Sam pushed back from the table with a satisfied grunt. The wiener schnitzels had been delicious. As were the bratwurst. As was the kaffeekuchen. All of it washed down with beer, then coffee, leaving him comfortably stuffed. It had been a big meal, but sitting across from Tony, talking and eating, it had been great.

And Tony was impressed. "Boy, you really put it away for somebody who hasn't been here before," Tony remarked, sitting back himself. "Now, I suggest we go get you weighed, get your papers to stay here in order, then I'll point you to a shop where you can buy some new pants - bigger ones, you're going to need them.

"Sounds good," remarked Sam. The two big guys waddled out of the Ratskellar to the elevator, then headed up. They got off on a different floor from the others Sam had seen - this one had a gym, a clinic, and a room with several big steel squares in the floor.

"Step on there," Tony said, indicating a steel square, "and let's see just how much gravitational pull you have!"

Sam stepped up and a big red display on the wall blinked, then showed "472".

"472!" Sam exclaimed. "No wonder I outgrew those pants."

"Yeah, looks good on you," Tony said and winked. "Now, a little paper work and...

As he spoke,