When the giant crab creatures of Altair Six catch a bout of the bletch they are more embarrassed than sick. Not only do their decorative facial scales fall off, but their gaseous emissions, which are normally colorless (if not odorless) become brightly colored. At the most indelicate moments they uncontrolably spout great plumes of pink and green. So it was no wonder that Glptah Zrotif was in a foul mood when I ran into him just outside the Altairian Consulate. It was just as well - I had no time to lose.