 What is the significance of the glass statue that Frank finds in the store?
Frank Pembroke sat behind the desk of his shabby little office over Lemark's Liquors in downtown Los Angeles and waited for his first customer. Opening the desk drawer, which was almost empty, Pembroke removed an automatic pistol fitted with a silencer. Pointing it at the amazed customer, he fired four .22 caliber longs into the narrow chest. The series of events leading up to Pembroke's present occupation had commenced on a dismal, overcast evening in the South Pacific a year earlier. Standing on the forward deck, Pembroke was one of the first to perceive the peculiar odor and to spot the immense gray hulk wallowing in the murky distance. Pembroke came as close to being a professional adventurer as one can in these days of regimented travel, organized peril, and political restriction. The wallet in his pocket contained exactly what it should, approximately three hundred dollars. One in particular, an attractive woman of about thirty, tossed back her long, chestnut locks and gazed up intently at Pembroke as he passed. Then he saw the weird little glass statuette among the usual bric-a-brac. Pembroke watched with lifted eyebrows as the clerk whisked the bizarre statuette underneath the counter. But as he left the shop he began checking off every west coast state, city, town, and inlet. Pembroke watched him hurry off to service a car with a sense of having been given the runaround. "All cargo ships, I'll bet. Going to the bar, he recognized one of the Elena Mia's paying passengers.
 It is the first piece of evidence about the others who live on the planet.
 It prompts a discussion of the worth of various materials in this town.  It is the first piece of evidence about the others who live on the planet.  It is proof that hedgehogs are held in high esteem in this society.  It shows him where he can find a craftsman to help them with the project.