The Repairman

"The Repairman" by Harry Harrison is a science fiction tale set in the vast expanse of space where a skilled mechanic is sent to fix an old Mark III hyperspace beacon situated on a remote planet. This journey turns into a mission of adventure and diplomacy as he faces the challenge of communicating and cooperating with the planet's native reptilian Centaurians, who dwell within the mysterious stone pyramid that encases the beacon. As he uncovers the beacon’s history and its effect on the local species, he crafts a clever strategy to negotiate without causing conflict; he disguises himself, uses the culture to his advantage, and restores the beacon, leaving both the interstellar community and the native population content.