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Faced with this situation, the Boöteans immediately took steps to encourage widespread immigration by other humanoid races, chiefly Terrans, for it was Terrans who had originally colonized Boötes and it was therefore known that interbreeding was possible.

But the Boöteans were largely unsuccessful in their immigration policy. Terra was peaceful and prosperous, and the Boöteans, being poor advertisers, were unable to convince more than a handful to leave the relative comforts of home for the far-off Boötean system where, almost all were sure, some horrible fate lay behind the Boöteans’ honeyed words. So when Skrrgck showed up with some 20,000 Terrans, the Boöteans, in desperation, agreed to purchase them in the hope of avoiding the “involuntary servitude” prohibition of Article 19 by making them like it.

In this, they were spectacularly successful. The “slaves” were treated to the utmost luxury and every effort was made to satisfy any reasonable wish. Their “duties” consisted entirely of “keeping company” with the singularly attractive Boöteans.