful life, watching his descendants grow up, but as he ages, he begins worrying about the future.

Even as Obrien lies dying, a developer called Wembling arrives to illegally prospect for minerals.

The construction drives away most of the koluf, and the people begin to starve; they have lost the ability to digest "normal" food.

Meantime, Wembling's niece Talitha and his hired (and fired) anthropologist Hort form a relationship.

After having achieved the required high literacy rate, they successfully petition for membership in the Galactic Federation.

Since the natives have few personal assets, they can easily afford to pay, but such an exorbitant rate would bankrupt Wembling.