Cast a Cold Eye

A novelette by science-fiction writer William Barton. Here we have the planet Nivia, circling the distant star Sigma Draconis. Nivia, home of jellyballs and rumcake mannequins, gloryhole goddesses and wrynackers. Nivia, wholly-owned subsidiary of the NutriChem Scientific-Industrial Enterprise, manufacturerers of fine cosmetics, irresistible perfumes, and lovely, hypnotic, oh-so-useful drugs. And here we have a man named Hahn, once upon a time a journalist, once upon a time a policeman, now down on his luck, come to join NutriChem's wretched workers, harvesting the bounty of Nivia.