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| - After a wild wind storm destroys the Robinsons crops, the family must go on short rations supplemented by protein pills. No one is very happy about this, especially Dr. Smith, who swears he is going to drop dead of starvation. As it happens, the storm was no accident. It was caused by a crafty merchant who has landed on the planet and intends to do business with the Robinson family. By ruining their supply of food, he hopes that they will be more inclined to trade with him. The Robinsons, of course, are unaware of this.
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| abstract
| - After a wild wind storm destroys the Robinsons crops, the family must go on short rations supplemented by protein pills. No one is very happy about this, especially Dr. Smith, who swears he is going to drop dead of starvation. As it happens, the storm was no accident. It was caused by a crafty merchant who has landed on the planet and intends to do business with the Robinson family. By ruining their supply of food, he hopes that they will be more inclined to trade with him. The Robinsons, of course, are unaware of this. Will and Dr. Smith discover the trader's shop while on a walk. The merchant approaches them and introduces himself as the Trader. He offers to show them his wares, and he has many interesting items which impress Smith and Will both. Smith informs the Trader that they need food, and the Trader shows them that he has plenty. He will not, however, give it away for free, and will only accept useful items in exchange. Smith goes back to the Robinsons and tells them the news, but John and Maureen say they cannot spare anything for trade and that they will be able to manage on their own without the Trader’s help. Even when the Trader arrives at dinner time to tempt the Robinsons with a turkey, John still refuses his offer. The cruel Trader goes back to his shop and causes another wind storm to make the situation even worse. The next day, Dr. Smith and Penny go to see the Trader. Smith has convinced Penny to exchange her tape recorder for some food, but the Trader refuses the offer, saying he does not conduct business with children. He lets Penny keep her tape recorder and gives her a stick of candy. Penny is quite happy and goes back home, leaving Smith alone with the Trader. The Trader convinces Smith to exchange the Robot for food. That night Dr. Smith takes the Robot on a walk with him and they head toward the Trader’s shop. The following morning, when Will goes looking for the missing Robot, he finds him chained up in the Trader’s store with a price tag stuck to his chest. The Trader informs Will that the Robot is now his property since Smith sold him. Will is shocked and runs home to tell the others. The whole family is horrified and outraged at Dr. Smith, and they vow never to speak with him again. Eventually Smith can bear the silent treatment no longer and goes to the Trader to get the Robot back. Smith has no money or items to give in exchange, and the Trader refuses to give back the Robot on credit, but he does come up with another solution. Smith can have the Robot if he offers himself in exchange. The Trader assures him it is only an informal trade for book-keeping purposes and promises that he will not collect for two hundred years, and since Smith knows he will not live that long, he agrees and signs the contract. Doctor Smith takes the Robot back to camp with him, and everyone is very glad to see him. The very next day, the Trader shows up at the Jupiter 2 and says he has decided to collect early and that Smith must now go away with him to be sold at a galactic marketplace. Smith refuses, but the Trader uses the electronic contract to put the doctor into a trance. He lures Smith away to his spaceship, and, determined to help, Will follows. Will helps Smith out of the trance and they escape back to the Jupiter 2 with the Trader’s dogs in pursuit. When the Trader attempts to take Smith again, the Robot intervenes. He says that the Trader is unethical for tricking Smith, and reveals that the devastating storms were his doing. The Robot blasts the electronic contract and Smith is set free. The Trader and his dogs return to their spaceship and leave.
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