 Why do the Altairians let Zeckler go?
I've got three million credits sitting in the Terran Consulate on Altair V, just waiting for me to walk in and pick them up. They've built up the most confusing and impossible system of barter and trade imaginable, aimed at individual survival, with land as the value behind the credit. Loud, harsh voices were heard as half a dozen of the huge Altairians attempted to push through the door at once. Finally the question of precedent seemed to be settled, and a group of the Altairians filed in, in order of stature, stalking across the room in flowing black robes, pug-nosed faces glowering with self-importance.
 They let Zeckler go because he is the best liar.
 They let Zeckler go because he did not murder any Altairians.  They let Zeckler go because he is the best liar.  They let Zeckler go because Altairian law doesn't apply to Earthmen.  They let Zeckler go because he converted to the religion of the Altairian Goddess.