Read "Saline Solution" by Keith Laumer online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Blast you, Retief! Your violent ways are the disgrace of Earth's diplomatic corps -- but your salty jokes are worse!
Consul-General Magnan gingerly fingered the heavily rubber-banded sheaf of dog-eared documents. "I haven't rushed into precipitate action on this claim, Retief," he said. "The Consulate has grave responsibilities here in the Belt. One must weigh all aspects of the situation, consider the ramifications. What consequences would arise from a grant of minerals rights on the planetoid to this claimant?"