You understand that it will take time, said the woman in the box that was supposed to be a booth. They're Snails, after all. The box was far too narrow for somebody to work in. Unions are allowed in this company, aren't they ? I promised myself that I would say a word about that to an Airline Carriers Federation bloke I knew. This girl deserved better than that. I promised myself that I would take her out after I'd be back, provided she and I would be still there. That would take time, but at Local 101 time counted less than money. Snails were cheap, much cheaper than Rabbits. A small Local like mine could not afford first-class Rabbits for its employees. So we had to go for the shelled ones. What I found really appalling was the stink. Snails stank, and the Helix aspersa more than any other species. I liked Achatinas better, they were really roomy. The embarkation hall was crowded with people, poor families that came home for the holidays and could only afford a Snail trip. These kids would gain a few inches during the journey ; uncles and aunts would marvel at their nephews' and nieces' new height and weight. Myself, I would gain a few pounds, and the bald patch on the summit of my head would grow larger ; nobody would marvel at me. As in the previous occasions, I would then regret not having taken a Rabbit, even if it