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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30334-0.txt b/30334-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3d594a --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3876 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ultima Thule by Dallas McCord Reynolds + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: Ultima Thule + +Author: Dallas McCord Reynolds + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [Ebook #30334] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** + + + + + + Ultima Thule + + by + + Dallas McCord Reynolds + + Illustrated by John Schoenherr. + + Analog Science Fact & Fiction + + March 1961 + + + + + + +[Transcriber’s Note: This text was produced from Analog Science Fact & +Fiction March 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that +the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + + + + + [Illustration.] + +At least he’d got far enough to wind up with a personal interview. It’s +one thing doing up an application and seeing it go onto an endless tape +and be fed into the maw of a machine and then to receive, in a matter of +moments, a neatly printed rejection. It’s another thing to receive an +appointment to be interviewed by a placement officer in the Commissariat +of Interplanetary Affairs, Department of Personnel. Ronny Bronston was +under no illusions. Nine out of ten men of his age annually made the same +application. Almost all were annually rejected. Statistically speaking +practically nobody ever got an interplanetary position. But he’d made step +one along the path of a lifetime ambition. + +He stood at easy attention immediately inside the door. At the desk at the +far side of the room the placement officer was going through a sheaf of +papers. He looked up and said, “Ronald Bronston? Sit down. You’d like an +interplanetary assignment, eh? So would I.” + +Ronny took the chair. For a moment he tried to appear alert, earnest, +ambitious but not _too_ ambitious, fearless, devoted to the cause, and +indispensable. For a moment. Then he gave it up and looked like Ronny +Bronston. + +The other looked up and took him in. The personnel official saw a man of +averages. In the late twenties. Average height, weight and breadth. +Pleasant of face in an average sort of way, but not handsome. Less than +sharp in dress, hair inclined to be on the undisciplined side. Brown of +hair, dark of eye. In a crowd, inconspicuous. In short, Ronny Bronston. + +The personnel officer grunted. He pushed a button, said something into his +order box. A card slid into the slot and he took it out and stared +gloomily at it. + +“What’re your politics?” he said. + +“Politics?” Ronny Bronston said. “I haven’t any politics. My father and +grandfather before me have been citizens of United Planets. There hasn’t +been any politics in our family for three generations.” + +“Family?” + +“None.” + +The other grunted and marked the card. “Racial prejudices?” + +“I beg your pardon?” + +“Do you have any racial prejudices? Any at all.” + +“No.” + +The personnel officer said, “Most people answer that way at first, these +days, but some don’t at second. For instance, suppose you had to have a +blood transfusion. Would you have any objection to it being blood donated +by, say, a Negro, a Chinese, or, say, a Jew?” + +Ronny ticked it off on his fingers. “One of my greatgrandfathers was a +French _colon_ who married a Moroccan girl. The Moors are a blend of +Berber, Arab, Jew and Negro. Another of my greatgrandfathers was a +Hawaiian. They’re largely a blend of Polynesians, Japanese, Chinese and +Caucasians especially Portuguese. Another of my greatgrandfathers was +Irish, English and Scotch. He married a girl who was half Latvian, half +Russian.” Ronny wound it up. “Believe me, if I had a blood transfusion +from just anybody at all, the blood would feel right at home.” + +The interviewer snorted, even as he marked the card. “That accounts for +three greatgrandfathers,” he said lightly. “You seem to have made a study +of your family tree. What was the other one?” + +Rocky said expressionlessly, “A Texan.” + +The secretary shrugged and looked at the card again. “Religion?” + +“Reformed Agnostic,” Ronny said. This one was possibly where he ran into a +brick wall. Many of the planets had strong religious beliefs of one sort +or another. Some of them had state religions and you either belonged or +else. + +“Is there any such church?” the personnel officer frowned. + +“No. I’m a one-man member. I’m of the opinion that if there are any +greater-powers-that-be They’re keeping the fact from us. And if that’s the +way They want it, it’s Their business. If and when They want to contact +me—one of Their puppets dangling from a string—then I suppose They’ll do +it. Meanwhile, I’ll wait.” + +The other said interestedly, “You think that if there is a Higher Power +and if It ever wants to get in touch with you, It will?” + +“Um-m-m. In Its own good time. Sort of a _don’t call Me_, thing, _I’ll +call you_.” + +The personnel officer said, “There have been a few revealed religions, you +know.” + +“So they said, so they said. None of them have made much sense to me. If a +Super-Power wanted to contact man, it seems unlikely to me that it’d be +all wrapped up in a lot of complicated gobbledegook. It would all be very +clear indeed.” + +The personnel officer sighed. He marked the card, stuck it back into the +slot in his order box and it disappeared. + +He looked up at Ronny Bronston. “All right, that’s all.” + +Ronny came to his feet. “Well, what happened?” + +The other grinned at him sourly. “Darned if I know,” he said. “By the time +you get to the outer office, you’ll probably find out.” He scratched the +end of his nose and said, “I sometimes wonder what I’m doing here.” + +Ronny thanked him, told him good-by, and left. + + ------------------------------------- + +In the outer office a girl looked up from a card she’d just pulled from +her own order box. “Ronald Bronston?” + +“That’s right.” + +She handed the card to him. “You’re to go to the office of Ross Metaxa in +the Octagon, Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs, Department of +Justice, Bureau of Investigation, Section G.” + +In a lifetime spent in first preparing for United Planets employment and +then in working for the organization, Ronny Bronston had never been in the +Octagon Building. He’d seen photographs, Tri-Di broadcasts and he’d heard +several thousand jokes on various levels from pun to obscenity about +getting around in the building, but he’d never been there. For that +matter, he’d never been in Greater Washington before, other than a long +ago tourist trip. Population Statistics, his department, had its main +offices in New Copenhagen. + +His card was evidently all that he needed for entry. + +At the sixth gate he dismissed his car and let it shoot back into the +traffic mess. He went up to one of the guard-guides and presented the +card. + +The guide inspected it. “Section G of the Bureau of Investigation,” he +muttered. “Every day, something new. I never heard of it.” + +“It’s probably some outfit in charge of cleaning the heads on space +liners.” Ronny said unhappily. He’d never heard of it either. + +“Well, it’s no problem,” the guard-guide said. He summoned a three-wheel, +fed the co-ordinates into it from Ronny’s card, handed the card back and +flipped an easy salute. “You’ll soon know.” + +The scooter slid into the Octagon’s hall traffic and proceeded up one +corridor, down another, twice taking to ascending ramps. Ronny had read +somewhere the total miles of corridors in the Octagon. He hadn’t believed +the figures at the time. Now he believed them. He must have traversed +several miles before they got to the Department of Justice alone. It was +another quarter mile to the Bureau of Investigation. + +The scooter eventually came to a halt, waited long enough for Ronny to +dismount and then hurried back into the traffic. + +He entered the office. A neatly uniformed reception girl with a harassed +and cynical eye looked up from her desk. “Ronald Bronston?” she said. + +“That’s right.” + +“Where’ve you been?” She had a snappy cuteness. “The commissioner has been +awaiting you. Go through that door and to your left.” + +Ronny went through that door and to the left. There was another door, +inconspicuously lettered _Ross Metaxa, Commissioner, Section G_. Ronny +knocked and the door opened. + +Ross Metaxa was going through a wad of papers. He looked up; a man in the +middle years, sour of expression, moist of eye as though he either drank +too much or slept too little. + +“Sit down,” he said. “You’re Ronald Bronston, eh? What do they call you, +Ronny? It says here you’ve got a sense of humor. That’s one of the first +requirements in this lunatic department.” + +Ronny sat down and tried to form some opinions of the other by his +appearance. He was reminded of nothing so much as the stereotype city +editor you saw in the historical romance Tri-Ds. All that was needed was +for Metaxa to start banging on buttons and yelling something about tearing +down the front page, whatever that meant. + +Metaxa said, “It also says you have some queer hobbies. Judo, small +weapons target shooting, mountain climbing—” He looked up from the +reports. “Why does anybody climb mountains?” + +Ronny said, “Nobody’s ever figured out.” That didn’t seem to be enough, +especially since Ross Metaxa was staring at him, so he added, “Possibly we +devotees keep doing it in hopes that someday somebody’ll find out.” + +Ross Metaxa said sourly, “Not _too_ much humor, please. You don’t act as +though getting this position means much to you.” + +Ronny said slowly, “I figured out some time ago that every young man on +Earth yearns for a job that will send him shuttling from one planet to +another. To achieve it they study, they sweat, they make all out efforts +to meet and suck up to anybody they think might help. Finally, when and if +they get an interview for one of the few openings, they spruce up in their +best clothes, put on their best party manners, present themselves as the +sincere, high I.Q., ambitious young men that they are—and then flunk their +chance. I decided I might as well be what I am.” + +Ross Metaxa looked at him. “O.K.,” he said finally. “We’ll give you a +try.” + +Ronny said blankly, “You mean I’ve got the job?” + +“That’s right.” + +“I’ll be damned.” + +“Probably,” Metaxa said. He yawned. “Do you know what Section G handles?” + +“Well no, but as for me, just so I get off Earth and see some of the +galaxy.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Metaxa had been sitting with his heels on his desk. Now he put them down +and reached a hand into a drawer to emerge with a brown bottle and two +glasses. “Do you drink?” he said. + +“Of course.” + +“Even during working hours?” Metaxa scowled. + +“When occasion calls.” + +“Good,” Metaxa said. He poured two drinks. “You’ll get your fill of seeing +the galaxy,” he said. “Not that there’s much to see. Man can settle only +Earth-type planets and after you’ve seen a couple of hundred you’ve seen +them all.” + +Ronny sipped at his drink, then blinked reproachfully down into the glass. + +Metaxa said, “Good, eh? A kind of tequila they make on Deneb Eight. Bunch +of Mexicans settled there.” + +“What,” said Ronny hoarsely, “do they make it out of?” + +“Lord only knows,” Metaxa said. “To get back to Section G. We’re +Interplanetary Security. In short, Department Cloak and Dagger. Would you +be willing to die for the United Planets, Bronston?” + +That curve had come too fast. Ronny blinked again. “Only in emergency,” he +said. “Who’d want to kill me?” + +Metaxa poured another drink. “Many of the people you’ll be working with,” +he said. + +“Well, _why_? What will I be doing?” + +“You’ll be representing United Planets,” Metaxa explained. “Representing +United Planets in cases where the local situation is such that the folks +you’re working among will be teed off at the organization.” + +“Well, why are they members if they don’t like the UP?” + +“That’s a good question,” Metaxa said. He yawned. “I guess I’ll have to go +into my speech.” He finished his drink. “Now, shut up till I give you some +background. You’re probably full of a lot of nonsense you picked up in +school.” + +Ronny shut up. He’d expected more of an air of dedication in the Octagon +and in such ethereal departments as that of Interplanetary Justice, +however, he was in now and not adverse to picking up some sophistication +beyond the ken of the Earth-bound employees of UP. + +The other’s voice took on a far away, albeit bored tone. “It seems that +most of the times man gets a really big idea, he goes off half cocked. +Just one example. Remember when the ancient Hellenes exploded into the +Mediterranean? A score of different City-States began sending out +colonies, which in turn sprouted colonies of their own. Take Syracuse, on +Sicily. Hardly was she established than, bingo, she sent off colonists to +Southern Italy, and they in turn to Southern France, Corsica, the +Balearics. Greeks were exploding all over the place, largely without +adequate plans, without rhyme or reason. Take Alexander. Roamed off all +the way to India, founding cities and colonies of Greeks all along the +way.” + +The older man shifted in his chair. “You wonder what I’m getting at, eh? +Well, much the same thing is happening in man’s explosion into space, now +that he has the ability to leave the solar system behind. Dashing off half +cocked, in all directions, he’s flowing out over this section of the +galaxy without plan, without rhyme or reason. I take that last back, he +has reasons all right—some of the screwiest. Religious reasons, racial +reasons, idealistic reasons, political reasons, altruistic reasons and +mercenary reasons. + +“Inadequate ships, manned by small numbers of inadequate people, setting +out to find their own planets, to establish themselves on one of the +numberless uninhabited worlds that offer themselves to colonization and +exploitation.” + +Ronny cleared his throat. “Well, isn’t that a good thing, sir?” + +Ross Metaxa looked at him and grunted. “What difference does it make if +it’s good or not? It’s happening. We’re spreading our race out over tens +of hundreds of new worlds in the most haphazard fashion. As a result, we +of United Planets now have a chaotic mishmash on our hands. How we manage +to keep as many planets in the organization as we do, sometimes baffles +me. I suppose most of them are afraid to drop out, conscious of the +protection UP gives against each other.” + +He picked up a report. “Here’s Monet, originally colonized by a bunch of +painters, writers, musicians and such. They had dreams of starting a new +race”—Metaxa snorted—“with everybody artists. They were all so impractical +that they even managed to crash their ship on landing. For three hundred +years they were uncontacted. What did they have in the way of government +by that time? A military theocracy, something like the Aztecs of +Pre-Conquest Mexico. A matriarchy, at that. And what’s their religion +based on? That of ancient Phoenicia including plenty of human sacrifice to +good old Moloch. What can United Planets do about it, now that they’ve +become a member? Work away very delicately, trying to get them to at least +eliminate the child sacrifice phase of their culture. Will they do it? +Hell no, not if they can help it. The Head Priestess and her clique are +afraid that if they don’t have the threat of sacrifice to hold over the +people, they’ll be overthrown.” + +Ronny was surprised. “I’d never heard of a member planet like that. +Monet?” + +Metaxa sighed. “No, of course not. You’ve got a lot to learn, Ronny, my +lad. First of all, what’re Articles One and Two of the United Planets +Charter?” + +That was easy. Ronny recited. “Article One: _The United Planets +organization shall take no steps to interfere with the internal political, +socio-economic, or religious institutions of its member planets._ Article +Two: _No member planets of United Planets shall interfere with the +internal political, socioeconomic or religious institutions of any other +member planet._” He looked at the department head. “But what’s that got to +do with the fact that I was unfamiliar with even the existence of Monet?” + +“Suppose one of the advanced planets, or even Earth itself,” Metaxa +growled, “openly discussed in magazines, on newscasts, or wherever, the +religious system of Monet. A howl would go up among the liberals, the +progressives, the do-gooders. And the howl would be heard on the other +advanced planets. Eventually, the citizen in the street on Monet would +hear about it and be affected. And before you knew it, a howl would go up +from Monet’s government. Why? Because the other planets would be +interfering with her internal affairs, simply by discussing them.” + +“So what you mean is,” Ronny said, “part of our job is to keep information +about Monet’s government and religion from being discussed at all on other +member planets.” + +“That’s right,” Metaxa nodded. “And that’s just one of our dirty little +jobs. One of many. Section G, believe me, gets them all. Which brings us +to your first assignment.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny inched forward in his chair. “It takes me into space?” + +“It takes you into space all right,” Metaxa snorted. “At least it will +after a few months of indoctrination. I’m sending you out after a legend, +Ronny. You’re fresh, possibly you’ll get some ideas older men in the game +haven’t thought of.” + +“A legend?” + +“I’m sending you to look for Tommy Paine. Some members of the department +don’t think he exists. I do.” + +“Tommy Paine?” + +“A pseudonym that somebody hung on him way back before even my memory in +this Section. Did you ever hear of Thomas Paine in American history?” + +“He wrote a pamphlet during the Revolutionary War, didn’t he?” + +“ ‘Common Sense,’ ” Metaxa nodded. “But he was more than that. He was born +in England but went to America as a young man and his writings probably +did as much as anything to put over the revolt against the British. But +that wasn’t enough. When that revolution was successful he went back to +England and tried to start one there. The government almost caught him, +but he escaped and got to France where he participated in the French +Revolution.” + +“He seemed to get around,” Ronny Bronston said. + +“And so does this namesake of his. We’ve been trying to catch up with him +for some twenty years. How long before that he was active, we have no way +of knowing. It was some time before we became aware of the fact that half +the revolts, rebellions, revolutions and such that occur in the United +Planets have his dirty finger stirring around in them.” + +“But you said some department members don’t believe in his existence.” + +Metaxa grunted. “They’re working on the theory that no one man could do +all that Tommy Paine has laid to him. Possibly it’s true that he sometimes +gets the blame for accomplishments not his. Or, for that matter, possibly +he’s more than one person. I don’t know.” + +“Well,” Ronny said hesitantly, “what’s an example of his activity?” + +Metaxa picked up another report from the confusion of his desk. “Here’s +one only a month old. Dictator on the planet Megas. Kidnapped and forced +to resign. There’s still confusion but it looks as though a new type of +government will be formed now.” + +“But how do they know it wasn’t just some dissatisfied citizens of Megas?” + +“It seems as though the kidnap vehicle was an old fashioned Earth-type +helicopter. There were no such on Megas. So Section G suspects it’s a +possible Tommy Paine case. We could be wrong, of course. That’s why I say +the man’s in the way of being a legend. Perhaps the others are right and +he doesn’t even exist. I think he does, and if so, it’s our job to get him +and put him out of circulation.” + +Ronny said slowly, “But why would that come under our jurisdiction? It +seems to me that it would be up to the police of whatever planet he was +on.” + +Ross Metaxa looked thoughtfully at his brown bottle, shook his head and +returned it to its drawer. He looked at a desk watch. “Don’t read into the +United Planets organization more than there is. It’s a fragile institution +with practically no independent powers to wield. Every member planet is +jealous of its prerogatives, which is understandable. It’s no mistake that +Articles One and Two are the basic foundation of the Charter. No member +planet wants to be interfered with by any other or by United Planets as an +organization. They want to be left alone. + +“Within our ranks we have planets with every religion known to man +throughout the ages. Everything ranging from primitive animism to the most +advanced philosophic ethic. We have every political system ever dreamed +of, and every socio-economic system. It can all be blamed on the crack-pot +manner in which we’re colonizing. Any minority, no matter how +small—religious, political, racial, or whatever—if it can collect the +funds to buy or rent a spacecraft, can dash off on its own, find a new +Earth-type planet and set up in business. + +“Fine. One of the prime jobs of Section G is to carry out, to enforce, +Articles One and Two of the Charter. A planet with Buddhism as its state +religion, doesn’t want some die-hard Baptist missionary stirring up +controversy. A planet with a feudalistic socio-economic systems doesn’t +want some hot-shot interplanetary businessman coming in with some big deal +that would eventually cause the feudalistic nobility to be tossed onto the +ash heap. A planet with a dictatorship doesn’t want subversives from some +democracy trying to undermine their institutions—and vice versa.” + +“And its our job to enforce all this, eh?” Ronny said. + +“That’s right,” Metaxa told him sourly. “It’s not always the nicest job in +the system. However, if you believe in United Planets, an organization +attempting to co-ordinate in such manner as it can, the efforts of its +member planets, for the betterment of all, then you must accept Section G +and Interplanetary Security.” + +Ronny Bronston thought about it. + +Metaxa added, “That’s why one of the requirements of this job is that you +yourself be a citizen of United Planets, rather than of any individual +planet, have no religious affiliations, no political beliefs, and no +racial prejudices. You’ve got to be able to stand aloof.” + +“Yeah,” Ronny said thoughtfully. + +Ross Metaxa looked at his watch again and sighed wearily. “I’ll turn you +over to one of my assistants,” he said. “I’ll see you again, though, +before you leave.” + +“Before I leave?” Ronny said, coming to his feet. “But where do I start +looking for this Tommy Paine?” + +“How the hell would I know?” Ross Metaxa growled. + + ------------------------------------- + +In the outer office, Ronny said to the receptionist, “Commissioner Metaxa +said for me to get in touch with Sid Jakes.” + +She said, “I’m Irene Kasansky. Are you with us?” + +Ronny said, “I beg your pardon?” + +She said impatiently, “Are you going to be with the Section? If you are, +I’ve got to clear you with your old job. You were in statistics over in +New Copenhagen, weren’t you?” + +Somehow it seemed far away now, the job he’d held for more than five +years. “Oh, yes,” he said. “Yes, Commissioner Metaxa has given me an +appointment.” + +She looked up at him. “Probably to look for Tommy Paine.” + +He was taken aback. “That’s right. How did you know?” + +“There was talk. This Section is pretty well integrated.” She grimaced, +but on her it looked good. “One big happy family. High interdepartmental +morale. That sort of jetsam.” She flicked some switches. “You’ll find +Supervisor Jakes through that door, one to your left, two to your right.” + +He could have asked one _what_ to his left and two _what_ to his right, +but evidently Irene Kasansky thought he had enough information to get him +to his destination. She’d gone back to her work. + + [Illustration.] + +It was one turn to his left and two turns to his right. The door was +lettered simply _Sidney Jakes_. He knocked and a voice shouted happily, +“It’s open. It’s always open.” + +Supervisor Jakes was as informal as his superior. His attire was on the +happy-go-lucky side, more suited for sports wear than a fairly high +ranking job in the ultra-staid Octagon. + +He couldn’t have been much older than Ronny Bronston but he had a nervous +vitality about him that would have worn out the other in a few hours. He +jumped up and shook hands. “You must be Bronston. Call me Sid.” He waved a +hand at a typed report he’d been reading. “Now I’ve seen them all. They’ve +just applied for entry to United Planets. Republic. What a name, eh?” + +“What?” Ronny said. + +“Sit down, sit down.” He rushed Ronny to a chair, saw him seated, returned +to the desk and flicked an order box switch. “Irene,” he said, “do up a +badge for Ronny, will you? You’ve got his code, haven’t you? Good. Send it +over. Bronze, of course.” + +Sid Jakes turned back to Ronny and grinned at him. He motioned to the +report again. “What a name for a planet. Republic. Bunch of screw-balls, +again. Out in the vicinity of Sirius. Based their system on Plato’s +_Republic_. Have to go the whole way. Don’t even speak Basic. Certainly +not. They speak Ancient Greek. That’s going to be a neat trick, finding +interpreters. How’d you like the Old Man?” + +Ronny said, dazed at the conversational barrage, “Old Man? Oh, you mean +Commissioner Metaxa.” + +“Sure, sure,” Sid grinned, perching himself on the edge of the desk. “Did +he give you that drink of tequila during working hours routine? He’d like +to poison every new agent we get. What a character.” + +The grin was infectious. Ronny said carefully, “Well, I did think his +method of hiring a new man was a little—cavalier.” + +“Cavalier, yet,” Sid Jakes chortled. “Look, don’t get the Old Man wrong. +He knows what he’s doing. He always knows what he’s doing.” + +“But he took me on after only two or three minutes conversation.” + +Jakes cocked his head to one side. “Oh? You think so? When did you first +apply for interplanetary assignment, Ronny?” + +“I don’t know, about three years ago.” + +Jakes nodded. “Well, depend on it, you’ve been under observation for that +length of time. At any one period, Section G is investigating possibly a +thousand potential agents. We need men but qualifications are high.” + +He hopped down from his position, sped around to the other side of the +desk and lowered himself into his chair. “Don’t get the wrong idea, +though. You’re not in. You’re on probation. Whatever the assignment the +Old Man gave you, you’ve got to carry it out successfully before you’re +full fledged.” He flicked the order-box switch and said, “Irene, where the +devil’s Ronny’s badge?” + +Ronny Bronston heard the office girl’s voice answer snappishly. + +“All right, all right,” Jakes said. “I love you, too. Send it in when it +comes.” He turned to Ronny. “What _is_ your assignment?” + +“He wants me to go looking for some firebrand nicknamed Tommy Paine. I’m +supposed to arrest him. The commissioner said you’d give me details.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Sid Jakes’ face went serious. He puckered up his lips. “Wow, that’ll be a +neat trick to pull off,” he said. He flicked the order-box switch again. +Irene’s voice snapped something before he could say anything and Sid Jakes +grinned and said, “O.K., O.K., darling, but if this is the way you’re +going to be I won’t marry you. Then what will the children say? Besides, +that’s not what I called about. Have ballistics do up a model H gun for +Ronny, will you? Be sure it’s adjusted to his code.” + +He flicked off the order box and turned back to Ronny. “I understand +you’re familiar with hand guns. It’s in this report on you.” + +Ronny nodded. He was just beginning to adjust to this free-wheeling +character. “What will I need a gun for?” + +Jakes laughed. “Heavens to Betsy, you babe in the woods. Do you realize +this Tommy Paine character has supposedly stirred up a couple of score +wars, revolutions and revolts? Not to speak of having laid in his lap two +or three dozen assassinations. He’s a quick lad with a gun. A regular +Nihilist.” + +“Nihilist?” + +Jakes chuckled. “When you’ve been in this Section for a while, you’ll be +familiar with every screwball outfit man has ever dreamed up. The +Nihilists were a European group, mostly Russian, back in the Nineteenth +Century. They believed that by bumping off a few Grand Dukes and a Czar or +so they could force the ruling class to grant reforms. Sometimes they were +pretty ingenious. Blew up trains, that sort of thing.” + +“Look here,” Ronny said, “what motivates this Paine fellow? What’s he get +out of all this trouble he stirs up?” + +“Search me. Nobody seems to know. Some think he’s a mental case. For one +thing, he’s not consistent.” + +“How do you mean?” + +“Well, he’ll go to one planet and break his back trying to overthrow, say, +feudalism. Then, possibly after being successful, he goes to another +planet and devotes his energies to establishing the same socio-economic +system.” + +Ronny assimilated that. “You’re one of those who believes he exists?” + +“Oh, he exists all right, all right,” Sid Jakes said happily. “Matter of +fact, I almost ran into him a few years ago.” + +Ronny leaned forward. “I guess I ought to know about it. The more +information I have, the better.” + +“Sure, sure,” Jakes said. “This deal of mine was on one of the Aldebaran +planets. A bunch of nature boys had settled there.” + +“Nature boys?” + +“Um-m-m. Back to nature. The trouble with the human race is that it’s got +too far away from nature. So a whole flock of them landed on this planet. +They call it Mother, of all things. They landed and set up a primitive +society. Absolute stone age. No metals. Lived by the chase and by picking +berries, wild fruit, that sort of thing. Not even any agriculture. Wore +skins. Bows and arrows were the nearest thing they allowed themselves in +the way of mechanical devices.” + +“Good grief,” Ronny said. + +“It was a laugh,” Jakes told him. “I was assigned there as Section G +representative with the UP organization. Picture it. We had to wear skins +for clothes. We had to confine ourselves to two or three long houses. +Something like the American Iroquois lived in before Columbus. Their +society on Mother was based on primitive communism. The clan, the phratry, +the tribe. Their religion was mostly a matter of knocking into everybody’s +head that any progress was taboo. Oh, it was great.” + +“Well, were they happy?” + +“What’s happiness? I suppose they were as happy as anybody ever averages. +Frankly, I didn’t mind the assignment. Lots of fishing, lots of hunting.” + +Ronny said, “Well, where does Tommy Paine come in?” + +“He snuck up on us. Started way back in the boondocks away from any of the +larger primitive settlements. Went around putting himself over as a holy +man. Cured people of various things from gangrene to eye diseases. Given +antibiotics and such, you can imagine how successful he was.” + +“Well, what harm did he do?” + +“I didn’t say he did any harm. But in that manner he made himself awfully +popular. Then he’d pull some trick like showing them how to smelt iron, +and distribute some corn and wheat seed around and plant the idea of +agriculture. The local witch doctors would try to give him a hard time, +but the people figured he was a holy man.” + +“Well, what happened finally?” Ronny wasn’t following too well. + +“Communications being what they were, before he’d been discovered by the +central organization—they had a kind of Council of Tribes which met once a +year—he’d planted so many ideas that they couldn’t be stopped. The young +people’d never go back to flint knives, once introduced to iron. We went +looking for friend Tommy Paine, but he got wind of it and took off. We +even found where he’d hidden his little space cruiser. Oh, it was Paine, +all right, all right.” + +“But what harm did he do? I don’t understand,” Ronny scowled. + +“He threw the whole shebang on its ear. Last I heard, the planet had +broken up into three main camps. They were whaling away at each other like +the Assyrians and Egyptians. Iron weapons, chariots, domesticated horses. +Agriculture was sweeping the planet. Population was exploding. Men were +making slaves out of each other, to put them to work. Oh, it was a mess +from the viewpoint of the original nature boys.” + +A red light flickered on his desk and Sid Jakes opened a delivery drawer +and dipped his hand into it. It emerged with a flat wallet. He tossed it +to Ronny Bronston. + +“Here you are. Your badge.” + +Ronny opened the wallet and examined it. He’d never seen one before, but +for that matter he’d never heard of Section G before that morning. It was +a simple enough bronze badge. It said on it, merely, _Ronald Bronston, +Section G, Bureau of Investigation, United Planets_. + +Sid Jakes explained. “You’ll get co-operation with that through the +Justice Department anywhere you go. We’ll brief you further on procedure +during indoctrination. You in turn, of course, are to co-operate with any +other agent of Section G. You’re under orders of anyone with”—his hand +snaked into a pocket and emerged with a wallet similar to Ronny’s—“a +silver badge, carried by a First Grade Agent, or a gold one of Supervisor +rank.” + +Ronny noted that his badge wasn’t really bronze. It had a certain sheen, a +brightness. + +Jakes said, “Here, look at this.” He tossed his own badge to the new man. +Ronny looked down at it in surprise. The gold had gone dull. + +Jakes laughed. “Now give me yours.” + +Ronny got up and walked over to him and handed it over. As soon as the +other man’s hand touched it, the bronze lost its sheen. + +Jakes handed it back. “See, it’s tuned to you alone,” he said. “And mine +is tuned to my code. Nobody can swipe a Section G badge and impersonate an +agent. If anybody ever shows you a badge that doesn’t have its sheen, you +know he’s a fake. Neat trick, eh?” + +“Very neat,” Ronny admitted. He returned the other’s gold badge. “Look, to +get back to this Tommy Paine.” + +But the red light flickered again and Jakes brought forth from the +delivery drawer a hand gun complete with shoulder harness. “Nasty weapon,” +he said. “But we’d better go on down to the armory and show you its +workings.” + +He stood up. “Oh, yes, don’t let me forget to give you a communicator. A +real gizmo. About as big as a woman’s vanity case. Puts you in immediate +contact with the nearest Section G office, no matter how near or far away +it is. Or, if you wish, in contact with our offices here in the Octagon. +Very neat trick.” + +He led Ronny from his office and down the corridors beyond to an elevator. +He said happily, “This is a crazy outfit, this Section G. You’ll probably +love it. Everybody does.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny learned to love Section G—in moderation. + +He was initially taken aback by the existence of the organization at all. +He’d known, of course, of the Department of Justice and even of the Bureau +of Investigation, but Section G was hush-hush and not even United Planets +publications ever mentioned it. + +The problems involved in remaining hush-hush weren’t as great as all that. +The very magnitude of the UP which involved more than two thousand member +planets, allowed of departments and bureaus hidden away in the endless +stretches of red tape. + +In fact, although Ronny Bronston had spent the better part of his life, +thus far, in studying for a place in the organization, and then working in +the Population Statistics Department for some years, he was only now +beginning to get the over-all picture of the workings of the mushrooming, +chaotic United Planets organization. + +It was Earth’s largest industry by far. In fact, for all practical +purposes it was her only major industry. Tourism, yes, but even that, in a +way, was related to the United Planets organization. Millions of visitors +whose ancestors had once emigrated from the mother planet, streamed back +in racial nostalgia. Streamed back to see the continents and oceans, the +Arctic and the Antarctic, the Amazon River and Mount Everest, the Sahara +and New York City, the ruins of Rome and Athens, the Vatican, the Louvre +and the Hermitage. + +But the populace of Earth, in its hundreds of millions were largely +citizens of United Planets and worked in the organization and with its +auxiliaries such as the Space Forces. + +Section G? To his surprise, Ronny found that Ross Metaxa’s small section +of the Bureau of Investigation seemed almost as great a secret within the +Bureau as it was to the man in the street. At one period, Ronny wondered +if it were possible that this was a department which had been lost in the +wilderness of boondoggling that goes on in any great bureaucracy. Had +Section G been set up a century or so ago and then forgotten by those who +had originally thought there was a need for it? In the same way that it is +usually more difficult to get a statute off the lawbooks than it was +originally to pass it, in the same manner eliminating an office, with its +employees can prove more difficult than originally establishing it. + +But that wasn’t it. In spite of the informality, the unconventional +brashness of its personnel on all levels, and the seeming chaos in which +its tasks were done, Section G was no make-work project set up to provide +juicy jobs for the relatives of high ranking officials. To the contrary, +it didn’t take long in the Section before anybody with open eyes could see +that Ross Metaxa was privy to the decisions made by the upper echelons of +UP. + +Ronny Bronston came to the conclusion that the appointment he’d received +was putting him in a higher bracket of the UP hierarchy than he’d at first +imagined. + +His indoctrination course was a strain such as he’d never known in school +years. Ross Metaxa was evidently of the opinion that a man could +assimilate concentrated information at a rate several times faster than +any professional educator ever dreamed possible. No threats were made, but +Ronny realized that he could be dropped even more quickly than he’d seemed +to have been taken on. There were no classes, to either push or retard the +rate of study. He worked with a series of tutors, and pushed himself. The +tutors were almost invariably Section G agents, temporarily in Greater +Washington between assignments, or for briefing on this phase or that of +their work. + +Even as he studied, Ronny Bronston kept the eventual assignment, at which +he was to prove himself, in mind. He made a point of inquiring of each +agent he met, about Tommy Paine. + +The name was known to all, but no two reacted in the same manner. Several +of them even brushed the whole matter aside as pure legend. _Nobody_ could +accomplish all the trouble that Tommy Paine had supposedly stirred up. + +To one of these, Ronny said plaintively, “See here, the Old Man believes +in him, Sid Jakes believes in him. My final appointment depends on +arresting him. How can I ever secure this job, if I’m chasing a myth?” + +The other shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I’ve got my own problems. O.K., now, +let’s run over this question of Napoleonic law. There are at least two +hundred planets that base their legal system on it.” + +But the majority of his fellow employees in Section G had strong enough +opinions on the interplanetary firebrand. Three or four even claimed to +have seen him fleetingly, although no two descriptions jibed. That, of +course, could be explained. The man could resort to plastic surgery and +other disguise. + +Theories there were in plenty, some of them going back long years, and +some of them pure fable. + + ------------------------------------- + +“Look,” Ronny said in disgust one day after a particularly unbelievable +siege with two agents recently returned from a trouble spot in a planetary +system that involved three aggressive worlds which revolved about the same +sun. “Look, it’s impossible for one man to accomplish all this. He’s +blamed for half the _coups d’états_, revolts and upheavals that have taken +place for the past quarter century. It’s obvious nonsense. Why, a +revolutionist usually spends the greater part of his life toppling a +government. Then, once it’s toppled, he spends the rest of his life trying +to set up a new government—and he’s usually unsuccessful.” + +One of the others was shaking his head negatively. “You don’t understand +this Tommy Paine’s system, Bronston.” + +“You sure don’t,” the other agent, a Nigerian, grinned widely. “I’ve been +on planets where he’d operated.” + +Ronny leaned forward. The three of them were having a beer in a part of +the city once called Baltimore. “You have?” he said. “Tell me about it, +eh? The more background I get on this guy, the better.” + +“Sure. And this’ll give you an idea of how he operates, how he can get so +much trouble done. Well, I was on this planet Goshen, understand? It had +kind of a strange history. A bunch of colonists went out there, oh, four +or five centuries ago. Pretty healthy expedition, as such outfits go. +Bright young people, lots of equipment, lots of know-how and books. Well, +through sheer bad luck everything went wrong from the beginning. +Everything. Before they got set up at all they had an explosion that +killed off all their communications technicians. They lost contact with +the outside. O.K. Within a couple of centuries they’d gotten into a state +of chattel slavery. Pretty well organized, but static. Kind of an Athenian +Democracy on top, a hierarchy, but nineteen people out of twenty were +slaves, and I mean real slaves, like animals. They were at this stage when +a scout ship from the UP Space Forces discovered them and, of course, they +joined up.” + +“Where does Tommy Paine come in?” Ronny said. He signaled to a waiter for +more beer. + +“He comes in a few years later. I was the Section G agent on Goshen, +understand? No planet was keener about Articles One and Two of the UP +Charter. The hierarchy understood well enough that if their people ever +came to know about more advanced socio-economic systems it’d be the end of +Goshen’s Golden Age. So they allowed practically no intercourse. No +contact whatsoever between UP personnel and anyone outside the upper +class, understand? All right. That’s where Tommy Paine came in. It +couldn’t have taken him more than a couple of months at most.” + +Ronny Bronston was fascinated. “What’d he do?” + +“He introduced the steam engine, and then left.” + +Ronny was looking at him blankly. “Steam engine?” + +“That and the fly shuttle and the spinning jenny,” the Nigerian said. +“That Goshen hierarchy never knew what hit them.” + +Ronny was still blank. The waiter came up with the steins of beer, and +Ronny took one and drained half of it without taking his eyes from the +storyteller. + +The other agent took it up. “Don’t you see? Their system was based on +chattel slavery, hand labor. Given machinery and it collapses. Chattel +slavery isn’t practical in a mechanized society. Too expensive a labor +force, for one thing. Besides, you need an educated man and one with some +initiative—qualities that few slaves possess—to run an industrial +society.” + +Ronny finished his beer. “Smart cooky, isn’t he?” + +“He’s smart all right. But I’ve got a still better example of his fouling +up a whole planetary socio-economic system in a matter of weeks. A friend +of mine was working on a planet with a highly-developed feudalism. Barons, +lords, dukes, counts and no-accounts, all stashed safely away in castles +and fortresses up on the top of hills. The serfs down below did all the +work in the fields, provided servants, artisans and foot soldiers for the +continual fighting that the aristocracy carried on. Very similar to Europe +back in the Dark Ages.” + +“So?” Ronny said. “I’d think that’d be a deal that would take centuries to +change.” + +The Section G agent laughed. “Tommy Paine stayed just long enough to +introduce gunpowder. That was the end of those impregnable castles up on +the hills.” + +“What gets me,” Ronny said slowly, “is his motivation.” + +The other two both grunted agreement to that. + + ------------------------------------- + +Toward the end of his indoctrination studies, Ronny appeared one morning +at the Octagon Section G offices and before Irene Kasansky. Watching her +fingers fly, listening to her voice rapping and snapping, O.K.-ing and +rejecting, he came to the conclusion that automation could go just so far +in office work and then you were thrown back on the hands of the efficient +secretary. Irene was a one-woman office staff. + +She looked up at him. “Hello, Ronny. Thought you’d be off on your +assignment by now. Got any clues on Tommy Paine?” + +“No,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. I wanted to see the commissioner.” + +“About what?” She flicked a switch. When a light flickered on one of her +order boxes, she said into it, “No,” emphatically, and turned back to him. + +“He said he wanted to see me again before I took off.” + +She fiddled some more, finally said, “All right, Ronny. Tell him he’s got +time for five minutes with you.” + +“Five minutes!” + +“Then he’s got an appointment with the Commissioner of Interplanetary +Culture,” she said. “You’d better hurry along.” + +Ronny Bronston retraced the route of his first visit here. How long ago? +It already seemed ages since his probationary appointment. Your life +changed fast when you were in Section G. + +Ross Metaxa’s brown bottle, or its twin, was sitting on his desk and he +was staring at it glumly. He looked up and scowled. + +“Ronald Bronston,” Ronny said. “Irene Kasansky told me to say I could have +five minutes with you, then you have an appointment with the Commissioner +of Interplanetary Culture.” + +“I remember you,” Metaxa said. “Have a drink. Interplanetary Culture, ha! +The Xanadu Folk Dance Troupe. They dance nude. They’ve been touring the +whole UP. Roaring success everywhere, obviously. Now they’re assigned to +Virtue, a planet settled by a bunch of Fundamentalists. They want the +troupe to wear Mother Hubbards. The Xanadu outfit is in a tizzy. They’ve +been insulted. They claim they’re the most modest members of UP, that +nudity has nothing to do with modesty. The government of Virtue said +that’s fine but they wear Mother Hubbards or they don’t dance. Xanadu says +it’ll withdraw from United Planets.” + +Ronny Bronston said painfully, “Why not let them?” + +Ross Metaxa poured himself a Denebian tequila, offered his subordinate a +drink again with a motion of the bottle. Ronny shook his head. + +Metaxa said, “If we didn’t take steps to soothe these things over, there +wouldn’t be any United Planets. In any given century every member in the +organization threatens to resign at least once. Even Earth. And then +what’d happen? You’d have interplanetary war before you knew it. What’d +you want, Ronny?” + +“I’m about set to take up my search for this Tommy Paine.” + +“Ah, yes, Tommy Paine. If you catch him, there are a dozen planets where +he’d be eligible for the death sentence.” + +Ronny cleared his throat. “There must be. What I wanted was the file on +him, sir.” + +“File?” + +“Yes, sir. I’ve got to the point where I want to cram up on everything we +have on him. So far, all I’ve got is verbal information from individual +agents and from Supervisor Jakes.” + +“Don’t be silly, Ronny. There isn’t any file on Tommy Paine.” + +Ronny just looked at the other. + +Ross Metaxa said impatiently, “The very knowledge of the existence of the +man is top secret. Isn’t that obvious? Suppose some reporter got the story +and printed it. If our member planets knew there was such a man and that +we haven’t been able to scotch him, why they’d drop out of UP so fast the +computers couldn’t keep up with it. There’s not one planet in ten that +feels secure enough to lay itself open to subversion. Why some of our +planets are so far down the ladder of social evolution they live under +primitive tribal society; their leaders, their wise men and witch-doctors, +whatever you call them, are scared someone will come along and establish +chattel slavery. Those planets that have a system based on slavery are +scared to death of developing feudalism, and those that have feudalism are +afraid of _creeping capitalism_. Those with an anarchistic basis—and we +have several—are afraid of being subverted to statism, and those who have +a highly developed government are afraid of anarchism. The socio-economic +systems based on private ownership of property hate the very idea of +socialism or communism, and vice versa, and those planets with state +capitalism hate them both.” + + [Illustration.] + +He glared at Ronny. “What do you think the purpose of this Section is, +Bronston? Our job is to keep our member planets from being afraid of each +other. If they found that Tommy Paine and his group, if he’s got a group, +were buzzing through the system subverting everything they can foul up, +they’d drop out of UP and set up quarantines that a space mite couldn’t +get through. No sir, there is no file on Tommy Paine and there never will +be. And if any news of him spreads to the outside, this Section will +emphatically deny he exists. I hope that’s clear.” + +“Well, yes sir,” Ronny said. The commissioner had been all but roaring +toward the end. + +The order box clicked on Ross Metaxa’s desk and he said loudly, “What?” + +“Don’t yell at me,” Irene snapped back. “Ronny’s five minutes are up. +You’ve got an appointment. I’m getting tired of this job. It’s a +mad-house. I’m going to quit and get a job with Interplanetary Finance.” + +“Oh, yeah.” Ross snarled back. “That’s what you think. I’ve taken +measures. Top security. I’ve warned off every Commissioner in UP. You +can’t get away from me until you reach retirement age. Although I don’t +know why I care. I hate nasty tempered women.” + +“Huh!” she snorted and clicked off. + +“There’s a woman for you,” Ross Metaxa growled at Ronny. “It’s too bad +she’s indispensable. I’d love to fire her. Look, you go in and see Sid +Jakes. Seems to me he said something about Tommy Paine this morning. Maybe +it’s a lead.” He came to his feet. “So long and good luck, Ronny. I feel +optimistic about you. I think you’ll get this Paine troublemaker.” + +Which was more than Ronny Bronston thought. + +Sid Jakes already had a visitor in his office, which didn’t prevent him +from yelling, “It’s open,” when Ronny Bronston knocked. + +He bounced from his chair, came around the desk and shook hands +enthusiastically. “Ronny!” he said, his tone implying they were favorite +brothers for long years parted. “You’re just in time.” + +Ronny took in the office’s other occupant appreciatively. She was a small +girl, almost tiny. He estimated her to be at least half Chinese, or maybe +Indo-Chinese, the rest probably European or North American. + +She evidently favored her Asiatic blood, her dress was traditional +Chinese, slit almost to the thigh Shanghai style. + +Sid Jakes said, “Tog Lee Chang Chu—Ronny Bronston. You’ll be working +together. Bloodhounding old Tommy Paine. A neat trick if you can pull it +off. Well, are you all set to go?” + +Ronny mumbled something to the girl in the way of amenity, then looked +back at the supervisor. “Working together?” he said. + +“That’s right. Lucky you, eh?” + +Tog Lee Chang Chu said demurely, “Possibly Mr. Bronston objects to having +a female assistant.” + +Sid Jakes snorted, and hurried around his desk to resume his seat. “Does +he look crazy? Who’d object to having a cutey like you around day in and +day out? Call him Ronny. Might as well get used to it. Two of you’ll be +closer than man and wife.” + +“Assistant?” Ronny said, bewildered. “What do I need an assistant for?” He +turned his eyes to the girl. “No reflection on you, Miss ... ah, Tog.” + +Sid Jakes laughed easily. “Section G operatives always work in pairs, +Ronny. Especially new agents. The advantages will come home to you as you +go along. Look on Tog Lee Chang Chu as a secretary, a man Friday. This +isn’t her first assignment, of course. You’ll find her invaluable.” + +The supervisor plucked a card from an order box. “Now here’s the dope. Can +you leave within four hours? There’s a UP Space Forces cruiser going to +Merlini, they can drop you off at New Delos. Fastest way you could +possibly get there. The cruiser takes off from Neuve Albuquerque in, let’s +see, three hours and forty-five minutes.” + +“New Delos?” Ronny said, taking his eyes from the girl and trying to catch +up with the grasshopper-like conversation of his superior. + +“New Delos it is,” Jakes said happily. “With luck, you might catch him +before he can get off the planet.” He chuckled at the other’s expression. +“Look alive, Ronny! The quarry is flushed and on the run. Tommy Paine’s +just assassinated the Immortal God-King of New Delos. A neat trick, eh?” + + ------------------------------------- + +The following hours were chaotic. There was no indication of how long a +period he’d be gone. For all he knew, it might be years. For that matter, +he might never return to Earth. This Ronny Bronston had realized before he +ever applied for an interplanetary appointment. Mankind was exploding +through this spiral arm of the galaxy. There was a racial enthusiasm about +it all. Man’s destiny lay out in the stars, only a laggard stayed home of +his own accord. It was the ambition of every youth to join the snowballing +avalanche of man into the neighboring stars. + +It took absolute severity by Earth authorities to prevent the depopulation +of the planet. But someone had to stay to administer the ever more +complicated racial destiny. Earth became a clearing house for a thousand +cultures, attempting, with only moderate success, to co-ordinate her +widely spreading children. She couldn’t afford to let her best seed +depart. Few there were, any more, allowed to emigrate from Earth. New +colonies drew their immigrants from older ones. + +Lucky was the Earthling able to find service in interplanetary affairs, in +any of the thousands of tasks that involved journey between member planets +of UP. Possibly one hundredth of the population at one time or another, +and for varying lengths of time, managed it. + +Ronny Bronston was lucky and knew it. The thing now was to pull off this +assignment and cinch the appointment for good. + +He packed in a swirl of confusion. He phoned a relative who lived in the +part of town once known as Richmond, explained the situation and asked +that the other store his things and dispose of the apartment he’d been +occupying. + +Luckily, the roof of his apartment building was a copter-cab pickup point +and he was able to hustle over to the shuttleport in a matter of a few +minutes. + +He banged into the reservations office, hurried up to one of the windows +and said into the screen, “I’ve got to get to Neuve Albuquerque +immediately.” + +The expressionless voice said, “The next rocket leaves at sixteen hours.” + +“Sixteen hours! I’ve got to be at the spaceport by that time!” + +The voice said dispassionately, “We are sorry.” + +The bottom fell out of everything. Ronny said, desperately, “Look, if I +miss my ship in Neuve Albuquerque, what is the next spaceliner leaving +from there for New Delos?” + +“A moment, citizen.” There was an agonized wait, and then the voice said, +“There is a liner leaving for New Delos on the 14th of next month. It +arrives in New Delos on the 31st, Basic Earth calendar.” + +The 31st! Tommy Paine could be halfway across the galaxy by that time. + +A gentle voice next to him said, “Could I help, Ronny?” + +He looked around at her. “Evidently, nobody can,” he said disgustedly. +“There’s no way of getting to Neuve Albuquerque in time to get that +cruiser to New Delos.” + +Tog Lee Chang Chu fished in her bag and came up with a wallet similar to +the one in which Ronny carried his Section G badge. She held it up to the +screen. “Bureau of Investigation, Section G,” she said calmly. “It will be +necessary that Agent Bronston and myself be in Neuve Albuquerque within +the hour.” + +The metallic voice said, “Of course. Proceed to your right and through +Corridor K to Exit Four. Your rocket will be there. Identify yourself to +Lieutenant Economou who will be at the desk at Exit Four.” + +Tog turned to Ronny Bronston. “Shall we go?” she said demurely. + +He cleared his throat, feeling foolish. “Thanks, Tog,” he said. + +“Not at all, Ronny. Why, this is my job.” + +Was there the faintest of sarcasm in her voice? It hadn’t been more than a +couple of hours ago that he had been hinting rather heavily to Sid Jakes +that he needed no assistance. + +She even knew the layout of the West Greater Washington shuttleport. Her +small body swiveled through the hurrying passengers, her small feet +a-twinkle, as she led him to and down Corridor K and then to the desk at +Exit Four. + +Ronny anticipated her here. He flashed his own badge at the chair-borne +Space Forces lieutenant there. + +“Lieutenant Economou?” he said. “Ronald Bronston, of the Bureau of +Investigation, Section G. We’ve got to get to Neuve Albuquerque soonest.” + +The lieutenant, only mildly impressed, said, “We can have you in the air +in ten minutes, citizen. Just a moment and I’ll guide you myself.” + + ------------------------------------- + +In the rocket, Ronny had time to appraise her at greater length. She was a +delicately pretty thing, although her expression was inclined to the +over-serious. There was only a touch of the Mongolian fold at the corner +of her eyes. On her it looked unusually good. Her complexion was that +which only the blend of Chinese and Caucasian can give. Her figure, thanks +to her European blood, was fuller than Eastern Asia usually boasts; tiny, +but full. + +Let’s admit it, he decided. My assistant is the cutest trick this side of +a Tri-Di movie queen, and we’re going to be thrown in the closest of +juxtaposition for an indefinite time. This comes under the head of work? + +He said, “Look here, Tog, you were with Sid Jakes longer than I was. +What’s the full story?” + +She folded her slim hands in her lap, looking like a schoolgirl about to +recite. “Do you know anything about the socio-economic system on New +Delos?” + +“Well, no,” he admitted. + +She said severely, “I’d think that they would have given you more +background before an assignment of this type.” + +Ronny said impatiently, “In the past three months I’ve been filled in on +the economic systems, the religious beliefs, the political forms, of a +thousand planets. I just happened to miss New Delos.” + +Her mouth expressed disapproval by rucking down on the sides, which was +all very attractive but also irritating. She said, “There are two +thousand, four hundred and thirty-six member planets in the UP, I’d think +an agent of Section G would be up on the basic situation on each.” + +He had her there. He said snidely, “Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the +number is two thousand, four hundred and thirty-four.” + +“Then,” she nodded agreeably, “membership has changed since this morning +when Menalaus and Aldebaran Three were admitted. Have two planets dropped +out?” + +“Look,” he said, “let’s stop bickering. What’s the word on New Delos?” + +“Did you ever read Frazer’s ‘Golden Bough’?” she said. + +“No.” + +“You should. At any rate, New Delos is a theocracy. A priesthood elite +rules it. A God-King, who is immortal, holds absolute authority. The +strongest of superstition plus an efficient inquisition, keeps the people +under control.” + +“Sounds terrible,” Ronny growled. + +“Why? Possibly the government is extremely efficient and under it the +planet progressing at a rate in advance of UP averages.” + +He stared at her in surprise. + +She said, “Would you rather be ruled by the personal, arbitrary whims of +supremely wise men, or by laws formulated by a mob?” + +It stopped him momentarily. In all his adult years, he couldn’t remember +ever meeting an intelligent, educated person who had been opposed to the +democratic theory. + +“Wait a minute, now,” he said. “Who decides that they’re supremely wise +men who are doing this arbitrary ruling? Let any group come to power, by +whatever means, and they’ll soon tell you they’re an elite. But let’s get +back to New Delos, from what you’ve said so far, the people are held in a +condition of slavery.” + +“What’s wrong with slavery?” Tog said mildly. + +He all but glared at her. “Are you kidding?” + +“I seldom jest,” Tog said primly. “Under the proper conditions, slavery +can be the most suitable system for a people.” + +“Under _what_ conditions!” + +“Have you forgotten your Earth history to the point where Egypt, Greece +and Rome mean nothing to you? Man made some of his outstanding progress +under slavery. And do you contend that man’s lot is necessarily miserable +given slavery? As far back as Aesop we know of slaves who have reached the +heights in their society. Slaves sometimes could and did become the +virtual rulers in ancient countries.” She shrugged prettily. “The +prejudices which you hold today, on Earth, do not necessarily apply to all +time, nor to all places.” + +He said, impatiently, “Look, Tog, we can go into this further, later. +Let’s get back to New Delos. What happened?” + +Tog said, “The very foundation of their theocracy is the belief on the +part of the populace that the God-King is immortal. No man conspires +against his Deity. Supervisor Jakes informed me that it is understood by +UP Intelligence, that about once every twenty years the priesthood +secretly puts in a new God-King. Plastic surgery would guarantee facial +resemblance, and, of course, the rank and file citizen would probably +never be allowed close enough to discover that their God-King seemed +different every couple of decades. At any rate, it’s been working for some +time.” + +“And there’s been no revolt against this religious aristocracy?” + +She shook her head. “Evidently not. It takes a brave man to revolt against +both his king and his God at the same time.” + +“But what happened now?” Ronny pursued. + +“Evidently, right in the midst of a particularly important religious +ceremony, with practically the whole planet watching on TV, the God-King +was killed with a bomb. No doubt about it, definitely killed. There are +going to be a lot of people on New Delos wondering how it can be that an +immortal God-King can die.” + +“And Sid thinks it’s Tommy Paine’s work?” + +She shifted dainty shoulders in a shrug. “It’s the sort of thing he does. +I suppose we’ll learn when we get there.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Even on the fast Space Forces cruiser, the trip was going to take a week, +and there was precious little Ronny Bronston could do until arrival. He +spent most of his time reading up on New Delos and the several other +planets in the UP organization which had fairly similar regimes. More than +a few theocracies had come and gone during the history of man’s +development into the stars. + +He also spent considerable time playing Battle Chess or talking with Tog +and with the ship’s officers. + +These latter were a dedicated group, high in morale, enthusiastic about +their work which evidently involved the combined duties of a Navy, a Coast +Guard, and a Coast and Geodetic Survey system, if we use the ocean going +services of an earlier age for analogy. + +They all had the dream. The enthusiasm of men participating in a race’s +expansion to glory. There was the feeling, even stronger here in space +than back on Earth, of man’s destiny being fulfilled, that humanity had +finally emerged from its infancy, that the fledgling had finally found its +wings and got off the ground. + +After one of his studying binges, Ronny Bronston had spent an hour or so +once with the captain of the craft, while that officer stood an easy watch +on the ship’s bridge. There was little enough to do in space, practically +nothing, but there was always an officer on watch. + +They leaned back in the acceleration chairs before the ship’s controls and +Ronny listened to the other’s space lore. Stories of far planets, as yet +untouched. Stories of planets that had seemingly been suitable for +colonization, but had proved disastrous for man, for this reason or that. + +Ronny said, “And never in all this time have we run into a life form that +has proved intelligent?” + +Captain Woiski said, “No. Not that I know of. There was an animal on +Shangri-La of about the mental level of the chimpanzee. So far as I know, +that’s the nearest to it.” + +“Shangri-La?” Ronny said. “That’s a new one.” + +There was an affectionate gleam in the captain’s eye. “Yes,” he said. “If +and when I retire, I think that’d be the planet of my choice, if I could +get permission to leave Earth, of course.” + +Ronny scowled in attempted memory. “Now that you mention it, I think I did +see it listed the other day among planets with a theocratic government.” + +The captain grunted protest. “If you’re comparing it to this New Delos +you’re going to, you’re wrong. There can be theocracy and theocracy, I +suppose. Actually, I imagine Shangri-La has the most, well _gentle_ +government in the system.” + +Ronny was interested. His recent studies hadn’t led him to much respect +for a priesthood in political power. “What’s the particular feature that’s +seemed to have gained your regard?” + +“Moderation,” Woiski chuckled. “They carry it almost to the point of +immoderation. But not quite. Briefly, it works something like this. They +have a limited number of monks—I suppose you’d call them—who spend their +time at whatever moves them. At the arts, at scientific research, at +religious contemplation—any religion will do—as students of anything and +everything, and at the governing of Shangri-La. They make a point of +enjoying the luxuries in moderation and aren’t a severe drain on the rank +and file citizens of the planet.” + +Ronny said, “I have a growing distrust of hierarchies. Who decides who is +to become a monk and who remain a member of the rank and file?” + +The captain said, “A series of the best tests they can devise to determine +a person’s intelligence and aptitudes. From earliest youth, the whole +populace is checked and rechecked. At the age of thirty, when it is +considered that a person has become adult and has finished his basic +education, a limited number are offered monkhood. Not all want it.” + +Ronny thought about it. “Why not? What are the shortcomings?” + +The captain shrugged. “Responsibility, I suppose.” + +“The monks aren’t allowed sex, booze, that sort of thing, I imagine.” + +“Good heavens, why not? In moderation, of course.” + +“And they live on a higher scale?” + +“No, no, not at all. Don’t misunderstand. The planet is a prosperous one. +Exceedingly prosperous. There is everything needed for comfortable +existence for everyone. Shangri-La is one planet where the pursuit of +happiness is pursuable by all.” Captain Woiski chuckled again. + +Ronny said, “It sounds good enough, although I’m leery of benevolent +dictatorships. The trouble with them is that it’s up to the dictators to +decide what’s benevolent. And almost always, nepotism rears its head, +favoritism of one sort or another. How long will it be before one of your +moderate monks decides he’ll moderately tinker with the tests, or +whatever, just to be sure his favorite nephew makes the grade? A high I.Q. +is no guarantee of integrity.” + +The captain didn’t disagree. “That’s always possible, I suppose. One guard +against it, in this case, is the matter of motive. The _privilege_ of +being a monk isn’t as great as all that. Materially, you aren’t +particularly better off than any one else. You have more leisure, that’s +true, but actually most of them are so caught up in their studies or +research that they put in more hours of endeavor than does the farmer or +industrial worker on Shangri-La.” + +“Well,” Ronny said, “let’s just hope that Tommy Paine never hears of this +place.” + +“Who?” the captain said. + +Ronny Bronston reversed his engines. “Oh, nobody important. A guy I know +of.” + +Captain Woiski scowled. “Seems to me I’ve heard the name.” + +At first Ronny leaned forward with quick interest. Perhaps the cruiser’s +skipper had a lead. But, no, he sank back into his chair. That name was +strictly a Section G pseudonym. No one used it outside the department, and +he’d already said too much by using the term at all. + +Ronny said idly, “Probably two different people. I think I’ll go on back +and see how Tog is doing.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Tog was at her communicator when he entered the tiny ship’s lounge. Ronny +could see in the brilliant little screen of the compact device, the +grinning face of Sid Jakes. Tog looked up at Ronny and smiled, then +clicked the device off. + +“What’s new?” Ronny said. + +She moved graceful shoulders. “I just called Supervisor Jakes. Evidently +there’s complete confusion on New Delos. Mobs are storming the temples. In +the capital the priests tried to present a new God-King and he was laughed +out of town.” + +Ronny snorted cynically. “Sounds good to me. The more I read about New +Delos and its God-King and his priesthood, the more I think the best thing +that ever happened to the planet was this showing them up.” + +Tog looked at him, the sides of her mouth tucking down as usual when she +was going to contradict something he said. “It sounds bad to me,” she +said. “Tommy Paine’s work is done. He’ll be off to some other place and we +won’t get there in time to snare him.” + +Ronny considered that. It was probably true. “I wonder,” he said slowly, +“if it’s possible for us to get a list of all ships that have blasted off +since the assassination, all ships and their destination from New Delos.” + +The idea grew in him. “Look! It’s possible that a dictatorial government +such as theirs would immediately quarantine every spaceport on the +planet.” + +Tog said, “There’s only one spaceport on New Delos. The priesthood didn’t +encourage trade or even communication with the outside. Didn’t want its +people contaminated.” + +“Holy smokes!” Ronny blurted. “It’s possible that Tommy Paine’s on that +planet and can’t get off. Look, Tog, see if you can raise the Section G +representative on New Delos and—” + +Tog said demurely, “I already have taken that step, Ronny, knowing that +you’d want me to. Agent Mouley Hassan has promised to get the name and +destination of every passenger that leaves New Delos.” + +Ronny sat down at a table and dialed himself a mug of stout. “Drink?” he +said to Tog. “Possibly we’ve got something to celebrate.” + +She shook her head disapprovingly. “I don’t use depressants.” + +There was nothing more to be discussed about New Delos, they simply would +have to wait until their arrival. Ronny switched subjects. “Ever hear of +the planet Shangri-La?” he asked her. He took a sip of his brew. + +“Of course,” she said. “A rather small planet, Earth type within four +degrees. Noted for its near perfect climate and its scenic beauty.” + +“Captain was talking about it,” Ronny said. “Sounds like a regular +paradise.” + +Tog made a negative sound. + +“Well, what’s wrong with Shangri-La?” Ronny said impatiently. + +“Static,” she said briefly. + +He looked at her. “It sounds to me as though it’s developed a near perfect +socio-economic system. What do you mean, static?” + +“No push, no drive,” Tog said definitely. “Everyone—what is the old +term?—everyone has it made. The place is stagnating. I wouldn’t be +surprised to see Tommy Paine show up there sooner or later.” + +Ronny said, “Look, since we’ve known each other, have I ever said anything +you agree with?” + +Tog raised her delicate eyebrows. “Why, Ronny. You know perfectly well we +both agreed that the eggs for breakfast were quite inedible.” + +Ronny came to his feet again. Considering her size, she certainly was an +irritating baggage. “I think I’ll go to my room and see if I can get any +inspirations on tracking down our quarry.” + +“Good night, Ronny,” she said demurely. + + ------------------------------------- + +They ran into a minor difficulty upon arrival at New Delos. The captain +called both Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu to the bridge. + +He nodded in the direction of the communications screen. A bald headed, +robed character—obviously a priest—scowled at them. + +Captain Woiski said, “The Sub-Bishop informs me that the provisional +government has ruled that any spacecraft landing on New Delos cannot take +off again without permission and that every individual who lands, even +United Planets personnel, will need an exit visa before being allowed to +depart.” + +Ronny said, “Then you can’t land?” + +The captain said reasonably, “My destination is Merlini. I’ve gone out of +my way slightly to drop you off here. But I can’t afford to take the +chance of having my ship tied up for what might be an indefinite period. +Evidently, there’s considerably civil disorder down there.” + +From the screen the priest snapped, “That is an inaccurate manner of +describing the situation.” + +“Sorry,” the captain said dryly. + +Ronny Bronston said desperately, “But, captain, Miss Tog and I simply have +to land.” He reached for his badge. “High priority, Bureau of +Investigation.” + +The captain shrugged his hefty shoulders. “Sorry, I have no instructions +that allow me to risk tying up my ship. Here’s a possibility. Can you +pilot a landing craft? I could spare you one, then you and your assistant +would be the only ones involved. You could turn it over to whatever Space +Forces base we have here.” + +Ronny said miserably, “No. I’m not a space pilot.” + +“I am,” Tog said softly. “The idea sounds excellent.” + +“We shall expect you,” the Sub-Bishop said. The screen went blank. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu piloted a landing craft with the same verve that she +seemed to be able to handle any other responsibility. As he sat in the +seat next to her, Ronny Bronston took in her practiced flicking of the +controls from the side of his eyes. He wondered vaguely at the efficiency +of such Section G officials as Metaxa and Jakes that they would assign an +unknown quality such as himself to a task as important as running down +Tommy Paine, and then as an assistant provide him with an experienced +operative such as Tog. The bureaucratic mind can be a dilly, he decided. +Was the fact that she was a rather delicately constructed girl a factor? +He felt the weight of the Model-H gun nestled under his left armpit. +Perhaps in the clutch Section G preferred men as agents. + +They swooped into a landing that brought them as close to the control +tower as was practical. In a matter of moments there was a guard of twenty +or more sloppily uniformed men about their small craft. + +Tog made a move. “Welcoming committee,” she said. + + [Illustration.] + +They climbed out the circular port, and flashed their United Planets +Bureau of Investigation badges to the youngish looking soldier who seemed +in command. He was indecisive. + +“United Planets?” he said. “All I know is I’m supposed to arrest anybody +landing.” + +Ronny snapped, “We’re to be taken immediately to United Planets +headquarters.” + +“Well, I don’t know about that. I don’t take orders from foreigners.” + +One of his men was nervously fingering the trigger of his submachine gun. + +Ronny’s mouth went dry. He had the feeling of being high, high on a rock +face, inadequately belayed from above. + +Tog said smoothly, “But, major, I’m sure whoever issued your orders had no +expectation of a special delegation from the United Planets coming to +congratulate your new authorities on their success. Of course, it’s +unknown to arrest a delegation from United Planets.” + +“It is?” he frowned at her. “I mean, you are?” + +“Yes,” Tog said sweetly. + +Ronny took the hint. “Where can we find a vehicle, major, to get us to the +capital and to United Planets headquarters? Evidently we arrived before we +were expected. There should have been a big welcoming committee here.” + +“Oh,” the obviously recently promoted lad said hesitantly. “Well, I +suppose we can make arrangements. This way please.” He grinned at Tog as +they walked toward the administration building. “Do all girls dress like +you on Earth?” + +“Well, no,” she said demurely. + +“That’s too bad,” he said gallantly. + +“Why, major!” Tog said, keeping her eyes on the tarmac. + +At the administration building there was little of order, but eventually +they managed to arrange for their transportation. Luckily, they were +supplied with a chauffeur driven helio-car. + +Luckily, because without the chauffeur to help them run the gauntlet they +would have been held up by parades, demonstrations and monstrous street +meetings a dozen times before they ever reached their destination. Twice, +Ronny stopped short of drawing his gun only by a fraction when half +drunken demonstrators stopped them. + +The driver, a wispy, sad looking type, shook his head. “There’s no going +back now,” he told them over his shoulder. “No going back. Last week I was +all with the rest, I never did believe David the One was really Immortal. +But you was just used to the idea, see? It’d always been that way, with +the priests running everything and we was used to it. Now I wish we was +still that way. At least you knew how you stood, see? Now, what’s going to +happen?” + +“That’s an interesting question,” Tog said politely. + +Ronny said, “Possibly you’ll have the chance to build a better world, +now.” + +The driver shot a contemptuous look over his shoulder. “Better world? What +do I want with a better world? I just don’t want to be bothered. I’ve been +getting my three squares a day, got a nice little flat for my family. How +do I know it’s not going to be a worse world?” + +“That’s always a possibility,” Tog told him. “Do most people seem to feel +the same?” + +“Practically everybody I know does,” he said glumly. “But the fat’s in the +fire now. The priests are trying to hold on but their government is +falling apart all over the place.” + +“Well,” Ronny said, “at least you can figure just about anything in the +way of a new government will be better than one based on superstition and +inquisition. It couldn’t get worse.” + +“Things can always get worse,” the other contradicted him sadly. + + ------------------------------------- + +They left the cab before an impressively tall, many windowed building in +city center. As they mounted the steps, Ronny frowned at her. “You seemed +to be encouraging that man in his pessimism. So far as I can see, the best +thing that ever happened to this planet was toppling that phony +priesthood.” + +“Perhaps,” she said agreeably. “However, the man’s mind was an ossified +one. A surprisingly large percentage of people have them, especially when +it comes to institutions such as religion and government. We weren’t going +to be able to teach him anything, but it was possible to learn from him.” + +Ronny grunted his disgust. “What could we possibly learn from him?” + +Tog said mildly, “We could learn what people of the street were thinking. +It might give us some ideas about what direction the new government will +take.” + +They approached the portals of the building and were halted by an armed +Space Forces guard of half a dozen men. Their sergeant saluted, taking in +their obvious other-planet clothing. + +“Identifications, please,” he said briskly. + +They showed their badges and were passed on through. Ronny said to him, +“Much trouble, sergeant?” + +The other shrugged. “No. Just precautions, sir. We’ve been here only three +or four weeks. Civil disturbance. We’re used to it. Were over on Montezuma +two basic months ago. Now there was _real_ trouble. Had to shoot our way +out.” + +Tog called, “Coming Ronny? I have this elevator waiting.” + +He followed her, scowling. An idea was trying to work its way through. +Somehow he missed getting it. + +Headquarters of the Department of Justice were on the eighth floor. A +receptionist clerk led them through three or four doors to the single +office which housed Section G. + +A red eyed, exhausted agent looked up from the sole desk and snarled a +question at them. Ronny didn’t get it, but Tog said mildly, “Probationary +Agent Ronald Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu. On special assignment.” She +flicked open her badge so that the other could see it. + +His manner changed. “Sorry,” he said, getting up to shake hands. “I’m +Mouley Hassan, in charge of Section G on New Delos. We’ve just had a +crisis here, as you can imagine. The worst of it’s now over.” He added +sourly, “I hope. All my assistants have already taken off for Avalon.” He +was a short statured, dark complected man, his features betraying his +Semitic background. + +Ronny shook hands with him and said, “Sorry to bother you at a time like +this.” + +They found chairs and Mouley Hassan flicked a key on his order box and +said to them, “How about a drink? They make a wonderful sparkling wine on +this planet. Trust any theocracy to have top potables.” + +Ronny accepted the offer, Tog refused it politely. She sat demurely, her +hands in her lap. + +Mouley Hassan ran a weary hand through already mussed hair. “What’s this +special assignment you’re on?” + +Ronny said, “Commissioner Metaxa has sent me looking for Tommy Paine.” + +“Tommy Paine!” the other blurted. “At a time like this, when I haven’t had +three nights’ sleep in the last three basic weeks, you come around looking +for Tommy Paine?” + +Ronny was taken aback. “Sid Jakes seemed to think this might be one of +Paine’s jobs.” + +Tog said mildly, “What better place to look for Tommy Paine, than in a +situation like this, Agent Hassan?” Her eyebrows went up. “Or don’t you +think the quest for Paine is an important one?” + +The other subsided somewhat. “I suppose you’re right,” he said. “I’m +deathly tired. Do whatever you want. But don’t expect much from me.” + +Tog said, just a trifle tartly, Ronny thought, “We’ll have to call on you, +as usual, Agent Hassan. There’s probably no single job in Section G more +important than the pursuit of Tommy Paine.” + +“All right, all right,” Mouley Hassan admitted. “I’ll co-operate. How long +have you been away from Earth?” he said to Ronny. + +“About one basic week.” + +“Oh,” he grunted. “This is your first stop, eh? Well, I don’t envy you +your job.” He brought a cool bottle from a delivery drawer in the desk +along with two glasses. “Here’s the wine.” + +Ronny leaned forward to accept the glass. “This situation here,” he said, +“do you think it can be laid to Paine?” + +Mouley Hassan shrugged wearily. “I don’t know.” + +Ronny sipped the drink, looking at the tired agent over the glass rim. +“From what we understand, check has been kept on all persons leaving the +planet since the bombing.” + +“Check is right. There’s only one ship that took off and it carried nobody +except my assistants. If you ask me, I still needed them, but some brass +hat back on Earth decided they were more necessary over on Avalon.” He was +disgusted. + +Ronny put the glass down. “You mean only one ship’s left this planet since +the God-King was killed?” + +“That’s right. It was like pulling teeth to get the visas.” + +“How many men aboard?” + +Mouley Hassan looked at him speculatively. “Four-man crew and six Section +G operatives.” + +Tog said brightly, “Why, that means, then, that either Tommy Paine is +still on this planet, or he’s one of the passengers or crew members of +that ship.” She added, “That is, of course, unless he had a private craft, +hidden away somewhere.” + +Ronny slumped back into his chair as some of the ramifications came home +to him. “If it was Tommy Paine at all,” he said. + +Mouley Hassan nodded. “That’s always a point.” He finished his glass and +looked pleadingly at Tog. “Look, I have work. If I can finish some of it, +I might have time for some sleep. Couldn’t we postpone the search for +Tommy Paine.” + +Tog said nothing to him. + +Ronny came to his feet. “We’ll get along. A couple of ideas occur to me. +I’ll check with you later.” + +“Fine,” the agent said. He shook hands with them again. He said, somehow +more to Tog than to Ronny, “I know how important your job is. It’s just +that I’ve been pushed to the point where I can’t operate efficiently.” + +She smiled her understanding, gave him her small, delicate hand. + +In the elevator, Ronny said to her, “Why should this sort of thing +particularly affect Section G?” + +Tog said, “It’s times like this that planets drop out of the UP. Or, +possibly, get into the hands of some jingoistic military group and start +off halfcocked to provoke a war with some other planet, or to missionarize +or propagandize it.” She thought about it a moment. “A new revolution, in +government or religion, seems almost invariably to want to spread the +light. An absolute compulsion to bring to others the new truths that +they’ve found.” She added, her voice holding a trace of mockery, “Usually +the new truths are rather hoary ones, and there are few interested in +hearing them.” + + ------------------------------------- + +They spent their first day in getting accommodations in a centrally +located hotel, in making arrangements, through the Department of Justice, +for the local means of exchange—it turned out to be coinage, based on +gold—and getting the feel of their surroundings. + +Evidently Delos, the capital city of the planet New Delos, was but slowly +emerging from the chaos that had taken over on the assassination. A +provisional government, composed of representatives of half a dozen +different organizations which had sprung up like mushrooms following the +collapse of the regime, had assumed power. Elections had been promised and +were to be brought off when arrangements could be made. + +Meanwhile, the actual government was still largely in the hands of the +lower echelons of the priesthood. A nervous priesthood it was, seemingly +desirous of getting out from under while the going was good, afraid of +being held responsible for former excesses. + +Ronny Bronston, high hopes still in his head, looked up the Sub-Bishop who +had given them landing orders while they were still aboard the Space +Forces cruiser. Tog was off making arrangements for various details +involved in their being in Delos in its time of crisis. + +A dozen times, on his way over to keep his appointment with the official, +Ronny had to step into doorways, or in other wise make himself +inconspicuous. Gangs of demonstrators roamed the street, some of them +drunken, looking for trouble, and scornful of police or the military. +Twice, when it looked as though he might be roughed up, Ronny drew his gun +and held it in open sight, ready for use, but not threateningly. The +demonstrators made off. + +His throat was dry by the time he reached his destination. The life of a +Section G agent, on interplanetary assignment, had its drawbacks. + +The Sub-Bishop had formerly been in charge of Interplanetary +Communications which involved commerce as well as intercourse with United +Planets. It must have been an ultra-responsible position only a month ago. +Now his offices were all but deserted. + +He looked at Ronny’s badge, only vaguely interested. “Section G of the +Bureau of Investigation,” he said. “I don’t believe I am aware of your +responsibilities. However,” he nodded with sour courtesy, “please be +seated. You must forgive my lack of ability to offer refreshment. Isn’t +there an old tradition about rats deserting a sinking ship? I am afraid my +former assistants had rodentlike instincts.” + +Ronny said, “Section G deals with Interplanetary Security, sir—” + +“I am addressed as Holiness,” the other said. + +Ronny looked at him. “Sorry,” he said. “I am a citizen of the United +Planets, not any one planet, even Earth. UP citizens have complete +religious freedom. In my case I am unaffiliated with any church.” + +The Sub-Bishop let it pass. He said sourly, “I am afraid that even here on +New Delos, I am seldom honoured by my title any more. Go on, you say you +deal with Interplanetary Security.” + +“That’s correct. In cases like this we’re interested in checking to see if +there is any possibility that citizens of planets other than New Delos are +involved in your internal affairs.” + +The other’s eyes were suddenly slits. He said, heavily, “You suspect that +David the One was assassinated by an alien?” + +Ronny had to tread carefully here. “I make no such suggestion. I am merely +here to check on the possibility. If such was the case, my duty would be +to arrest the man, or men.” + +“If we got hold of him, you’d have small chance of asserting your +authority,” the priest growled. “What did you want to know?” + +“I understand that no interplanetary craft have left New Delos since the +assassination.” + +“None except a United Planets ship which was carefully inspected.” + +Ronny said tightly, “But what facilities do you have to check on secret +spaceports, possibly located in some remote desert or mountain area?” + +The New Delian laughed sourly. “There is no other planet in all the United +Planets with our degree of security. We even imported the most recent +developments in artificial satellites equipped with the most delicate of +detection devices. I assure you, it is utterly impossible for a spacecraft +to land or take off from New Delos without our knowledge.” + +Ronny Bronston’s eyes lit with excitement. “These security measures of +yours. To what extent do you keep under observation all aliens on the +planet?” + +The priest’s chuckle had a nasty quality. “You are quite ignorant of our +institutions, evidently. Every person on New Delos, in every way of life, +was under constant survey from the cradle to the grave. Aliens were highly +discouraged. When they appeared on New Delos at all, they were restricted +in their movements to this, our capital city.” + +Ronny let air whistle from his lungs. “Then,” he said triumphantly, “if +any alien had anything to do with this, he is still on the planet. Can you +get me a list of all aliens?” + +The other laughed again, still sourly. “But there are none. None except +you employees of United Planets. I’m afraid you’re on a wild-goose chase.” + +Ronny stared at him blankly. “But commercial representatives, cultural +exchange—” + +The priest said flatly, “No. None at all. All commerce was handled through +UP. We encouraged no cultural exchanges. We wished to keep our people +uncorrupted. United Planets alone had the right to land on our one +spaceport.” + +The Section G agent came to his feet. This was much simpler than he could +ever have hoped for. He thanked the other, but avoided the necessity of +shaking hands, and left. + + ------------------------------------- + +He found a helio-cab and dialed it to the UP building, finding strange the +necessity of slipping coins into the vehicle’s slots until the correct +amount for his destination had been deposited. Coinage was no longer in +use on Earth. + +At the UP building he retraced his steps of the day before to the single +office of Section G. + +To his surprise, not only Mouley Hassan was there, but Tog as well. Hassan +had evidently had at least a few hours of sleep. He was in better shape. + +They exchanged the usual amenities and took their chairs again. + +Hassan said, “We were just gossiping. It’s been years since I’ve been in +Greater Washington. Lee Chang tells me that Sid Jakes is now a Supervisor. +I worked with him for a while, when I first joined Section G. How about a +glass of wine?” + +Ronny said, “Look. If Tommy Paine was connected with this, and it’s almost +positive he was, we’ve got him.” + +The others looked at him. + +“You’ve evidently been busy,” Tog said mildly. + +He turned to her. “He’s trapped, Tog! He can’t get off the planet.” + +Mouley Hassan rubbed a hand through his hair. “It’d be hard, all right. +They’ve got the people under rein here such as you’ve never seen before. +Or they did until this blew up.” + +Ronny sketched the situation to Tog, winding up with, “The only thing that +makes sense is that it’s a Tommy Paine job. The local citizens would never +have been able to get their hands on such a bomb, or been able to have +made the arrangements for its delivery. They’re under too much +surveillance.” + +Tog said thoughtfully, “but how did he escape all this surveillance?” + +“Don’t you understand? He’s working here, in this building, as an employee +of UP. There is no other alternative.” + +They stared at him. + +“I think perhaps you’re right,” Tog said finally. + +Ronny turned to Mouley Hassan. “Can you get a list of all UP employees?” + +“Of course.” He flicked his order box, barked a command into it. + +Ronny said, “It’s going to be a matter of eliminating the impossible. For +instance, what is the earliest known case of Tommy Paine’s activity?” + +Tog thought back. “So far as we know definitely, about twenty-two years +ago.” + +“Fine,” Ronny said, increasingly excited. “That will eliminate all persons +less than, say, forty years of age. We can assume he was at least twenty +when he began.” + +Hassan said, “Can we eliminate all women employees?” + +Ronny said, “I’d think so. The few times he’s been seen, all reports are +of a man. And that case on the planet Mother where he put himself over as +a Holy Man. He could hardly have been a woman in disguise in a Stone Age +culture such as that.” + +Hassan said, “And this Tommy Paine has been flitting around this part of +the galaxy for years, so anyone who has been here steadily for a period of +even a couple of years or so, can’t be suspect.” + +Mouley Hassan thrust his hand into a delivery drawer and brought forth a +handful of punched cards, possibly fifty in all. + +“Surely there’s more people than that working in this building,” Ronny +protested. + +Mouley Hassan said, “No. I’ve eliminated already everyone who is a citizen +of New Delos. Obviously, Tommy Paine is an alien. We have only forty-eight +Earthlings and other United Planets citizens working here.” + +He carried the cards to a small collator and worked for a moment on its +controls, as Tog and Ronny watched him with mounting tension. “Let’s see,” +he muttered. “We eliminate all women, all those less than forty, all who +haven’t done a great deal of travel, those who have been here for several +years.” + +The end of it was that they eliminated everyone employed in the UP +building. + +The cards were stacked back on Mouley Hassan’s desk again, and the three +of them sat around and looked glumly at them. + +Ronny said, “He’s tinkered with the files. He counterfeited fake papers +for himself, or something. Possibly he’s pulled his own card and it isn’t +in this stack you have.” + +Mouley Hassan said, “We’ll double-check all those possibilities, but +you’re wrong. Possibly a few hundred years ago, but not today. Forgery and +counterfeiting are things of the past. And, believe me, the Bureau of +Investigation and especially Section G, may look on the slipshod side, but +they aren’t. We’re not going to find anything wrong with those cards. +Tommy Paine simply is not working for UP on New Delos.” + +“Then,” Ronny said, “there’s only one alternative. He’s on this UP ship +going to, what was the name of its destination?” + +“Avalon,” Mouley Hassan said, his face thoughtful. + +Tog said, “Do you have any ideas on the men aboard?” + +Mouley Hassan said, “There were four crew men, and six of our agents.” + +Tog said, “Unless one of them has faked papers, the six agents are +eliminated. That leaves the crew members. Do you know anything about +them?” + +Hassan shook his head. + +Ronny said, “Let’s communicate with Avalon. Tell our representatives there +to be sure that none of the occupants of that ship leaves Avalon until we +get there.” + +Mouley Hassan said, “Good idea.” He turned to his screen and said into it, +“Section G, Bureau of Investigation, on the Planet Avalon.” + +In moment the screen lit up. An elderly agent, as Section G agents seemed +to go, looked up at them. + +Mouley Hassan held his silver badge so the other could see it and on the +Avalon agent’s nod said, “I’m Hassan from New Delos. We’ve just had a +crisis here and there seems to be a chance that it’s a Tommy Paine job. +Agent Bronston here is on an assignment tracking him down. I’ll turn it +over to Bronston.” + +The Avalon agent nodded again, and looked at Ronny. + +Ronny said urgently, “We haven’t the time to give you details, but every +indication is that Paine is on a UP spacecraft with Avalon as its +destination. There are only ten men aboard, and six of them are Section G +operatives.” + +The other pursed his lips. “I see. You think you have the old fox +cornered, eh?” + +“Possibly,” Ronny said. “There are various ifs. Miss Tog and I can double +check here. Then as soon as we can clear exit visas, we’ll make immediate +way for Avalon.” + +The Avalon Section G agent said, “I haven’t the authority to control the +movements of other agents, they have as high rank as I have,” he added, +expressionlessly, “and probably higher than yours.” + +Ronny said, “But the four-man crew?” + +The other said, “These men are coming to Avalon to work on a job that will +take at least six months. We’ll make a routine check, and I’ll try and +make sure the whole ten will still be on Avalon when and if you arrive.” + +They had to be satisfied with that. They checked all ways from the middle, +nor did it take long. There was no doubt. If this was a Tommy Paine job, +and it almost surely was, then there was only one way in which he could +have escaped from the planet and that was by the single spacecraft that +had left, destination Avalon. He was not on the planet, that was definite +Ronny felt. A stranger on New Delos was as conspicuous as a walrus in a +goldfish bowl. There simply were no such. + +They spent most of their time checking and rechecking United Planets +personnel, but there was no question there either. + +Mouley Hassan and others of UP personnel helped cut the red tape involved +in getting exit visas from New Delos. It wasn’t as complicated as it might +have been a week or two before. No one seemed to be so confident of his +authority in the new provisional government that he dared veto a United +Planets request. + +Mouley Hassan was able to arrange for a small space yacht, slower than a +military craft, but capable of getting them to Avalon in a few days time. +A one-man crew was sufficient, Ronny, and especially Tog, could spell him +on the watches. + +Time aboard was spent largely in studying up on Avalon, going over and +over again anything known about the elusive Tommy Paine, and playing +Battle Chess and bickering with Tog Lee Chang Chu. + +If it hadn’t been for this ability to argue against just about anything +Ronny managed to say, he could have been attracted to her to the detriment +of the job. She was a good traveler, few people are; she was an +ultra-efficient assistant; she was a joy to look at; and she never +intruded. But, Great Guns, the woman could bicker. + +The two of them were studying in the ship’s luxurious lounge when Ronny +looked up and said, “Do you have any idea why those six agents were sent +to Avalon?” + +“No,” she said. + +He indicated the booklet he was reading. “From what I can see here, it +sounds like one of the most advanced planets in the UP. They’ve made some +of the most useful advances in industrial techniques of the past century.” + +“Oh, I don’t know,” Tog mused. “I haven’t much regard for Industrial +Feudalism myself. It starts off with a bang, but tends to go sterile.” + +“Industrial feudalism,” he said indignantly. “What do you mean? The +government is a constitutional monarchy with the king merely a powerless +symbol. The standard of living is high. Elections are honest and +democratic. They’ve got a three-party system....” + +“Which is largely phony,” Tog interrupted. “You’ve got to do some reading +between the lines, especially when the books you’re reading are turned out +by the industrial feudalistic publishing companies in Avalon.” + +“What’s this industrial feudalism, you keep talking about? Avalon has a +system of free enterprise.” + +“A gobbledygook term,” Tog said, irritatingly. “Industrial feudalism is a +socio-economic system that develops when industrial wealth is concentrated +into the hands of a comparatively few families. It finally gets to the +point of a closed circle all but impossible to break into. These +industrial feudalistic families become so powerful that only in rare +instances can anyone lift himself into their society. They dominate every +field, including the so-called labor unions, which amount to one of the +biggest businesses of all. With their unlimited resources they even own +every means of dispensing information.” + +“You mean,” Ronny argued, “that on Avalon you can’t start up a newspaper +of your own and say whatever you wish?” + +“Certainly you can, theoretically. If you have the resources. +Unfortunately, such enterprises become increasingly expensive to start. Or +you could start a radio, TV or Tri-Di station—if you had the resources. +However, even if you overcame all your handicaps and your newspaper or +broadcasting station became a success, the industrial feudalistic families +in control of Avalon’s publishing and broadcasting fields have the endless +resources to buy you out, or squeeze you out, by one nasty means or +another.” + +Ronny snorted. “Well, the people must be satisfied or they’d vote some +fundamental changes.” + +Tog nodded. “They’re satisfied, and no wonder. Since childhood every means +of forming their opinions have been in the hands of industrial feudalistic +families—including the schools.” + +“You mean the schools are private?” + +“No, they don’t have to be. The government is completely dominated by the +fifty or so families which for all practical purposes own Avalon. That +includes the schools. Some of the higher institutions of learning are +private, but they, too, are largely dependent upon grants from the +families.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny was irritated by her know-all air. He tapped the book he’d been +reading with a finger. “They don’t control the government. Avalon’s got a +three-party system. Any time the people don’t like the government, they +can vote in an alternative.” + +“That’s an optical illusion. There are three parties, but each is +dominated by the fifty families, and election laws are such that for all +practical purposes it’s impossible to start another party. Theoretically +it’s possible, actually it isn’t. The voters can vary back and forth +between the three political parties but it doesn’t make any difference +which one they elect. They all stand for the same thing—a continuation of +the status quo.” + +“Then you claim it isn’t democracy at all?” + +Tog sighed. “That’s a much abused word. Actually, pure democracy is seldom +seen. They pretty well had it in primitive society where government was +based on the family. You voted for one of your relatives in your clan to +represent you in the tribal councils. Every one in the tribe was equal so +far as apportionments of the necessities of life were concerned. No one, +even the tribal chiefs, ate better than anyone else, no one had a better +home.” + +Ronny said, snappishly, “And if man had remained at that level, we’d never +have gotten anywhere.” + +“That’s right,” she said. “For progress, man needed a leisure class. +Somebody with the time to study, to experiment, to work things out.” + +He said, “We’re getting away from the point. You said in spite of +appearances they don’t have democracy on Avalon.” + +“They have a pretense of it. But only free men can practice democracy. So +long as your food, clothing and shelter are controlled by someone else, +you aren’t free. Wait until I think of an example.” She put her right +forefinger to her chin, thoughtfully. + +Holy smokes, she was a cute trick. If only she wasn’t so confounded +irritating. + +Tog said, “Do you remember the State of California in Earth history?” + +“I think so. On the west coast of North America.” + +“That’s right. Well, back in the Twentieth Century, Christian calendar, +they had an economic depression. During it a crackpot organization called +Thirty Dollars Every Thursday managed to get itself on the ballot. Times +were bad enough but had this particular bunch got into power it would have +become chaotic. At first no thinking person took them seriously, however a +majority of people in California at that time had little to lose and in +the final week or so of the election campaign the polls showed that Thirty +Dollars Every Thursday was going to win. So, a few days before voting many +of the larger industries and businesses in the State ran full page ads in +the newspapers. They said substantially the same thing. _If Thirty Dollars +Every Thursday wins this election, our concern will close its doors. Do +not bother to come back to work Monday._” + +Ronny was scowling at her. “What’s your point?” + +She shrugged delicate shoulders. “The crackpots were defeated, of course, +which was actually good for California. But my point is that the voters of +California were not actually free since their livelihoods were controlled +by others. This is an extreme case, of course, but the fact always +applies.” + +A thought suddenly hit Ronny Bronston. “Look,” he said. “Tommy Paine. Do +you think he’s merely escaping from New Delos, or is it possible that +Avalon is his next destination? Is he going to try and overthrow the +government there?” + +She was shaking her head, but frowning. “I don’t think so. Things are +quite stable on Avalon.” + +“Stable?” he scowled at her. “From what you’ve been saying, they’re pretty +bad.” + +She continued to shake her head. “Don’t misunderstand, Ronny. On an +assignment like this, it’s easy to get the impression that all the United +Planets are in a state of socio-political confusion, but it isn’t so. A +small minority of planets are ripe for the sort of trouble Tommy Paine +stirs up. Most are working away, developing, making progress, slowly +evolving. Avalon is one of these. The way things are there, Tommy Paine +couldn’t make a dent on changing things, even if he wanted to, and there’s +no particular reason to believe he does.” + +Ronny growled. “From what I can learn of the guy he’s anxious to stir up +trouble wherever he goes.” + +“I don’t know. If there’s any pattern at all in his activities, it seems +to be that he picks spots where things are ripe to boil over on their own. +He acts as a catalyst. In a place like Avalon he wouldn’t get to first +base. Possibly fifty years from now, things will have developed on Avalon +to the point where there is dissatisfaction. By that time,” she said +dryly, “we’ll assume Tommy Paine will no longer be a problem to the +Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs for one reason or the other.” + +Ronny took up his book again. He growled, “I can’t figure out his +motivation. If I could just put my finger on that.” + +For once she agreed with him. “I’ve got an idea, Ronny, that once you have +that, you’ll have Tommy Paine.” + + ------------------------------------- + +They drew blank on Avalon. + +Or, at least, it was drawn for them before they ever arrived. + +The Section G agent permanently assigned to that planet had already +checked and double checked the possibilities. None of the four-man crew of +the UP spacecraft had been on New Delos at the time of the assassination +of the God-King. They, and their craft, had been light-years away on +another job. + +Ronny Bronston couldn’t believe it. He simply couldn’t believe it. + +The older agent, his name was Jheru Bulchand, was definite. He went over +it with Ronny and Tog in a bar adjoining UP headquarters. He had dossiers +on each of the ten men, detailed dossiers. On the face of it, none of them +could be Paine. + +“But one of them has to be,” Ronny pleaded. He explained their method of +eliminating the forty-eight employees of UP on New Delos. + +Bulchand shrugged. “You’ve got holes in that method of elimination. You’re +assuming Tommy Paine is an individual, and you have no reason to. My own +theory is that it’s an organization.” + +Ronny said unhappily, “Then you’re of the opinion that there is a Tommy +Paine?” + +The older agent was puffing comfortably on an old style briar pipe. He +nodded definitely. “I believe Tommy Paine exists as an organization. +Possibly once, originally, it was a single person, but now it’s a group. +How large, I wouldn’t know. Probably not too large or by this time +somebody would have betrayed it, or somebody would have cracked and we +would have caught them. Catch one and you’ve got the whole organization +what with our modern means of interrogation.” + +Tog said, “I’ve heard the opinion before.” + +Jheru Bulchand pointed at Ronny with his pipe stem. “If its an +organization, then none of that eliminating you did is valid. Your +assassin could have been one of the women. He could have been one of the +men you eliminated as too young—someone recently admitted to the Tommy +Paine organization.” + +Ronny checked the last of his theories. “Why did Section G send six of its +agents here?” + +“Nothing to do with Tommy Paine,” Bulchand said. “It’s a different sort of +crisis.” + +“Just for my own satisfaction, what kind of crisis?” + +Bulchand sketched it quickly. “There are two Earth type planets in this +solar system. Avalon was the first to be colonized and developed rapidly. +After a couple of centuries, Avalonians went over and settled on Catalina. +They eventually set up a government of their own. Now Avalon has a surplus +of industrial products. Her economic system is such that she produces more +than she can sell back to her own people. There’s a glut.” + +Tog said demurely, “So, of course, they want to dump it in Catalina.” + +Bulchand nodded. “In fact, they’re willing to give it away. They’ve +offered to build railroads, turn over ships and aircraft, donate whole +factories to Catalina’s slowly developing economy.” + +Ronny said, “Well, how does that call for Section G agents?” + +“Catalina has evoked Article Two of the UP Charter. No member planet of UP +is to interfere with the internal political, socio-economic or religious +affairs of another member planet. Avalon claims the Charter doesn’t apply +since Catalina belongs to the same solar system and since she’s a former +colony. We’re trying to smooth the whole thing over, before Avalon dreams +up some excuse for military action.” + +Ronny stared at him. “I get the feeling every other sentence is being left +out of your explanation. It just doesn’t make sense. In the first place, +why is Avalon as anxious as all that to give away what sounds like a +fantastic amount of goods?” + +“I told you, they have a glut. They’ve overproduced and, as a result, +they’ve got a king-size depression on their hands, or will have unless +they find markets.” + +“Well, why not trade with some of the planets that want her products?” + +Tog said as though reasoning with a youngster, “Planets outside her own +solar system are too far away for it to be practical even if she had +commodities they didn’t. She needs a nearby planet more backward than +herself, a planet like Catalina.” + +“Well, that brings us to the more fantastic question. Why in the world +doesn’t Catalina accept? It sounds to me like pure philanthropy on the +part of Avalon.” + +Bulchand was wagging his pipe stem in a negative gesture. “Bronston, +governments are never motivated by idealistic reasons. Individuals might +be, and even small groups, but governments never. Governments, including +that of Avalon, exist for the benefit of the class or classes that control +them. The only things that motivate them are the interests of that class.” + +“Well, this sounds like an exception,” Ronny said argumentatively. “How +can Catalina lose if the Avalonians grant them railroads, factories and +all the rest of it?” + +Tog said, “Don’t you see, Ronny? It gives Avalon a foothold in the +Catalina economy. When the locomotives wear out on the railroad, new +engines, new parts, must be purchased. They won’t be available on Catalina +because there will be no railroad industry because none will have ever +grown up. Catalina manufacturers couldn’t compete with that initial free +gift. They’ll be dependent on Avalon for future equipment. In the +factories, when machines wear out, they will be replaceable only with the +products of Avalon’s industry.” + +Bulchand said, “There’s an analogy in the early history of the United +States. When its fledgling steel industry began, they set up a high tariff +to protect it against British competition. The British were amazed and +indignant, pointing out that they could sell American steel products at +one third the local prices, if only allowed to do so. The United States +said no thanks, it didn’t want to be tied, industrially, to Great +Britain’s apron strings. And in a couple of decades American steel +production passed England’s. In a couple of more decades American steel +production was many times that of England’s and she was taking British +markets away from her all over the globe.” + +“At any rate,” Ronny said, “it’s not a Tommy Paine matter.” + +Just for luck, though, Ronny and Tog double checked all over again on +Bulchand’s efforts. They interviewed all six of the Section G agents. Each +of them carried a silver badge that gleamed only for the individual who +possessed it. All of which eliminated the possibility that Paine had +assumed the identity of a Section G operative. So that was out. + +They checked the four crew members, but there was no doubt there, either. +The craft had been far away at the time of the assassination on New Delos. + +On the third day, Ronny Bronston, disgusted, knocked on the door of Tog’s +hotel room. The door screen lit up and Tog, looking out at him said, “Oh, +come on in, Ronny, I was just talking to Earth.” + +He entered. + +Tog had set up her Section G communicator on a desk top and Sid Jakes’ +grinning face was in the tiny, brilliant screen. Ronny approached close +enough for the other to take him in. + +Jakes said happily, “Hi, Ronny, no luck, eh?” + +Ronny shook his head, trying not to let his face portray his feelings of +defeat. This after all was a probationary assignment, and the supervisor +had the power to send Ronny Bronston back to the drudgery of his office +job at Population Statistics. + +“Still working on it. I suppose it’s a matter of returning to New Delos +and grinding away at the forty-eight employees of the UP there.” + +Sid Jakes pursed his lips. “I don’t know. Possibly this whole thing was a +false alarm. At any rate, there seems to be a hotter case on the fire. If +our local agents have it straight, Paine is about to pull one of his coups +on Kropotkin. This is a top-top-secret, of course, one of the few times +we’ve ever detected him before the act.” + +Ronny was suddenly alert, his fatigue of disgust of but a moment ago, +completely forgotten. “Where?” he said. + +“Kropotkin,” Jakes said. “One of the most backward planets in UP and +seemingly a setup for Paine’s sort of trouble making. The authorities, if +you can use the term applied to Kropotkin, are already complaining, +threatening to invoke Article One of the Charter, or to resign from UP.” +Jake looked at Tog again. “Do you know Kropotkin, Lee Chang?” + +She shook her head. “I’ve heard of it, rather vaguely. Named after some +old anarchist, I believe.” + +“That’s the place. One of the few anarchist societies in UP. You don’t +hear much from them.” He turned to Ronny again. “I think that’s your bet. +Hop to it, boy. We’re going to catch this Tommy Paine guy, or +organization, or whatever, soon or United Planets is going to know it. We +can’t keep the lid on indefinitely. If word gets around of his activities, +then we’ll lose member planets like Christmas trees shedding needles after +New Year’s.” He grinned widely. “That’s sounds like a neat trick, eh?” + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny Bronston had got to the point where he avoided controversial +subjects with Tog even when provoked and she had a sneaky little way of +provoking arguments. They had only one really knock down and drag-out +verbal battle on the way to Kropotkin. + +It had started innocently enough after dinner on the space liner on which +they had taken passage for the first part of the trip. To kill time they +were playing Battle Chess with its larger board and added contingents of +pawns and castles. + +Ronny said idly, “You know, in spite of the fact that I’m a third +generation United Planets citizen and employee, I’m just beginning to +realize how far out some of our member planets are. I had no idea before.” + +She frowned in concentration, before moving. She was advancing her men in +echelon attack, taking losses in exchange for territory and trying to pen +him up in such small space that he couldn’t maneuver. + +She said, “How do you mean?” + +Ronny lifted and dropped a shoulder. “Well, New Delos and its theocracy, +for instance, and Shangri-La and Mother and some of the other planets with +extremes in government of socio-economic system. I hadn’t the vaguest idea +about such places.” + +She made a deprecating sound. “You should see Amazonia, or, for that +matter, the Orwellian State.” + +“_Amazonia_,” he said, “does that mean what it sounds like it does?” + +She made her move and settled back in satisfaction. Her pawns were in such +position that his bishops were both unusable. He’d tried to play a phalanx +game in the early stages of her attack, but she’d broken through, rolling +up his left flank after sacrificing a castle and a knight. + +“Certainly does,” she said. “A fairly recently colonized planet. A few +thousand feminists no men at all—moved onto it a few centuries ago. And +it’s still an out and out matriarchy.” + +Ronny cleared his throat delicately. “Without men ... ah, how did they +continue several centuries?” + +Tog suppressed her amusement. “Artificial insemination, at first, so I +understand. They brought their, ah, supply with them. But then there were +boys among the first generation on the new planet and even the Amazonians +weren’t up to cold bloodedly butchering their children. So they merely +enslaved them. Nice girls.” + +Ronny stared at her. “You mean all men are automatically slaves on this +planet?” + +“That’s right.” + +Ronny made an improperly thought out move, trying to bring up a castle to +reinforce his collapsing flank. He said, “UP allows _anybody_ to join +evidently,” and there was disgust in his voice. + +“Why not?” she said mildly. + +“Well, there should be _some_ standards.” + +Tog moved quickly, dominating with a knight several squares he couldn’t +afford to lose. She looked up at him, her dark eyes sparking. “The point +of UP is to include all the planets. That way at least conflict can be +avoided and some exchange of science, industrial techniques and cultural +gains take place. And you must remember that while in power practically no +socio-economic system will admit to the fact that it could possibly change +for the better. But actually there is nothing less stable. Socio-economic +systems are almost always in a condition of flux. Planets such as Amazonia +might for a time seem so brutal in their methods as to exclude their right +to civilized intercourse with the rest. However, one of these days +there’ll be a change—or one of these centuries. They all change, sooner or +later.” She added softly, “Even Han.” + +“Han?” Ronny said. + +Her voice was quiet. “Where I was born, Ronny. Colonized from China in the +very early days. In fact, I spent my childhood in a commune.” She said +musingly, “The party bureaucrats thought their system an impregnable, +unchangeable one. Your move.” + +Ronny was fascinated. “And what happened?” He was in full retreat now, and +with nowhere to go, his pieces pinned up for the slaughter. He moved a +pawn to try and open up his queen. + +“Why don’t you concede?” she said. “Tommy Paine happened.” + +“Paine!” + +“Uh-huh. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it some time.” She pressed +closer with her own queen. + +He stared disgustedly at the board. “Well, that’s what I mean,” he +muttered. “I had no idea there were so many varieties of crackpot +politico-economic systems among the UP membership.” + +“They’re not necessarily crackpot,” she protested mildly. “Just at +different stages of development.” + +“Not crackpot!” he said. “Here we are heading for a planet named Kropotkin +which evidently practices anarchy.” + +“Your move,” she said. “What’s wrong with anarchism?” + +He glowered at her, in outraged disgust. Was it absolutely impossible for +him to say anything without her disagreement? + +Tog said mildly, “The anarchistic ethic is one of the highest man has ever +developed.” She added, after a moment of pretty consideration. +“Unfortunately, admittedly, it hasn’t been practical to put to practice. +It will be interesting to see how they have done on Kropotkin.” + +“Anarchist ethic, yes,” Ronny snapped. “I’m no student of the movement but +the way I understand it, there isn’t any.” + +Tog smiled sweetly. “The belief upon which they base their teachings is +that no man is capable of judging another.” + +Ronny cast his eyes ceilingward. “O.K., I give up!” + +She began rapidly resetting the pieces. “Another game?” she said brightly. + +“Hey! I didn’t mean the game! I was just about to counterattack.” + +“Ha!” she said. + + ------------------------------------- + +The Section G agent on Kropotkin was named Hideka Yamamoto, but he was on +a field tour and wouldn’t be back for several days. However, there wasn’t +especially any great hurry so far as Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu +knew. They got themselves organized in the rather rustic equivalent of a +hotel, which was located fairly near UP headquarters, and took up the +usual problems of arranging for local exchange, meals, means of +transportation and such necessities. + +It was a greater problem than usual. In fact, hadn’t it been for the +presence of the UP organization, which had already gone through all this +the hard way, some of the difficulties would have been all but +insurmountable. + +For instance, there was no local exchange. There was no medium of exchange +at all. Evidently simple barter was the rule. + +In the hotel—if it could be called a hotel—lobby, Ronny Bronston looked at +Tog. “Anarchism!” he said. “Oh, great. The highest ethic of all. And +what’s the means of transportation on this wonderful planet? The horse. +And how are we going to get a couple of horses with no means of exchange?” + +She tinkled laughter. + +“All right,” he said. “You’re the Man Friday. You find out the details and +handle them. I’m going out to take a look around the town—if you can call +this a town.” + +“It’s the capital of Kropotkin,” Tog said placatingly, though with a +mocking background in her tone. “Name of Bakunin. And very pleasant, too, +from what little I’ve seen. Not a bit of smog, industrial fumes, street +dirt, street noises—” + +“How could there be?” he injected disgustedly. “There isn’t any industry, +there aren’t any cars, and for all practical purposes, no streets. The +houses are a quarter of a mile or so apart.” + +She laughed at him again. “City boy,” she said. “Go on out there and enjoy +nature a little. It’ll do you good. Anybody who has cooped himself up in +that one big city, Earth, all his life ought to enjoy seeing what the +great outdoors looks like.” + +He looked at her and grinned. She was cute as a pixie, and there were no +two ways about that. He wondered for a moment what kind of a wife she’d +make. And then shuddered inwardly. Life would be one big contradiction of +anything he’d managed to get out of his trap. + +He strolled idly along what was little more than a country path and it +came to him that there were probably few worlds in the whole UP where he’d +have been prone to do this within the first few hours he’d been on the +planet. He would have been afraid, elsewhere, of anything from footpads to +police, from unknown vehicles to unknown traffic laws. There was something +bewildering about being an Earthling and being set down suddenly in New +Delos or on Avalon. + +Here, somehow, he already had a feeling of peace. + +Evidently, although Bakunin was supposedly a city, its populace tilled +their fields and provided themselves with their own food. He could see no +signs of stores or warehouses. And the UP building, which was no great +edifice itself, was the only thing in town which looked even remotely like +a governmental building. + +Bakunin was neat. Clean as a pin, as the expression went. Ronny was +vaguely reminded of a historical Tri-Di romance he’d once seen. It had +been laid in ancient times in a community of the Amish in old +Pennsylvania. + +He approached one of the wooden houses. The things would have been +priceless on Earth as an antique to be erected as a museum in some crowded +park. For that matter it would have been priceless for the wood it +contained. Evidently, the planet Kropotkin still had considerable virgin +forest. + +An old-timer smoking a pipe, sat on the cottage’s front step. He nodded +politely. + +Ronny stopped. He might as well try to get a little of the feel of the +place. He said courteously, “A pleasant evening.” + +The old-timer nodded. “As evenings should be after a fruitful day’s toil. +Sit down, comrade. You must be from the United Planets. Have you ever seen +Earth?” + +Ronny accepted the invitation and felt a soothing calm descend upon him +almost immediately. An almost disturbingly pleasant calm. He said, “I was +born on Earth.” + +“Ai?” the old man said. “Tell me. The books say that Kropotkin is an Earth +type planet within what they call a few degrees. But is it? Is Kropotkin +truly like the mother planet?” + +Ronny looked about him. He’d seen some of this world as the shuttle rocket +had brought them down from the passing liner. The forests, the lakes, the +rivers, and the great sections untouched by man’s hands. Now he saw the +areas between homes, the neat fields, the signs of human toil—the toil of +hands, not machines. + +“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m afraid not. This is how Earth must +once have been. But no longer.” + +The other nodded. “Our total population is but a few million,” he said. +Then, “I would like to see the mother planet, but I suppose I never +shall.” + +Ronny said diplomatically, “I have seen little of Kropotkin thus far but I +am not so sure but that I might not be happy to stay here, rather than +ever return to Earth.” + +The old man knocked the ashes from his pipe by striking it against the +heel of a work-gnarled hand. He looked about him thoughtfully and said, +“Yes, perhaps you’re right. I am an old man and life has been good. I +suppose I should be glad that I’ll unlikely live to see Kropotkin change.” + +“Change? You plan changes?” + + ------------------------------------- + +The old man looked at him and there seemed to be a very faint bitterness, +politely suppressed. “I wouldn’t say _we_ planned them, comrade. Certainly +not we of the older generation. But the trend toward change is already to +be seen by anyone who wishes to look, and our institutions won’t long be +able to stand. But, of course, if you’re from United Planets you would +know more of this than I.” + +“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” + +“You are new indeed on Kropotkin,” the old man said. “Just a moment.” He +went into his house and emerged with a small power pack. He indicated it +to Ronny Bronston. “This is our destruction,” he said. + +The Section G agent shook his head, bewildered. + +The old-timer sat down again. “My son,” he said, “runs the farm now. Six +months ago, he traded one of our colts for a small pump, powered by one of +these. It was little use on my part to argue against the step. The pump +eliminates considerable work at the well and in irrigation.” + +Ronny still didn’t understand. + +“The power pack is dead now,” the old man said, “and my son needs a new +one.” + +“They’re extremely cheap,” Ronny said. “An industrialized planet turns +them out in multi-million amounts at practically no cost.” + +“We have little with which to trade. A few handicrafts, at most.” + +Ronny said, “But, good heavens, man, build yourselves a plant to +manufacture power packs. With a population this small, a factory employing +no more than half a dozen men could turn out all you need.” + +The old man was shaking his head. He held up the battery. “This comes from +the planet Archimedes,” he said, “one of the most highly industrialized in +the UP, so I understand. On Archimedes do you know how many persons it +takes to manufacture this power pack?” + + [Illustration.] + +“A handful to operate the whole factory, Archimedes is fully automated.” + +The old man was still moving his head negatively. “No. It takes the total +working population of the planet. How many different metals do you think +are contained in it, in all? I can immediately see what must be lead and +copper.” + +Ronny said uncomfortably, “Probably at least a dozen, some in microscopic +amounts.” + +“That’s right. So we need a highly developed metallurgical industry before +we can even begin. Then a developed transportation industry to take metals +to the factory. We need power to run the factory, hydro-electric, solar, +or possibly atomic power. We need a tool-making industry to equip the +factory, the transport industry and the power industry. And while the men +are employed in these, we need farmers to produce food for them, educators +to teach them the sciences and techniques involved, and an entertainment +industry to amuse them in their hours of rest. As their lives become more +complicated with all this, we need a developed medical industry to keep +them in health.” + +The old man hesitated for a moment, then said, “And, above all, we need a +highly complicated government to keep all this accumulation of wealth in +check and balance. No. You see, my friend, it takes _social labor_ to +produce products such as this, and thus far we have avoided that on +Kropotkin. In fact, it was for such avoidance that my ancestors originally +came to this planet.” + +Ronny said, scowling, “This gets ridiculous. You show me this basically +simple power pack and say it will ruin your socio-economic system. On the +face of it, it’s ridiculous.” + +The old man sighed and looked out over the village unseeingly. “It’s not +just that single item, of course. The other day one of my neighbors turned +up with a light bulb with built-in power for a year’s time. It is the envy +of the unthinking persons of the neighborhood most of whom would give a +great deal for such a source of light. A nephew of mine has somehow even +acquired a powered bicycle, I think you call them, from somewhere or +other. One by one, item by item, these products of advanced technology +turn up—from whence, we don’t seem to be able to find out.” + +Under his breath, Ronny muttered, “_Paine!_” + +“I beg your pardon,” the old man said. + +“Nothing,” the Section G agent said. He leaned forward and, a worried +frown working its way over his face, began to question the other more +closely. + +Afterwards, Ronny Bronston strode slowly toward the UP headquarters. There +was only a small contingent of United Planets personnel on this little +populated member planet but, as always, there seemed to be an office for +Section G. + +Ronny stood outside it for a moment. There were voices from within, but he +didn’t knock. + +In fact, he cast his eyes up and down the short corridor. At the far end +was a desk with a girl in the Interplanetary Cultural Exchange Department +working away in concentration. She wasn’t looking in his direction. + +Ronny Bronston put his ear to the door. The building was primitive enough, +rustic enough in its construction, to permit his hearing. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu was saying seriously, “Oh, it was chaotic all right, but +no, I don’t really believe it could have been a Tommy Paine case. Actually +I’d suggest to you that you run over to Catalina. When I was on Avalon I +heard rumors that Tommy Paine’s finger seemed to be stirring around in the +mess there. Yes, I’d recommend that you take off for Catalina immediately. +If Paine is anywhere in this vicinity at all, it would be Catalina.” + +For a moment, Ronny Bronston froze. Then in automatic reflex his hand went +inside his jacket to rest over the butt of the Model H automatic there. + +No, that wasn’t the answer. His hand dropped away from the gun. + +He listened, further. + +Another voice was saying, “We thought we were on the trail for a while on +Hector, but it turned out it wasn’t Paine. Just a group of local agitators +fed up with the communist regime there. There’s going to be a blood bath +on Hector, before they’re through, but it doesn’t seem to be Paine’s work +this time.” + +Tog’s voice was musing. “Well, you never know, it sounds like the sort of +muck he likes to play in.” + +The strange voice said argumentatively, “Well, Hector _needs_ a few +fundamental changes.” + +“It could be,” Tog said, “but that’s their internal affairs, of course. +Our job in Section G is to prevent troubles between the differing +socio-economic and religious features of member planets. Whatever we think +of some of the things Paine does, our task is to get him.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny Bronston pushed the door open and went through. Tog Lee Chang Chu +was sitting at a desk, nonchalant and petitely beautiful as usual, +comfortably seated in easy-chairs were two young men by their attire +probably citizens of United Planets and possibly even Earthlings. + +“Hello, Ronny,” Tog said softly. “Meet Frederic Lippman and Pedro Nazaré, +both Section G operatives. This is my colleague, Ronald Bronston, +gentlemen. Fredric and Pedro were just leaving, Ronny.” + +The two agents got up to shake hands. + +Ronny said, “You can’t be in that much of a hurry. What’s your assignment, +boys?” + +Lippman, an earnest type, and by his appearance not more than twenty-five +or so years of age, began to answer, but Nazaré said hurriedly, “Actually, +it’s a confidential assignment. We’re working directly out of the +Octagon.” + +Lippman said, frowning, “It’s not that confidential, Tog. Bronston’s an +agent, too. What’s your assignment, Ronny?” + +Ronny said very slowly, “I’m beginning to suspect that it’s the same as +yours and various pieces are beginning to fall into place.” + +Lippman was taken aback. “You mean you’re looking for Tommy Paine?” His +eyes went to his associate. “How could that be, Tog? I didn’t know more +than one of us were on this job. Why, that means if Bronston here finds +him first, I won’t get my permanent appointment.” + +Ronny looked at Tog Lee Chang Chu who was sitting demurely, hands in lap, +and a resigned expression on her face. He said, “Nor if you find him +first, will I. Look here, Tog, how many men does Sid Jakes have out on +this assignment?” + +“I wouldn’t know,” she said mildly. + +He snapped, “A few dozen or so? Or possibly a few hundred?” + +“It seems unlikely there could be that many,” she said mildly. She looked +at the other two agents. “I think you two had better run along. Take my +suggestion I made earlier.” + +“Wait a minute,” Ronny snapped. “You mean that they go to Catalina? That’s +ridiculous.” + +Tog Lee Chang Chu looked at Pedro Nazaré and he turned and started for the +door followed by Fredric Lippman who was still scowling his puzzlement. + +“Wait a minute!” Ronny snapped. “I tell you it’s ridiculous. And why +follow her suggestions? She’s just my assistant.” + +Pedro Nazaré said, “Come on, Fred, let’s get going, we’ll have to pack.” +But Lippman wasn’t having any. + +“His assistant?” he said to Tog Lee Chang Chu. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu’s face changed expression in sudden decision. She opened +her bag and brought forth a Section G identification wallet and flicked it +open. The badge was gold. “I suggest you hurry,” she said to the two +agents. + +They left, and Tog turned back to Ronny, her eyebrows raised +questioningly. + +Ronny sank down into one of the chairs recently occupied by the other two +agents and tried to unravel thoughts. He said finally, “I suppose my +question should be, why do Ross Metaxa and Sid Jakes send an agent of +supervisor rank to act as assistant to a probationary agent? But that’s +not what I’m asking yet. First, Lippman just called his buddy Tog. How +come?” + +Tog took her seat again, rueful resignation on her face. “You should be +figuring it out on your own by this time, Ronny.” + +He looked at her belligerently. “I’m too stupid, eh?” The anger was +growing within him. + +“Tog,” she said. “It’s a nickname, or possibly you might call it a title. +Tog. T-O-G. The Other Guy. My name is Lee Chang Chu, and I’m of supervisor +grade presently working at developing new Section G operatives. +Considering the continuing rapid growth of UP, and the continuing crises +that come up in UP activities, developing new operatives is one of the +department’s most pressing jobs. Each new agent, on his first assignment, +is always paired with an experienced old-timer.” + +“I see,” he said flatly. “Your principal job being to needle the fledging, +eh?” + +She lowered her eyes. “I wouldn’t exactly word it that way,” she said. She +was obviously unrepentant. + +He said, “You must get a lot of laughs out of it. If I say, it seems to me +democracy is a good thing, you give me an argument about the superiority +of rule by an elite. If I say anarchism is ridiculous, you dredge up an +opinion that it’s man’s highest ethic. You must laugh yourself to sleep at +nights. You and Metaxa and Jakes and every other agent in Section G. +Everybody is in on the Tog gag but the sucker.” + +“Sometimes there are amusing elements to the work,” Lee Chang conceded, +demurely. + +“Just one more thing I’d like to ask,” Ronny rapped. “This first +assignment, agents are given. Is it always to look for Tommy Paine?” + +She looked up at him, said nothing, but her eyes were questioning. + +“Don’t worry,” he snapped. “I’ve already found out who Paine is.” + +“Ah?” She was suddenly interested. “Then I’m glad I ordered that other +probationary agent to leave. Evidently, he hasn’t. Obviously, I didn’t +want the two of you comparing notes.” + +“No, that would never do,” he said bitterly. “Well, this is the end of the +assignment so far as you and I are concerned. I’m heading back for Earth.” + +“Of course,” she said. + + ------------------------------------- + +He had time on the way to think it all over, and over and over again, and +a great deal of it simply didn’t make sense. He had enough information to +be disillusioned, sick at heart. To have crumbled an idealistic edifice +that had taken a lifetime to build. A lifetime? At least three. His father +and his grandfather before him had had the dream. He’d been weaned on the +idealistic purposes of the United Planets and man’s fated growth into the +stars. + +He was a third-generation dreamer of participating in the glory. His +grandfather had been a citizen of Earth and gave up a commercial position +to take a job that amounted to little more than a janitor in an obscure +department of Interplanetary Financial Clearing. He wanted to get into the +big job, into space, but never made it. Ronny’s father managed to work up +to the point where he was a supervisor in Interplanetary Medical Exchange, +in the tabulating department. He, too, had wanted into space, and never +made it. Ronny had loved them both. In a way fulfilling his own dreams had +been a debt he owed them, because at the same time he was fulfilling +theirs. + +And now this. All that had been gold, was suddenly gilted lead. The dream +had become contemptuous nightmare. + +Finally back in Greater Washington, he went immediately from the +shuttleport to the Octagon. His Bureau of Investigation badge was enough +to see him through the guide-guards and all the way through to the office +of Irene Kasansky. + +She looked up at him quickly. “Hi,” she said. “Ronny Bronston, isn’t it?” + +“That’s right. I want to see Commissioner Metaxa.” + +She scowled. “I can’t work you in now. How about Sid Jakes?” + +He said, “Jakes is in charge of the Tommy Paine routine, isn’t he?” + +She shot a sharper look up at him. “That’s right,” she said warily. + +“All right,” Ronny said. “I’ll see Jakes.” + +Her deft right hand slipped open a drawer in her desk. “You’d better leave +your gun here,” she said. “I’ve known probationary agents to get excited, +in my time.” + +He looked at her. + +And she looked back, her gaze level. + +Ronny Bronston shrugged, slipped the Model H from under his armpit and +tossed it into the drawer. + +Irene Kasansky went back to her work. “You know the way,” she said. + +This time Ronny Bronston pushed open the door to Sid Jakes’ office without +knocking. The Section G supervisor was poring over reports on his desk. He +looked up and grinned his Sid Jakes’ grin. + +“Ronny!” he said. “Welcome back. You know, you’re one of the quickest men +ever to return from a Tommy Paine assignment. I was talking to Lee Chang +only a day or so ago. She said you were on your way.” + +Ronny grunted, his anger growing within him. He lowered himself into one +of the room’s heavy chairs, and glared at the other. + +Sid Jakes chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “Before we go any +further, just to check, who is Tommy Paine?” + +Ronny snapped, “You are.” + +The supervisor’s eyebrows went up. + +Ronny said, “You and Ross Metaxa and Lee Chang Chu—and all the rest of +Section G. Section G is Tommy Paine.” + +“Good man!” Sid Jakes chortled. He flicked a switch on his order box. +“Irene,” he said, “how about clearing me through to the commissioner? I +want to take Ronny in for his finals.” + +Irene snapped back something and Sid Jakes switched off and turned to +Ronny happily. “Let’s go,” he said. “Ross is free for a time.” + +Ronny Bronston said nothing. He followed the other. The rage within him +was still mounting. + +In the months that had elapsed since Ronny Bronston had seen Ross Metaxa +the latter had changed not at all. His clothing was still sloppy, his eyes +bleary with lack of sleep or abundance of alcohol—or both. His expression +was still sour and skeptical. + +He looked up at their entry and scowled, and made no effort to rise and +shake hands. He said to Ronny sourly, “O.K., sound off and get it over +with. I haven’t too much time this afternoon.” + +Ronny Bronston was just beginning to feel tentacles of cold doubt, but he +suppressed them. The boiling anger was uppermost. He said flatly, “All my +life I’ve been a dedicated United Planets man. All my life I’ve considered +its efforts the most praiseworthy and greatest endeavor man has ever +attempted.” + +“Of course, old chap,” Jakes told him cheerfully. “We know all that, or +you wouldn’t ever have been chosen as an agent for Section G.” + +Ronny looked at him in disgust. “I’ve resigned that position, Jakes.” + +Jakes grinned back at him. “To the contrary, you’re now in the process of +receiving permanent appointment.” + +Ronny snorted his disgust and turned back to Metaxa. “Section G is a +secret department of the Bureau of Investigation devoted to subverting +Article One of the United Planets Charter.” + +Metaxa nodded. + +“You don’t deny it?” + +Metaxa shook his head. + +“Article One,” Ronny snapped, “is the basic foundation of the Charter +which every member of UP and particularly every citizen of United Planets, +such as ourselves, has sworn to uphold. But the very reason for the +existence of this Section G is to interfere with the internal affairs of +member planets, to subvert their governments, their economic systems, +their religions, their ideals, their very way of life.” + +Metaxa yawned and reached into a desk drawer for his bottle. “That’s +right,” he said. “Anybody like a drink?” + +Ronny ignored him. “I’m surprised I didn’t catch on even sooner,” he said. +“On New Delos Mouley Hassan, the local agent, knew the God-King was going +to be assassinated. He brought in extra agents and even a detail of Space +Forces guards for the emergency. He probably engineered the assassination +himself.” + +“Nope,” Jakes said. “We seldom go _that_ far. Local rebels did the actual +work, but, admittedly, we knew what they were planning. In fact, I’ve got +a sneaking suspicion that Mouley Hassan provided them with the bomb. That +lad’s a bit too dedicated.” + +“But _why_,” Ronny blurted. “That’s deliberately interfering with internal +affairs. If the word got out, every planet in UP would resign.” + +“Probably no planet in the system that needed a change so badly,” Metaxa +growled. “If they were ever going to swing into real progress, that +hierarchy of priests had to go.” He snorted. “An immortal God-King, yet.” + +Ronny pressed on. “That was bad enough, but how about this planet Mother, +where the colonists had attempted to return to nature and live in the +manner man did in earliest times.” + +“Most backward planet in the UP,” Metaxa said sourly. “They just had to be +roused.” + +“And Kropotkin!” Ronny blurted. “Don’t you understand, those people were +_happy_ there. Their lives were simple, uncomplicated, and they had +achieved a happiness that—” + +Metaxa came to his feet. He scowled at Ronny Bronston and growled, +“Unfortunately, the human race can’t take the time out for happiness. Come +along, I want to show you something.” + +He swung around the corner of his desk and made his way toward a +ceiling-high bookcase. + +Ronny stared after him, taken off guard, but Sid Jakes was grinning his +amusement. + +Ross Metaxa pushed a concealed button and the bookcase slid away to one +side to reveal an elevator beyond. + +“Come along,” Metaxa repeated over his shoulder. He entered the elevator, +followed by Jakes. + +There was nothing else to do. Ronny Bronston followed them, his face still +flushed with the angered argument. + +The elevator dropped, how far, Ronny had no idea. It stopped and they +emerged into a plain, sparsely furnished vault. Against one wall was a +boxlike affair that reminded Ronny of nothing so much as a deep-freeze. + +For all practical purposes, that’s what it was. Ross Metaxa led him over +and they stared down into its glass-covered interior. + +Ronny’s eyes bugged. The box contained the partly charred body of an +animal approximately the size of a rabbit. No, not an animal. It had +obviously once been clothed, and its limbs were obviously those of a tool +using life form. + +Metaxa and Jakes were staring down at it solemnly, for once no inane grin +on the supervisor’s face. And that of Ross Metaxa was more weary than +ever. + +Ronny said finally, “What is it?” But he knew. + +“You tell us,” Metaxa growled sourly. + +“It’s an intelligent life form,” Ronny blurted. “Why has it been kept +secret?” + +“Let’s go on back upstairs,” Metaxa sighed. + +Back in his office he said, “Now I go into my speech. Shut up for a +while.” He poured himself a drink, not offering one to the other two. +“Ronny,” he said, “man isn’t alone in the galaxy. There’s other +intelligent life. Dangerously intelligent.” + +In spite of himself Ronny reacted in amusement. “That little creature down +there? The size of a small monkey?” As soon as he said it, he realized the +ridiculousness of his statement. + +Metaxa grunted. “Obviously, size means nothing. That little fellow down +there was picked up by one of our Space Forces scouts over a century ago. +How long he’d been drifting through space, we don’t know. Possibly only +months, but possibly hundreds of centuries. But however long he’s proof +that man is not alone in the galaxy. And we have no way of knowing when +the expanding human race will come up against this other intelligence—and +whoever it was fighting.” + + [Illustration.] + +“But,” Ronny protested, “you’re assuming they’re aggressive. Perhaps +coming in contact with these aliens will be the best thing that ever +happened to man. Possibly that little fellow down there is the most +benevolent creature ever evolved.” + +Metaxa looked at him strangely. “Let’s hope so,” he said. “However, when +found he was in what must have been a one-man scout. He was dead and his +craft was blasted and torn—obviously from some sort of weapons’ fire. His +scout was obviously a military craft, highly equipped with what could only +be weapons, most of them so damaged our engineers haven’t been able to +figure them out. To the extent they have been able to reconstruct them, +they’re scared silly. No, there’s no two ways about it, our little rabbit +sized intelligence down in the vault was killed in an interplanetary +conflict. And sooner or later, Ronny, man in his explosion into the stars +is going to run into either or both of the opponents in that conflict.” + +Ronny Bronston slumped back into his chair, his brain running out a dozen +leads at once. + +Metaxa and Jakes remained quiet, looking at him speculatively. + +Ronny said slowly, “Then the purpose of Section G is to push the member +planets of UP along the fastest path of progress, to get them ready for +the eventual, inevitable meeting.” + +“Not just Section G,” Metaxa growled, “but all of the United Planets +organization, although most of the rank and file don’t even know our basic +purpose. Section G? We do the dirty work, and are proud to do it, by every +method we can devise.” + +Ronny leaned forward. “But look,” he said. “Why not simply inform all +member planets of this common danger? They’d all unite in the effort to +meet the common potential foe. Anything standing in the way would be +brushed aside.” + +Metaxa shook his head wearily. “Would they? Is a common danger enough for +man to change his institutions, particularly those pertaining to property, +power and religion? History doesn’t show it. Delve back into early times +and you’ll recall, for an example, that in man’s early discovery of +nuclear weapons he almost destroyed himself. Three or four different +socio-economic systems co-existed at that time and all would have +preferred destruction rather than changes in their social forms.” + +Jakes said, in an unwonted quiet tone, “No, until someone comes up with a +better answer it looks as though Section G is going to have to continue +the job of advancing man’s institutions, in spite of himself.” + +The commissioner made it clearer. “It’s not as though we deal with all our +member planets. It isn’t necessary. But you see, Ronny, the best colonists +are usually made up of the, well, crackpot element. Those who are +satisfied, stay at home. America, for instance, was settled by the +adventurers, the malcontents, the non-conformists, the religious cultists, +and even fugitives and criminals of Europe. So it is in the stars. A group +of colonists go out with their dreams, their schemes, their far-out ideas. +In a few centuries they’ve populated their new planet, and often do very +well indeed. But often not and a nudge, a push, from Section G can start +them up another rung or so of the ladder of social evolution. Most of them +don’t want the push. Few cultures, if any, realize they are mortal; like +Hitler’s Reich, they expect to last at least a thousand years. They resist +any change—even change for the better.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny’s defenses were crumbling, but he threw one last punch. “How do you +know the changes you make are for the better?” + +Metaxa shrugged heavy shoulders. “It’s sometimes difficult to decide, but +we aim for changes that will mean an increased scientific progress, a more +advanced industrial technology, more and better education, the opening of +opportunity for every member of the culture to exert himself to the full +of his abilities. The last is particularly important. Too many cultures, +even those that think of themselves as particularly advanced, suppress the +individual by one means or another.” + +Ronny was still mentally reeling with the magnitude of it all. “But how +can you account for the fact that these alien intelligences haven’t +already come in contact with us?” + +Metaxa shrugged again. “The Solar System, our sun, is way out in a +sparsely populated spiral arm of our galaxy. Undoubtedly, these others are +further in toward the center. We have no way of knowing how far away they +are, or how many sun systems they dominate, or even how many other empires +of intelligent life forms there are. All we know is that there are other +intelligences in the galaxy, that they are near enough like us to live on +the same type planets. The more opportunity man has to develop before the +initial contact takes place, the stronger bargaining position, or military +position, as the case may be, he’ll be in.” + +Sid Jakes summed up the Tommy Paine business for Ronny’s sake. “We need +capable agents badly, but we need dedicated and efficient ones. We can’t +afford anything less. So when we come upon potential Section G operatives +we send them out with a trusted Tog to get a picture of these United +Planets of ours. It’s the quickest method of indoctrination we’ve hit +upon; the agent literally teaches himself by observation and +participation. Usually, it takes four or five stops, on this planet and +that, before the probationary agent begins sympathizing with the efforts +of this elusive Tommy Paine. Especially since every Section G agent he +runs into, including the Tog, of course, fills him full of stories of +Tommy Paine’s activities. + +“You were one of the quickest to stumble on the true nature of our Section +G. After calling at only three planets you saw that we ourselves are Tommy +Paine.” + +“But ... but what’s the end?” Ronny said plaintively. “You say our job is +advancing man, even in spite of himself when it comes to that. We start at +the bottom of the evolutionary ladder in a condition of savagery, clan +communism in government, simple animism in religion, and slowly we +progress through barbarism to civilization, through paganism to the higher +ethical codes, through chattel slavery and then feudalism and beyond. What +is the final end, the Ultima Thule?” + +Metaxa was shaking his head again. He poured himself another drink, +offered the bottle this time to the others. “We don’t know,” he said +wearily, “perhaps there is none. Perhaps there is always another rung on +this evolutionary ladder.” He punched at his order box and said, “Irene, +have them do up a silver badge for Ronny.” + +Ronny Bronston took a deep breath and reached for the brown bottle. +“Well,” he said. “I suppose I’m ready to ask for my first assignment.” He +thought for a moment. “By the way, if there’s any way to swing it, I +wouldn’t mind working with Supervisor Lee Chang Chu.” + +THE END + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** + + + +CREDITS + + +October 25, 2009 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 30334-0.txt or 30334-0.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/3/3/30334/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. 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\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30334-0.zip b/30334-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec3c290 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-0.zip diff --git a/30334-8.txt b/30334-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..efe426d --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3876 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ultima Thule by Dallas McCord Reynolds + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: Ultima Thule + +Author: Dallas McCord Reynolds + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [Ebook #30334] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO 8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** + + + + + + Ultima Thule + + by + + Dallas McCord Reynolds + + Illustrated by John Schoenherr. + + Analog Science Fact & Fiction + + March 1961 + + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: This text was produced from Analog Science Fact & +Fiction March 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that +the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + + + + + [Illustration.] + +At least he'd got far enough to wind up with a personal interview. It's +one thing doing up an application and seeing it go onto an endless tape +and be fed into the maw of a machine and then to receive, in a matter of +moments, a neatly printed rejection. It's another thing to receive an +appointment to be interviewed by a placement officer in the Commissariat +of Interplanetary Affairs, Department of Personnel. Ronny Bronston was +under no illusions. Nine out of ten men of his age annually made the same +application. Almost all were annually rejected. Statistically speaking +practically nobody ever got an interplanetary position. But he'd made step +one along the path of a lifetime ambition. + +He stood at easy attention immediately inside the door. At the desk at the +far side of the room the placement officer was going through a sheaf of +papers. He looked up and said, "Ronald Bronston? Sit down. You'd like an +interplanetary assignment, eh? So would I." + +Ronny took the chair. For a moment he tried to appear alert, earnest, +ambitious but not _too_ ambitious, fearless, devoted to the cause, and +indispensable. For a moment. Then he gave it up and looked like Ronny +Bronston. + +The other looked up and took him in. The personnel official saw a man of +averages. In the late twenties. Average height, weight and breadth. +Pleasant of face in an average sort of way, but not handsome. Less than +sharp in dress, hair inclined to be on the undisciplined side. Brown of +hair, dark of eye. In a crowd, inconspicuous. In short, Ronny Bronston. + +The personnel officer grunted. He pushed a button, said something into his +order box. A card slid into the slot and he took it out and stared +gloomily at it. + +"What're your politics?" he said. + +"Politics?" Ronny Bronston said. "I haven't any politics. My father and +grandfather before me have been citizens of United Planets. There hasn't +been any politics in our family for three generations." + +"Family?" + +"None." + +The other grunted and marked the card. "Racial prejudices?" + +"I beg your pardon?" + +"Do you have any racial prejudices? Any at all." + +"No." + +The personnel officer said, "Most people answer that way at first, these +days, but some don't at second. For instance, suppose you had to have a +blood transfusion. Would you have any objection to it being blood donated +by, say, a Negro, a Chinese, or, say, a Jew?" + +Ronny ticked it off on his fingers. "One of my greatgrandfathers was a +French _colon_ who married a Moroccan girl. The Moors are a blend of +Berber, Arab, Jew and Negro. Another of my greatgrandfathers was a +Hawaiian. They're largely a blend of Polynesians, Japanese, Chinese and +Caucasians especially Portuguese. Another of my greatgrandfathers was +Irish, English and Scotch. He married a girl who was half Latvian, half +Russian." Ronny wound it up. "Believe me, if I had a blood transfusion +from just anybody at all, the blood would feel right at home." + +The interviewer snorted, even as he marked the card. "That accounts for +three greatgrandfathers," he said lightly. "You seem to have made a study +of your family tree. What was the other one?" + +Rocky said expressionlessly, "A Texan." + +The secretary shrugged and looked at the card again. "Religion?" + +"Reformed Agnostic," Ronny said. This one was possibly where he ran into a +brick wall. Many of the planets had strong religious beliefs of one sort +or another. Some of them had state religions and you either belonged or +else. + +"Is there any such church?" the personnel officer frowned. + +"No. I'm a one-man member. I'm of the opinion that if there are any +greater-powers-that-be They're keeping the fact from us. And if that's the +way They want it, it's Their business. If and when They want to contact +me--one of Their puppets dangling from a string--then I suppose They'll do +it. Meanwhile, I'll wait." + +The other said interestedly, "You think that if there is a Higher Power +and if It ever wants to get in touch with you, It will?" + +"Um-m-m. In Its own good time. Sort of a _don't call Me_, thing, _I'll +call you_." + +The personnel officer said, "There have been a few revealed religions, you +know." + +"So they said, so they said. None of them have made much sense to me. If a +Super-Power wanted to contact man, it seems unlikely to me that it'd be +all wrapped up in a lot of complicated gobbledegook. It would all be very +clear indeed." + +The personnel officer sighed. He marked the card, stuck it back into the +slot in his order box and it disappeared. + +He looked up at Ronny Bronston. "All right, that's all." + +Ronny came to his feet. "Well, what happened?" + +The other grinned at him sourly. "Darned if I know," he said. "By the time +you get to the outer office, you'll probably find out." He scratched the +end of his nose and said, "I sometimes wonder what I'm doing here." + +Ronny thanked him, told him good-by, and left. + + ------------------------------------- + +In the outer office a girl looked up from a card she'd just pulled from +her own order box. "Ronald Bronston?" + +"That's right." + +She handed the card to him. "You're to go to the office of Ross Metaxa in +the Octagon, Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs, Department of +Justice, Bureau of Investigation, Section G." + +In a lifetime spent in first preparing for United Planets employment and +then in working for the organization, Ronny Bronston had never been in the +Octagon Building. He'd seen photographs, Tri-Di broadcasts and he'd heard +several thousand jokes on various levels from pun to obscenity about +getting around in the building, but he'd never been there. For that +matter, he'd never been in Greater Washington before, other than a long +ago tourist trip. Population Statistics, his department, had its main +offices in New Copenhagen. + +His card was evidently all that he needed for entry. + +At the sixth gate he dismissed his car and let it shoot back into the +traffic mess. He went up to one of the guard-guides and presented the +card. + +The guide inspected it. "Section G of the Bureau of Investigation," he +muttered. "Every day, something new. I never heard of it." + +"It's probably some outfit in charge of cleaning the heads on space +liners." Ronny said unhappily. He'd never heard of it either. + +"Well, it's no problem," the guard-guide said. He summoned a three-wheel, +fed the co-ordinates into it from Ronny's card, handed the card back and +flipped an easy salute. "You'll soon know." + +The scooter slid into the Octagon's hall traffic and proceeded up one +corridor, down another, twice taking to ascending ramps. Ronny had read +somewhere the total miles of corridors in the Octagon. He hadn't believed +the figures at the time. Now he believed them. He must have traversed +several miles before they got to the Department of Justice alone. It was +another quarter mile to the Bureau of Investigation. + +The scooter eventually came to a halt, waited long enough for Ronny to +dismount and then hurried back into the traffic. + +He entered the office. A neatly uniformed reception girl with a harassed +and cynical eye looked up from her desk. "Ronald Bronston?" she said. + +"That's right." + +"Where've you been?" She had a snappy cuteness. "The commissioner has been +awaiting you. Go through that door and to your left." + +Ronny went through that door and to the left. There was another door, +inconspicuously lettered _Ross Metaxa, Commissioner, Section G_. Ronny +knocked and the door opened. + +Ross Metaxa was going through a wad of papers. He looked up; a man in the +middle years, sour of expression, moist of eye as though he either drank +too much or slept too little. + +"Sit down," he said. "You're Ronald Bronston, eh? What do they call you, +Ronny? It says here you've got a sense of humor. That's one of the first +requirements in this lunatic department." + +Ronny sat down and tried to form some opinions of the other by his +appearance. He was reminded of nothing so much as the stereotype city +editor you saw in the historical romance Tri-Ds. All that was needed was +for Metaxa to start banging on buttons and yelling something about tearing +down the front page, whatever that meant. + +Metaxa said, "It also says you have some queer hobbies. Judo, small +weapons target shooting, mountain climbing--" He looked up from the +reports. "Why does anybody climb mountains?" + +Ronny said, "Nobody's ever figured out." That didn't seem to be enough, +especially since Ross Metaxa was staring at him, so he added, "Possibly we +devotees keep doing it in hopes that someday somebody'll find out." + +Ross Metaxa said sourly, "Not _too_ much humor, please. You don't act as +though getting this position means much to you." + +Ronny said slowly, "I figured out some time ago that every young man on +Earth yearns for a job that will send him shuttling from one planet to +another. To achieve it they study, they sweat, they make all out efforts +to meet and suck up to anybody they think might help. Finally, when and if +they get an interview for one of the few openings, they spruce up in their +best clothes, put on their best party manners, present themselves as the +sincere, high I.Q., ambitious young men that they are--and then flunk their +chance. I decided I might as well be what I am." + +Ross Metaxa looked at him. "O.K.," he said finally. "We'll give you a +try." + +Ronny said blankly, "You mean I've got the job?" + +"That's right." + +"I'll be damned." + +"Probably," Metaxa said. He yawned. "Do you know what Section G handles?" + +"Well no, but as for me, just so I get off Earth and see some of the +galaxy." + + ------------------------------------- + +Metaxa had been sitting with his heels on his desk. Now he put them down +and reached a hand into a drawer to emerge with a brown bottle and two +glasses. "Do you drink?" he said. + +"Of course." + +"Even during working hours?" Metaxa scowled. + +"When occasion calls." + +"Good," Metaxa said. He poured two drinks. "You'll get your fill of seeing +the galaxy," he said. "Not that there's much to see. Man can settle only +Earth-type planets and after you've seen a couple of hundred you've seen +them all." + +Ronny sipped at his drink, then blinked reproachfully down into the glass. + +Metaxa said, "Good, eh? A kind of tequila they make on Deneb Eight. Bunch +of Mexicans settled there." + +"What," said Ronny hoarsely, "do they make it out of?" + +"Lord only knows," Metaxa said. "To get back to Section G. We're +Interplanetary Security. In short, Department Cloak and Dagger. Would you +be willing to die for the United Planets, Bronston?" + +That curve had come too fast. Ronny blinked again. "Only in emergency," he +said. "Who'd want to kill me?" + +Metaxa poured another drink. "Many of the people you'll be working with," +he said. + +"Well, _why_? What will I be doing?" + +"You'll be representing United Planets," Metaxa explained. "Representing +United Planets in cases where the local situation is such that the folks +you're working among will be teed off at the organization." + +"Well, why are they members if they don't like the UP?" + +"That's a good question," Metaxa said. He yawned. "I guess I'll have to go +into my speech." He finished his drink. "Now, shut up till I give you some +background. You're probably full of a lot of nonsense you picked up in +school." + +Ronny shut up. He'd expected more of an air of dedication in the Octagon +and in such ethereal departments as that of Interplanetary Justice, +however, he was in now and not adverse to picking up some sophistication +beyond the ken of the Earth-bound employees of UP. + +The other's voice took on a far away, albeit bored tone. "It seems that +most of the times man gets a really big idea, he goes off half cocked. +Just one example. Remember when the ancient Hellenes exploded into the +Mediterranean? A score of different City-States began sending out +colonies, which in turn sprouted colonies of their own. Take Syracuse, on +Sicily. Hardly was she established than, bingo, she sent off colonists to +Southern Italy, and they in turn to Southern France, Corsica, the +Balearics. Greeks were exploding all over the place, largely without +adequate plans, without rhyme or reason. Take Alexander. Roamed off all +the way to India, founding cities and colonies of Greeks all along the +way." + +The older man shifted in his chair. "You wonder what I'm getting at, eh? +Well, much the same thing is happening in man's explosion into space, now +that he has the ability to leave the solar system behind. Dashing off half +cocked, in all directions, he's flowing out over this section of the +galaxy without plan, without rhyme or reason. I take that last back, he +has reasons all right--some of the screwiest. Religious reasons, racial +reasons, idealistic reasons, political reasons, altruistic reasons and +mercenary reasons. + +"Inadequate ships, manned by small numbers of inadequate people, setting +out to find their own planets, to establish themselves on one of the +numberless uninhabited worlds that offer themselves to colonization and +exploitation." + +Ronny cleared his throat. "Well, isn't that a good thing, sir?" + +Ross Metaxa looked at him and grunted. "What difference does it make if +it's good or not? It's happening. We're spreading our race out over tens +of hundreds of new worlds in the most haphazard fashion. As a result, we +of United Planets now have a chaotic mishmash on our hands. How we manage +to keep as many planets in the organization as we do, sometimes baffles +me. I suppose most of them are afraid to drop out, conscious of the +protection UP gives against each other." + +He picked up a report. "Here's Monet, originally colonized by a bunch of +painters, writers, musicians and such. They had dreams of starting a new +race"--Metaxa snorted--"with everybody artists. They were all so impractical +that they even managed to crash their ship on landing. For three hundred +years they were uncontacted. What did they have in the way of government +by that time? A military theocracy, something like the Aztecs of +Pre-Conquest Mexico. A matriarchy, at that. And what's their religion +based on? That of ancient Phoenicia including plenty of human sacrifice to +good old Moloch. What can United Planets do about it, now that they've +become a member? Work away very delicately, trying to get them to at least +eliminate the child sacrifice phase of their culture. Will they do it? +Hell no, not if they can help it. The Head Priestess and her clique are +afraid that if they don't have the threat of sacrifice to hold over the +people, they'll be overthrown." + +Ronny was surprised. "I'd never heard of a member planet like that. +Monet?" + +Metaxa sighed. "No, of course not. You've got a lot to learn, Ronny, my +lad. First of all, what're Articles One and Two of the United Planets +Charter?" + +That was easy. Ronny recited. "Article One: _The United Planets +organization shall take no steps to interfere with the internal political, +socio-economic, or religious institutions of its member planets._ Article +Two: _No member planets of United Planets shall interfere with the +internal political, socioeconomic or religious institutions of any other +member planet._" He looked at the department head. "But what's that got to +do with the fact that I was unfamiliar with even the existence of Monet?" + +"Suppose one of the advanced planets, or even Earth itself," Metaxa +growled, "openly discussed in magazines, on newscasts, or wherever, the +religious system of Monet. A howl would go up among the liberals, the +progressives, the do-gooders. And the howl would be heard on the other +advanced planets. Eventually, the citizen in the street on Monet would +hear about it and be affected. And before you knew it, a howl would go up +from Monet's government. Why? Because the other planets would be +interfering with her internal affairs, simply by discussing them." + +"So what you mean is," Ronny said, "part of our job is to keep information +about Monet's government and religion from being discussed at all on other +member planets." + +"That's right," Metaxa nodded. "And that's just one of our dirty little +jobs. One of many. Section G, believe me, gets them all. Which brings us +to your first assignment." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny inched forward in his chair. "It takes me into space?" + +"It takes you into space all right," Metaxa snorted. "At least it will +after a few months of indoctrination. I'm sending you out after a legend, +Ronny. You're fresh, possibly you'll get some ideas older men in the game +haven't thought of." + +"A legend?" + +"I'm sending you to look for Tommy Paine. Some members of the department +don't think he exists. I do." + +"Tommy Paine?" + +"A pseudonym that somebody hung on him way back before even my memory in +this Section. Did you ever hear of Thomas Paine in American history?" + +"He wrote a pamphlet during the Revolutionary War, didn't he?" + +" 'Common Sense,' " Metaxa nodded. "But he was more than that. He was born +in England but went to America as a young man and his writings probably +did as much as anything to put over the revolt against the British. But +that wasn't enough. When that revolution was successful he went back to +England and tried to start one there. The government almost caught him, +but he escaped and got to France where he participated in the French +Revolution." + +"He seemed to get around," Ronny Bronston said. + +"And so does this namesake of his. We've been trying to catch up with him +for some twenty years. How long before that he was active, we have no way +of knowing. It was some time before we became aware of the fact that half +the revolts, rebellions, revolutions and such that occur in the United +Planets have his dirty finger stirring around in them." + +"But you said some department members don't believe in his existence." + +Metaxa grunted. "They're working on the theory that no one man could do +all that Tommy Paine has laid to him. Possibly it's true that he sometimes +gets the blame for accomplishments not his. Or, for that matter, possibly +he's more than one person. I don't know." + +"Well," Ronny said hesitantly, "what's an example of his activity?" + +Metaxa picked up another report from the confusion of his desk. "Here's +one only a month old. Dictator on the planet Megas. Kidnapped and forced +to resign. There's still confusion but it looks as though a new type of +government will be formed now." + +"But how do they know it wasn't just some dissatisfied citizens of Megas?" + +"It seems as though the kidnap vehicle was an old fashioned Earth-type +helicopter. There were no such on Megas. So Section G suspects it's a +possible Tommy Paine case. We could be wrong, of course. That's why I say +the man's in the way of being a legend. Perhaps the others are right and +he doesn't even exist. I think he does, and if so, it's our job to get him +and put him out of circulation." + +Ronny said slowly, "But why would that come under our jurisdiction? It +seems to me that it would be up to the police of whatever planet he was +on." + +Ross Metaxa looked thoughtfully at his brown bottle, shook his head and +returned it to its drawer. He looked at a desk watch. "Don't read into the +United Planets organization more than there is. It's a fragile institution +with practically no independent powers to wield. Every member planet is +jealous of its prerogatives, which is understandable. It's no mistake that +Articles One and Two are the basic foundation of the Charter. No member +planet wants to be interfered with by any other or by United Planets as an +organization. They want to be left alone. + +"Within our ranks we have planets with every religion known to man +throughout the ages. Everything ranging from primitive animism to the most +advanced philosophic ethic. We have every political system ever dreamed +of, and every socio-economic system. It can all be blamed on the crack-pot +manner in which we're colonizing. Any minority, no matter how +small--religious, political, racial, or whatever--if it can collect the +funds to buy or rent a spacecraft, can dash off on its own, find a new +Earth-type planet and set up in business. + +"Fine. One of the prime jobs of Section G is to carry out, to enforce, +Articles One and Two of the Charter. A planet with Buddhism as its state +religion, doesn't want some die-hard Baptist missionary stirring up +controversy. A planet with a feudalistic socio-economic systems doesn't +want some hot-shot interplanetary businessman coming in with some big deal +that would eventually cause the feudalistic nobility to be tossed onto the +ash heap. A planet with a dictatorship doesn't want subversives from some +democracy trying to undermine their institutions--and vice versa." + +"And its our job to enforce all this, eh?" Ronny said. + +"That's right," Metaxa told him sourly. "It's not always the nicest job in +the system. However, if you believe in United Planets, an organization +attempting to co-ordinate in such manner as it can, the efforts of its +member planets, for the betterment of all, then you must accept Section G +and Interplanetary Security." + +Ronny Bronston thought about it. + +Metaxa added, "That's why one of the requirements of this job is that you +yourself be a citizen of United Planets, rather than of any individual +planet, have no religious affiliations, no political beliefs, and no +racial prejudices. You've got to be able to stand aloof." + +"Yeah," Ronny said thoughtfully. + +Ross Metaxa looked at his watch again and sighed wearily. "I'll turn you +over to one of my assistants," he said. "I'll see you again, though, +before you leave." + +"Before I leave?" Ronny said, coming to his feet. "But where do I start +looking for this Tommy Paine?" + +"How the hell would I know?" Ross Metaxa growled. + + ------------------------------------- + +In the outer office, Ronny said to the receptionist, "Commissioner Metaxa +said for me to get in touch with Sid Jakes." + +She said, "I'm Irene Kasansky. Are you with us?" + +Ronny said, "I beg your pardon?" + +She said impatiently, "Are you going to be with the Section? If you are, +I've got to clear you with your old job. You were in statistics over in +New Copenhagen, weren't you?" + +Somehow it seemed far away now, the job he'd held for more than five +years. "Oh, yes," he said. "Yes, Commissioner Metaxa has given me an +appointment." + +She looked up at him. "Probably to look for Tommy Paine." + +He was taken aback. "That's right. How did you know?" + +"There was talk. This Section is pretty well integrated." She grimaced, +but on her it looked good. "One big happy family. High interdepartmental +morale. That sort of jetsam." She flicked some switches. "You'll find +Supervisor Jakes through that door, one to your left, two to your right." + +He could have asked one _what_ to his left and two _what_ to his right, +but evidently Irene Kasansky thought he had enough information to get him +to his destination. She'd gone back to her work. + + [Illustration.] + +It was one turn to his left and two turns to his right. The door was +lettered simply _Sidney Jakes_. He knocked and a voice shouted happily, +"It's open. It's always open." + +Supervisor Jakes was as informal as his superior. His attire was on the +happy-go-lucky side, more suited for sports wear than a fairly high +ranking job in the ultra-staid Octagon. + +He couldn't have been much older than Ronny Bronston but he had a nervous +vitality about him that would have worn out the other in a few hours. He +jumped up and shook hands. "You must be Bronston. Call me Sid." He waved a +hand at a typed report he'd been reading. "Now I've seen them all. They've +just applied for entry to United Planets. Republic. What a name, eh?" + +"What?" Ronny said. + +"Sit down, sit down." He rushed Ronny to a chair, saw him seated, returned +to the desk and flicked an order box switch. "Irene," he said, "do up a +badge for Ronny, will you? You've got his code, haven't you? Good. Send it +over. Bronze, of course." + +Sid Jakes turned back to Ronny and grinned at him. He motioned to the +report again. "What a name for a planet. Republic. Bunch of screw-balls, +again. Out in the vicinity of Sirius. Based their system on Plato's +_Republic_. Have to go the whole way. Don't even speak Basic. Certainly +not. They speak Ancient Greek. That's going to be a neat trick, finding +interpreters. How'd you like the Old Man?" + +Ronny said, dazed at the conversational barrage, "Old Man? Oh, you mean +Commissioner Metaxa." + +"Sure, sure," Sid grinned, perching himself on the edge of the desk. "Did +he give you that drink of tequila during working hours routine? He'd like +to poison every new agent we get. What a character." + +The grin was infectious. Ronny said carefully, "Well, I did think his +method of hiring a new man was a little--cavalier." + +"Cavalier, yet," Sid Jakes chortled. "Look, don't get the Old Man wrong. +He knows what he's doing. He always knows what he's doing." + +"But he took me on after only two or three minutes conversation." + +Jakes cocked his head to one side. "Oh? You think so? When did you first +apply for interplanetary assignment, Ronny?" + +"I don't know, about three years ago." + +Jakes nodded. "Well, depend on it, you've been under observation for that +length of time. At any one period, Section G is investigating possibly a +thousand potential agents. We need men but qualifications are high." + +He hopped down from his position, sped around to the other side of the +desk and lowered himself into his chair. "Don't get the wrong idea, +though. You're not in. You're on probation. Whatever the assignment the +Old Man gave you, you've got to carry it out successfully before you're +full fledged." He flicked the order-box switch and said, "Irene, where the +devil's Ronny's badge?" + +Ronny Bronston heard the office girl's voice answer snappishly. + +"All right, all right," Jakes said. "I love you, too. Send it in when it +comes." He turned to Ronny. "What _is_ your assignment?" + +"He wants me to go looking for some firebrand nicknamed Tommy Paine. I'm +supposed to arrest him. The commissioner said you'd give me details." + + ------------------------------------- + +Sid Jakes' face went serious. He puckered up his lips. "Wow, that'll be a +neat trick to pull off," he said. He flicked the order-box switch again. +Irene's voice snapped something before he could say anything and Sid Jakes +grinned and said, "O.K., O.K., darling, but if this is the way you're +going to be I won't marry you. Then what will the children say? Besides, +that's not what I called about. Have ballistics do up a model H gun for +Ronny, will you? Be sure it's adjusted to his code." + +He flicked off the order box and turned back to Ronny. "I understand +you're familiar with hand guns. It's in this report on you." + +Ronny nodded. He was just beginning to adjust to this free-wheeling +character. "What will I need a gun for?" + +Jakes laughed. "Heavens to Betsy, you babe in the woods. Do you realize +this Tommy Paine character has supposedly stirred up a couple of score +wars, revolutions and revolts? Not to speak of having laid in his lap two +or three dozen assassinations. He's a quick lad with a gun. A regular +Nihilist." + +"Nihilist?" + +Jakes chuckled. "When you've been in this Section for a while, you'll be +familiar with every screwball outfit man has ever dreamed up. The +Nihilists were a European group, mostly Russian, back in the Nineteenth +Century. They believed that by bumping off a few Grand Dukes and a Czar or +so they could force the ruling class to grant reforms. Sometimes they were +pretty ingenious. Blew up trains, that sort of thing." + +"Look here," Ronny said, "what motivates this Paine fellow? What's he get +out of all this trouble he stirs up?" + +"Search me. Nobody seems to know. Some think he's a mental case. For one +thing, he's not consistent." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Well, he'll go to one planet and break his back trying to overthrow, say, +feudalism. Then, possibly after being successful, he goes to another +planet and devotes his energies to establishing the same socio-economic +system." + +Ronny assimilated that. "You're one of those who believes he exists?" + +"Oh, he exists all right, all right," Sid Jakes said happily. "Matter of +fact, I almost ran into him a few years ago." + +Ronny leaned forward. "I guess I ought to know about it. The more +information I have, the better." + +"Sure, sure," Jakes said. "This deal of mine was on one of the Aldebaran +planets. A bunch of nature boys had settled there." + +"Nature boys?" + +"Um-m-m. Back to nature. The trouble with the human race is that it's got +too far away from nature. So a whole flock of them landed on this planet. +They call it Mother, of all things. They landed and set up a primitive +society. Absolute stone age. No metals. Lived by the chase and by picking +berries, wild fruit, that sort of thing. Not even any agriculture. Wore +skins. Bows and arrows were the nearest thing they allowed themselves in +the way of mechanical devices." + +"Good grief," Ronny said. + +"It was a laugh," Jakes told him. "I was assigned there as Section G +representative with the UP organization. Picture it. We had to wear skins +for clothes. We had to confine ourselves to two or three long houses. +Something like the American Iroquois lived in before Columbus. Their +society on Mother was based on primitive communism. The clan, the phratry, +the tribe. Their religion was mostly a matter of knocking into everybody's +head that any progress was taboo. Oh, it was great." + +"Well, were they happy?" + +"What's happiness? I suppose they were as happy as anybody ever averages. +Frankly, I didn't mind the assignment. Lots of fishing, lots of hunting." + +Ronny said, "Well, where does Tommy Paine come in?" + +"He snuck up on us. Started way back in the boondocks away from any of the +larger primitive settlements. Went around putting himself over as a holy +man. Cured people of various things from gangrene to eye diseases. Given +antibiotics and such, you can imagine how successful he was." + +"Well, what harm did he do?" + +"I didn't say he did any harm. But in that manner he made himself awfully +popular. Then he'd pull some trick like showing them how to smelt iron, +and distribute some corn and wheat seed around and plant the idea of +agriculture. The local witch doctors would try to give him a hard time, +but the people figured he was a holy man." + +"Well, what happened finally?" Ronny wasn't following too well. + +"Communications being what they were, before he'd been discovered by the +central organization--they had a kind of Council of Tribes which met once a +year--he'd planted so many ideas that they couldn't be stopped. The young +people'd never go back to flint knives, once introduced to iron. We went +looking for friend Tommy Paine, but he got wind of it and took off. We +even found where he'd hidden his little space cruiser. Oh, it was Paine, +all right, all right." + +"But what harm did he do? I don't understand," Ronny scowled. + +"He threw the whole shebang on its ear. Last I heard, the planet had +broken up into three main camps. They were whaling away at each other like +the Assyrians and Egyptians. Iron weapons, chariots, domesticated horses. +Agriculture was sweeping the planet. Population was exploding. Men were +making slaves out of each other, to put them to work. Oh, it was a mess +from the viewpoint of the original nature boys." + +A red light flickered on his desk and Sid Jakes opened a delivery drawer +and dipped his hand into it. It emerged with a flat wallet. He tossed it +to Ronny Bronston. + +"Here you are. Your badge." + +Ronny opened the wallet and examined it. He'd never seen one before, but +for that matter he'd never heard of Section G before that morning. It was +a simple enough bronze badge. It said on it, merely, _Ronald Bronston, +Section G, Bureau of Investigation, United Planets_. + +Sid Jakes explained. "You'll get co-operation with that through the +Justice Department anywhere you go. We'll brief you further on procedure +during indoctrination. You in turn, of course, are to co-operate with any +other agent of Section G. You're under orders of anyone with"--his hand +snaked into a pocket and emerged with a wallet similar to Ronny's--"a +silver badge, carried by a First Grade Agent, or a gold one of Supervisor +rank." + +Ronny noted that his badge wasn't really bronze. It had a certain sheen, a +brightness. + +Jakes said, "Here, look at this." He tossed his own badge to the new man. +Ronny looked down at it in surprise. The gold had gone dull. + +Jakes laughed. "Now give me yours." + +Ronny got up and walked over to him and handed it over. As soon as the +other man's hand touched it, the bronze lost its sheen. + +Jakes handed it back. "See, it's tuned to you alone," he said. "And mine +is tuned to my code. Nobody can swipe a Section G badge and impersonate an +agent. If anybody ever shows you a badge that doesn't have its sheen, you +know he's a fake. Neat trick, eh?" + +"Very neat," Ronny admitted. He returned the other's gold badge. "Look, to +get back to this Tommy Paine." + +But the red light flickered again and Jakes brought forth from the +delivery drawer a hand gun complete with shoulder harness. "Nasty weapon," +he said. "But we'd better go on down to the armory and show you its +workings." + +He stood up. "Oh, yes, don't let me forget to give you a communicator. A +real gizmo. About as big as a woman's vanity case. Puts you in immediate +contact with the nearest Section G office, no matter how near or far away +it is. Or, if you wish, in contact with our offices here in the Octagon. +Very neat trick." + +He led Ronny from his office and down the corridors beyond to an elevator. +He said happily, "This is a crazy outfit, this Section G. You'll probably +love it. Everybody does." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny learned to love Section G--in moderation. + +He was initially taken aback by the existence of the organization at all. +He'd known, of course, of the Department of Justice and even of the Bureau +of Investigation, but Section G was hush-hush and not even United Planets +publications ever mentioned it. + +The problems involved in remaining hush-hush weren't as great as all that. +The very magnitude of the UP which involved more than two thousand member +planets, allowed of departments and bureaus hidden away in the endless +stretches of red tape. + +In fact, although Ronny Bronston had spent the better part of his life, +thus far, in studying for a place in the organization, and then working in +the Population Statistics Department for some years, he was only now +beginning to get the over-all picture of the workings of the mushrooming, +chaotic United Planets organization. + +It was Earth's largest industry by far. In fact, for all practical +purposes it was her only major industry. Tourism, yes, but even that, in a +way, was related to the United Planets organization. Millions of visitors +whose ancestors had once emigrated from the mother planet, streamed back +in racial nostalgia. Streamed back to see the continents and oceans, the +Arctic and the Antarctic, the Amazon River and Mount Everest, the Sahara +and New York City, the ruins of Rome and Athens, the Vatican, the Louvre +and the Hermitage. + +But the populace of Earth, in its hundreds of millions were largely +citizens of United Planets and worked in the organization and with its +auxiliaries such as the Space Forces. + +Section G? To his surprise, Ronny found that Ross Metaxa's small section +of the Bureau of Investigation seemed almost as great a secret within the +Bureau as it was to the man in the street. At one period, Ronny wondered +if it were possible that this was a department which had been lost in the +wilderness of boondoggling that goes on in any great bureaucracy. Had +Section G been set up a century or so ago and then forgotten by those who +had originally thought there was a need for it? In the same way that it is +usually more difficult to get a statute off the lawbooks than it was +originally to pass it, in the same manner eliminating an office, with its +employees can prove more difficult than originally establishing it. + +But that wasn't it. In spite of the informality, the unconventional +brashness of its personnel on all levels, and the seeming chaos in which +its tasks were done, Section G was no make-work project set up to provide +juicy jobs for the relatives of high ranking officials. To the contrary, +it didn't take long in the Section before anybody with open eyes could see +that Ross Metaxa was privy to the decisions made by the upper echelons of +UP. + +Ronny Bronston came to the conclusion that the appointment he'd received +was putting him in a higher bracket of the UP hierarchy than he'd at first +imagined. + +His indoctrination course was a strain such as he'd never known in school +years. Ross Metaxa was evidently of the opinion that a man could +assimilate concentrated information at a rate several times faster than +any professional educator ever dreamed possible. No threats were made, but +Ronny realized that he could be dropped even more quickly than he'd seemed +to have been taken on. There were no classes, to either push or retard the +rate of study. He worked with a series of tutors, and pushed himself. The +tutors were almost invariably Section G agents, temporarily in Greater +Washington between assignments, or for briefing on this phase or that of +their work. + +Even as he studied, Ronny Bronston kept the eventual assignment, at which +he was to prove himself, in mind. He made a point of inquiring of each +agent he met, about Tommy Paine. + +The name was known to all, but no two reacted in the same manner. Several +of them even brushed the whole matter aside as pure legend. _Nobody_ could +accomplish all the trouble that Tommy Paine had supposedly stirred up. + +To one of these, Ronny said plaintively, "See here, the Old Man believes +in him, Sid Jakes believes in him. My final appointment depends on +arresting him. How can I ever secure this job, if I'm chasing a myth?" + +The other shrugged. "Don't ask me. I've got my own problems. O.K., now, +let's run over this question of Napoleonic law. There are at least two +hundred planets that base their legal system on it." + +But the majority of his fellow employees in Section G had strong enough +opinions on the interplanetary firebrand. Three or four even claimed to +have seen him fleetingly, although no two descriptions jibed. That, of +course, could be explained. The man could resort to plastic surgery and +other disguise. + +Theories there were in plenty, some of them going back long years, and +some of them pure fable. + + ------------------------------------- + +"Look," Ronny said in disgust one day after a particularly unbelievable +siege with two agents recently returned from a trouble spot in a planetary +system that involved three aggressive worlds which revolved about the same +sun. "Look, it's impossible for one man to accomplish all this. He's +blamed for half the _coups d'tats_, revolts and upheavals that have taken +place for the past quarter century. It's obvious nonsense. Why, a +revolutionist usually spends the greater part of his life toppling a +government. Then, once it's toppled, he spends the rest of his life trying +to set up a new government--and he's usually unsuccessful." + +One of the others was shaking his head negatively. "You don't understand +this Tommy Paine's system, Bronston." + +"You sure don't," the other agent, a Nigerian, grinned widely. "I've been +on planets where he'd operated." + +Ronny leaned forward. The three of them were having a beer in a part of +the city once called Baltimore. "You have?" he said. "Tell me about it, +eh? The more background I get on this guy, the better." + +"Sure. And this'll give you an idea of how he operates, how he can get so +much trouble done. Well, I was on this planet Goshen, understand? It had +kind of a strange history. A bunch of colonists went out there, oh, four +or five centuries ago. Pretty healthy expedition, as such outfits go. +Bright young people, lots of equipment, lots of know-how and books. Well, +through sheer bad luck everything went wrong from the beginning. +Everything. Before they got set up at all they had an explosion that +killed off all their communications technicians. They lost contact with +the outside. O.K. Within a couple of centuries they'd gotten into a state +of chattel slavery. Pretty well organized, but static. Kind of an Athenian +Democracy on top, a hierarchy, but nineteen people out of twenty were +slaves, and I mean real slaves, like animals. They were at this stage when +a scout ship from the UP Space Forces discovered them and, of course, they +joined up." + +"Where does Tommy Paine come in?" Ronny said. He signaled to a waiter for +more beer. + +"He comes in a few years later. I was the Section G agent on Goshen, +understand? No planet was keener about Articles One and Two of the UP +Charter. The hierarchy understood well enough that if their people ever +came to know about more advanced socio-economic systems it'd be the end of +Goshen's Golden Age. So they allowed practically no intercourse. No +contact whatsoever between UP personnel and anyone outside the upper +class, understand? All right. That's where Tommy Paine came in. It +couldn't have taken him more than a couple of months at most." + +Ronny Bronston was fascinated. "What'd he do?" + +"He introduced the steam engine, and then left." + +Ronny was looking at him blankly. "Steam engine?" + +"That and the fly shuttle and the spinning jenny," the Nigerian said. +"That Goshen hierarchy never knew what hit them." + +Ronny was still blank. The waiter came up with the steins of beer, and +Ronny took one and drained half of it without taking his eyes from the +storyteller. + +The other agent took it up. "Don't you see? Their system was based on +chattel slavery, hand labor. Given machinery and it collapses. Chattel +slavery isn't practical in a mechanized society. Too expensive a labor +force, for one thing. Besides, you need an educated man and one with some +initiative--qualities that few slaves possess--to run an industrial +society." + +Ronny finished his beer. "Smart cooky, isn't he?" + +"He's smart all right. But I've got a still better example of his fouling +up a whole planetary socio-economic system in a matter of weeks. A friend +of mine was working on a planet with a highly-developed feudalism. Barons, +lords, dukes, counts and no-accounts, all stashed safely away in castles +and fortresses up on the top of hills. The serfs down below did all the +work in the fields, provided servants, artisans and foot soldiers for the +continual fighting that the aristocracy carried on. Very similar to Europe +back in the Dark Ages." + +"So?" Ronny said. "I'd think that'd be a deal that would take centuries to +change." + +The Section G agent laughed. "Tommy Paine stayed just long enough to +introduce gunpowder. That was the end of those impregnable castles up on +the hills." + +"What gets me," Ronny said slowly, "is his motivation." + +The other two both grunted agreement to that. + + ------------------------------------- + +Toward the end of his indoctrination studies, Ronny appeared one morning +at the Octagon Section G offices and before Irene Kasansky. Watching her +fingers fly, listening to her voice rapping and snapping, O.K.-ing and +rejecting, he came to the conclusion that automation could go just so far +in office work and then you were thrown back on the hands of the efficient +secretary. Irene was a one-woman office staff. + +She looked up at him. "Hello, Ronny. Thought you'd be off on your +assignment by now. Got any clues on Tommy Paine?" + +"No," he said. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to see the commissioner." + +"About what?" She flicked a switch. When a light flickered on one of her +order boxes, she said into it, "No," emphatically, and turned back to him. + +"He said he wanted to see me again before I took off." + +She fiddled some more, finally said, "All right, Ronny. Tell him he's got +time for five minutes with you." + +"Five minutes!" + +"Then he's got an appointment with the Commissioner of Interplanetary +Culture," she said. "You'd better hurry along." + +Ronny Bronston retraced the route of his first visit here. How long ago? +It already seemed ages since his probationary appointment. Your life +changed fast when you were in Section G. + +Ross Metaxa's brown bottle, or its twin, was sitting on his desk and he +was staring at it glumly. He looked up and scowled. + +"Ronald Bronston," Ronny said. "Irene Kasansky told me to say I could have +five minutes with you, then you have an appointment with the Commissioner +of Interplanetary Culture." + +"I remember you," Metaxa said. "Have a drink. Interplanetary Culture, ha! +The Xanadu Folk Dance Troupe. They dance nude. They've been touring the +whole UP. Roaring success everywhere, obviously. Now they're assigned to +Virtue, a planet settled by a bunch of Fundamentalists. They want the +troupe to wear Mother Hubbards. The Xanadu outfit is in a tizzy. They've +been insulted. They claim they're the most modest members of UP, that +nudity has nothing to do with modesty. The government of Virtue said +that's fine but they wear Mother Hubbards or they don't dance. Xanadu says +it'll withdraw from United Planets." + +Ronny Bronston said painfully, "Why not let them?" + +Ross Metaxa poured himself a Denebian tequila, offered his subordinate a +drink again with a motion of the bottle. Ronny shook his head. + +Metaxa said, "If we didn't take steps to soothe these things over, there +wouldn't be any United Planets. In any given century every member in the +organization threatens to resign at least once. Even Earth. And then +what'd happen? You'd have interplanetary war before you knew it. What'd +you want, Ronny?" + +"I'm about set to take up my search for this Tommy Paine." + +"Ah, yes, Tommy Paine. If you catch him, there are a dozen planets where +he'd be eligible for the death sentence." + +Ronny cleared his throat. "There must be. What I wanted was the file on +him, sir." + +"File?" + +"Yes, sir. I've got to the point where I want to cram up on everything we +have on him. So far, all I've got is verbal information from individual +agents and from Supervisor Jakes." + +"Don't be silly, Ronny. There isn't any file on Tommy Paine." + +Ronny just looked at the other. + +Ross Metaxa said impatiently, "The very knowledge of the existence of the +man is top secret. Isn't that obvious? Suppose some reporter got the story +and printed it. If our member planets knew there was such a man and that +we haven't been able to scotch him, why they'd drop out of UP so fast the +computers couldn't keep up with it. There's not one planet in ten that +feels secure enough to lay itself open to subversion. Why some of our +planets are so far down the ladder of social evolution they live under +primitive tribal society; their leaders, their wise men and witch-doctors, +whatever you call them, are scared someone will come along and establish +chattel slavery. Those planets that have a system based on slavery are +scared to death of developing feudalism, and those that have feudalism are +afraid of _creeping capitalism_. Those with an anarchistic basis--and we +have several--are afraid of being subverted to statism, and those who have +a highly developed government are afraid of anarchism. The socio-economic +systems based on private ownership of property hate the very idea of +socialism or communism, and vice versa, and those planets with state +capitalism hate them both." + + [Illustration.] + +He glared at Ronny. "What do you think the purpose of this Section is, +Bronston? Our job is to keep our member planets from being afraid of each +other. If they found that Tommy Paine and his group, if he's got a group, +were buzzing through the system subverting everything they can foul up, +they'd drop out of UP and set up quarantines that a space mite couldn't +get through. No sir, there is no file on Tommy Paine and there never will +be. And if any news of him spreads to the outside, this Section will +emphatically deny he exists. I hope that's clear." + +"Well, yes sir," Ronny said. The commissioner had been all but roaring +toward the end. + +The order box clicked on Ross Metaxa's desk and he said loudly, "What?" + +"Don't yell at me," Irene snapped back. "Ronny's five minutes are up. +You've got an appointment. I'm getting tired of this job. It's a +mad-house. I'm going to quit and get a job with Interplanetary Finance." + +"Oh, yeah." Ross snarled back. "That's what you think. I've taken +measures. Top security. I've warned off every Commissioner in UP. You +can't get away from me until you reach retirement age. Although I don't +know why I care. I hate nasty tempered women." + +"Huh!" she snorted and clicked off. + +"There's a woman for you," Ross Metaxa growled at Ronny. "It's too bad +she's indispensable. I'd love to fire her. Look, you go in and see Sid +Jakes. Seems to me he said something about Tommy Paine this morning. Maybe +it's a lead." He came to his feet. "So long and good luck, Ronny. I feel +optimistic about you. I think you'll get this Paine troublemaker." + +Which was more than Ronny Bronston thought. + +Sid Jakes already had a visitor in his office, which didn't prevent him +from yelling, "It's open," when Ronny Bronston knocked. + +He bounced from his chair, came around the desk and shook hands +enthusiastically. "Ronny!" he said, his tone implying they were favorite +brothers for long years parted. "You're just in time." + +Ronny took in the office's other occupant appreciatively. She was a small +girl, almost tiny. He estimated her to be at least half Chinese, or maybe +Indo-Chinese, the rest probably European or North American. + +She evidently favored her Asiatic blood, her dress was traditional +Chinese, slit almost to the thigh Shanghai style. + +Sid Jakes said, "Tog Lee Chang Chu--Ronny Bronston. You'll be working +together. Bloodhounding old Tommy Paine. A neat trick if you can pull it +off. Well, are you all set to go?" + +Ronny mumbled something to the girl in the way of amenity, then looked +back at the supervisor. "Working together?" he said. + +"That's right. Lucky you, eh?" + +Tog Lee Chang Chu said demurely, "Possibly Mr. Bronston objects to having +a female assistant." + +Sid Jakes snorted, and hurried around his desk to resume his seat. "Does +he look crazy? Who'd object to having a cutey like you around day in and +day out? Call him Ronny. Might as well get used to it. Two of you'll be +closer than man and wife." + +"Assistant?" Ronny said, bewildered. "What do I need an assistant for?" He +turned his eyes to the girl. "No reflection on you, Miss ... ah, Tog." + +Sid Jakes laughed easily. "Section G operatives always work in pairs, +Ronny. Especially new agents. The advantages will come home to you as you +go along. Look on Tog Lee Chang Chu as a secretary, a man Friday. This +isn't her first assignment, of course. You'll find her invaluable." + +The supervisor plucked a card from an order box. "Now here's the dope. Can +you leave within four hours? There's a UP Space Forces cruiser going to +Merlini, they can drop you off at New Delos. Fastest way you could +possibly get there. The cruiser takes off from Neuve Albuquerque in, let's +see, three hours and forty-five minutes." + +"New Delos?" Ronny said, taking his eyes from the girl and trying to catch +up with the grasshopper-like conversation of his superior. + +"New Delos it is," Jakes said happily. "With luck, you might catch him +before he can get off the planet." He chuckled at the other's expression. +"Look alive, Ronny! The quarry is flushed and on the run. Tommy Paine's +just assassinated the Immortal God-King of New Delos. A neat trick, eh?" + + ------------------------------------- + +The following hours were chaotic. There was no indication of how long a +period he'd be gone. For all he knew, it might be years. For that matter, +he might never return to Earth. This Ronny Bronston had realized before he +ever applied for an interplanetary appointment. Mankind was exploding +through this spiral arm of the galaxy. There was a racial enthusiasm about +it all. Man's destiny lay out in the stars, only a laggard stayed home of +his own accord. It was the ambition of every youth to join the snowballing +avalanche of man into the neighboring stars. + +It took absolute severity by Earth authorities to prevent the depopulation +of the planet. But someone had to stay to administer the ever more +complicated racial destiny. Earth became a clearing house for a thousand +cultures, attempting, with only moderate success, to co-ordinate her +widely spreading children. She couldn't afford to let her best seed +depart. Few there were, any more, allowed to emigrate from Earth. New +colonies drew their immigrants from older ones. + +Lucky was the Earthling able to find service in interplanetary affairs, in +any of the thousands of tasks that involved journey between member planets +of UP. Possibly one hundredth of the population at one time or another, +and for varying lengths of time, managed it. + +Ronny Bronston was lucky and knew it. The thing now was to pull off this +assignment and cinch the appointment for good. + +He packed in a swirl of confusion. He phoned a relative who lived in the +part of town once known as Richmond, explained the situation and asked +that the other store his things and dispose of the apartment he'd been +occupying. + +Luckily, the roof of his apartment building was a copter-cab pickup point +and he was able to hustle over to the shuttleport in a matter of a few +minutes. + +He banged into the reservations office, hurried up to one of the windows +and said into the screen, "I've got to get to Neuve Albuquerque +immediately." + +The expressionless voice said, "The next rocket leaves at sixteen hours." + +"Sixteen hours! I've got to be at the spaceport by that time!" + +The voice said dispassionately, "We are sorry." + +The bottom fell out of everything. Ronny said, desperately, "Look, if I +miss my ship in Neuve Albuquerque, what is the next spaceliner leaving +from there for New Delos?" + +"A moment, citizen." There was an agonized wait, and then the voice said, +"There is a liner leaving for New Delos on the 14th of next month. It +arrives in New Delos on the 31st, Basic Earth calendar." + +The 31st! Tommy Paine could be halfway across the galaxy by that time. + +A gentle voice next to him said, "Could I help, Ronny?" + +He looked around at her. "Evidently, nobody can," he said disgustedly. +"There's no way of getting to Neuve Albuquerque in time to get that +cruiser to New Delos." + +Tog Lee Chang Chu fished in her bag and came up with a wallet similar to +the one in which Ronny carried his Section G badge. She held it up to the +screen. "Bureau of Investigation, Section G," she said calmly. "It will be +necessary that Agent Bronston and myself be in Neuve Albuquerque within +the hour." + +The metallic voice said, "Of course. Proceed to your right and through +Corridor K to Exit Four. Your rocket will be there. Identify yourself to +Lieutenant Economou who will be at the desk at Exit Four." + +Tog turned to Ronny Bronston. "Shall we go?" she said demurely. + +He cleared his throat, feeling foolish. "Thanks, Tog," he said. + +"Not at all, Ronny. Why, this is my job." + +Was there the faintest of sarcasm in her voice? It hadn't been more than a +couple of hours ago that he had been hinting rather heavily to Sid Jakes +that he needed no assistance. + +She even knew the layout of the West Greater Washington shuttleport. Her +small body swiveled through the hurrying passengers, her small feet +a-twinkle, as she led him to and down Corridor K and then to the desk at +Exit Four. + +Ronny anticipated her here. He flashed his own badge at the chair-borne +Space Forces lieutenant there. + +"Lieutenant Economou?" he said. "Ronald Bronston, of the Bureau of +Investigation, Section G. We've got to get to Neuve Albuquerque soonest." + +The lieutenant, only mildly impressed, said, "We can have you in the air +in ten minutes, citizen. Just a moment and I'll guide you myself." + + ------------------------------------- + +In the rocket, Ronny had time to appraise her at greater length. She was a +delicately pretty thing, although her expression was inclined to the +over-serious. There was only a touch of the Mongolian fold at the corner +of her eyes. On her it looked unusually good. Her complexion was that +which only the blend of Chinese and Caucasian can give. Her figure, thanks +to her European blood, was fuller than Eastern Asia usually boasts; tiny, +but full. + +Let's admit it, he decided. My assistant is the cutest trick this side of +a Tri-Di movie queen, and we're going to be thrown in the closest of +juxtaposition for an indefinite time. This comes under the head of work? + +He said, "Look here, Tog, you were with Sid Jakes longer than I was. +What's the full story?" + +She folded her slim hands in her lap, looking like a schoolgirl about to +recite. "Do you know anything about the socio-economic system on New +Delos?" + +"Well, no," he admitted. + +She said severely, "I'd think that they would have given you more +background before an assignment of this type." + +Ronny said impatiently, "In the past three months I've been filled in on +the economic systems, the religious beliefs, the political forms, of a +thousand planets. I just happened to miss New Delos." + +Her mouth expressed disapproval by rucking down on the sides, which was +all very attractive but also irritating. She said, "There are two +thousand, four hundred and thirty-six member planets in the UP, I'd think +an agent of Section G would be up on the basic situation on each." + +He had her there. He said snidely, "Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the +number is two thousand, four hundred and thirty-four." + +"Then," she nodded agreeably, "membership has changed since this morning +when Menalaus and Aldebaran Three were admitted. Have two planets dropped +out?" + +"Look," he said, "let's stop bickering. What's the word on New Delos?" + +"Did you ever read Frazer's 'Golden Bough'?" she said. + +"No." + +"You should. At any rate, New Delos is a theocracy. A priesthood elite +rules it. A God-King, who is immortal, holds absolute authority. The +strongest of superstition plus an efficient inquisition, keeps the people +under control." + +"Sounds terrible," Ronny growled. + +"Why? Possibly the government is extremely efficient and under it the +planet progressing at a rate in advance of UP averages." + +He stared at her in surprise. + +She said, "Would you rather be ruled by the personal, arbitrary whims of +supremely wise men, or by laws formulated by a mob?" + +It stopped him momentarily. In all his adult years, he couldn't remember +ever meeting an intelligent, educated person who had been opposed to the +democratic theory. + +"Wait a minute, now," he said. "Who decides that they're supremely wise +men who are doing this arbitrary ruling? Let any group come to power, by +whatever means, and they'll soon tell you they're an elite. But let's get +back to New Delos, from what you've said so far, the people are held in a +condition of slavery." + +"What's wrong with slavery?" Tog said mildly. + +He all but glared at her. "Are you kidding?" + +"I seldom jest," Tog said primly. "Under the proper conditions, slavery +can be the most suitable system for a people." + +"Under _what_ conditions!" + +"Have you forgotten your Earth history to the point where Egypt, Greece +and Rome mean nothing to you? Man made some of his outstanding progress +under slavery. And do you contend that man's lot is necessarily miserable +given slavery? As far back as Aesop we know of slaves who have reached the +heights in their society. Slaves sometimes could and did become the +virtual rulers in ancient countries." She shrugged prettily. "The +prejudices which you hold today, on Earth, do not necessarily apply to all +time, nor to all places." + +He said, impatiently, "Look, Tog, we can go into this further, later. +Let's get back to New Delos. What happened?" + +Tog said, "The very foundation of their theocracy is the belief on the +part of the populace that the God-King is immortal. No man conspires +against his Deity. Supervisor Jakes informed me that it is understood by +UP Intelligence, that about once every twenty years the priesthood +secretly puts in a new God-King. Plastic surgery would guarantee facial +resemblance, and, of course, the rank and file citizen would probably +never be allowed close enough to discover that their God-King seemed +different every couple of decades. At any rate, it's been working for some +time." + +"And there's been no revolt against this religious aristocracy?" + +She shook her head. "Evidently not. It takes a brave man to revolt against +both his king and his God at the same time." + +"But what happened now?" Ronny pursued. + +"Evidently, right in the midst of a particularly important religious +ceremony, with practically the whole planet watching on TV, the God-King +was killed with a bomb. No doubt about it, definitely killed. There are +going to be a lot of people on New Delos wondering how it can be that an +immortal God-King can die." + +"And Sid thinks it's Tommy Paine's work?" + +She shifted dainty shoulders in a shrug. "It's the sort of thing he does. +I suppose we'll learn when we get there." + + ------------------------------------- + +Even on the fast Space Forces cruiser, the trip was going to take a week, +and there was precious little Ronny Bronston could do until arrival. He +spent most of his time reading up on New Delos and the several other +planets in the UP organization which had fairly similar regimes. More than +a few theocracies had come and gone during the history of man's +development into the stars. + +He also spent considerable time playing Battle Chess or talking with Tog +and with the ship's officers. + +These latter were a dedicated group, high in morale, enthusiastic about +their work which evidently involved the combined duties of a Navy, a Coast +Guard, and a Coast and Geodetic Survey system, if we use the ocean going +services of an earlier age for analogy. + +They all had the dream. The enthusiasm of men participating in a race's +expansion to glory. There was the feeling, even stronger here in space +than back on Earth, of man's destiny being fulfilled, that humanity had +finally emerged from its infancy, that the fledgling had finally found its +wings and got off the ground. + +After one of his studying binges, Ronny Bronston had spent an hour or so +once with the captain of the craft, while that officer stood an easy watch +on the ship's bridge. There was little enough to do in space, practically +nothing, but there was always an officer on watch. + +They leaned back in the acceleration chairs before the ship's controls and +Ronny listened to the other's space lore. Stories of far planets, as yet +untouched. Stories of planets that had seemingly been suitable for +colonization, but had proved disastrous for man, for this reason or that. + +Ronny said, "And never in all this time have we run into a life form that +has proved intelligent?" + +Captain Woiski said, "No. Not that I know of. There was an animal on +Shangri-La of about the mental level of the chimpanzee. So far as I know, +that's the nearest to it." + +"Shangri-La?" Ronny said. "That's a new one." + +There was an affectionate gleam in the captain's eye. "Yes," he said. "If +and when I retire, I think that'd be the planet of my choice, if I could +get permission to leave Earth, of course." + +Ronny scowled in attempted memory. "Now that you mention it, I think I did +see it listed the other day among planets with a theocratic government." + +The captain grunted protest. "If you're comparing it to this New Delos +you're going to, you're wrong. There can be theocracy and theocracy, I +suppose. Actually, I imagine Shangri-La has the most, well _gentle_ +government in the system." + +Ronny was interested. His recent studies hadn't led him to much respect +for a priesthood in political power. "What's the particular feature that's +seemed to have gained your regard?" + +"Moderation," Woiski chuckled. "They carry it almost to the point of +immoderation. But not quite. Briefly, it works something like this. They +have a limited number of monks--I suppose you'd call them--who spend their +time at whatever moves them. At the arts, at scientific research, at +religious contemplation--any religion will do--as students of anything and +everything, and at the governing of Shangri-La. They make a point of +enjoying the luxuries in moderation and aren't a severe drain on the rank +and file citizens of the planet." + +Ronny said, "I have a growing distrust of hierarchies. Who decides who is +to become a monk and who remain a member of the rank and file?" + +The captain said, "A series of the best tests they can devise to determine +a person's intelligence and aptitudes. From earliest youth, the whole +populace is checked and rechecked. At the age of thirty, when it is +considered that a person has become adult and has finished his basic +education, a limited number are offered monkhood. Not all want it." + +Ronny thought about it. "Why not? What are the shortcomings?" + +The captain shrugged. "Responsibility, I suppose." + +"The monks aren't allowed sex, booze, that sort of thing, I imagine." + +"Good heavens, why not? In moderation, of course." + +"And they live on a higher scale?" + +"No, no, not at all. Don't misunderstand. The planet is a prosperous one. +Exceedingly prosperous. There is everything needed for comfortable +existence for everyone. Shangri-La is one planet where the pursuit of +happiness is pursuable by all." Captain Woiski chuckled again. + +Ronny said, "It sounds good enough, although I'm leery of benevolent +dictatorships. The trouble with them is that it's up to the dictators to +decide what's benevolent. And almost always, nepotism rears its head, +favoritism of one sort or another. How long will it be before one of your +moderate monks decides he'll moderately tinker with the tests, or +whatever, just to be sure his favorite nephew makes the grade? A high I.Q. +is no guarantee of integrity." + +The captain didn't disagree. "That's always possible, I suppose. One guard +against it, in this case, is the matter of motive. The _privilege_ of +being a monk isn't as great as all that. Materially, you aren't +particularly better off than any one else. You have more leisure, that's +true, but actually most of them are so caught up in their studies or +research that they put in more hours of endeavor than does the farmer or +industrial worker on Shangri-La." + +"Well," Ronny said, "let's just hope that Tommy Paine never hears of this +place." + +"Who?" the captain said. + +Ronny Bronston reversed his engines. "Oh, nobody important. A guy I know +of." + +Captain Woiski scowled. "Seems to me I've heard the name." + +At first Ronny leaned forward with quick interest. Perhaps the cruiser's +skipper had a lead. But, no, he sank back into his chair. That name was +strictly a Section G pseudonym. No one used it outside the department, and +he'd already said too much by using the term at all. + +Ronny said idly, "Probably two different people. I think I'll go on back +and see how Tog is doing." + + ------------------------------------- + +Tog was at her communicator when he entered the tiny ship's lounge. Ronny +could see in the brilliant little screen of the compact device, the +grinning face of Sid Jakes. Tog looked up at Ronny and smiled, then +clicked the device off. + +"What's new?" Ronny said. + +She moved graceful shoulders. "I just called Supervisor Jakes. Evidently +there's complete confusion on New Delos. Mobs are storming the temples. In +the capital the priests tried to present a new God-King and he was laughed +out of town." + +Ronny snorted cynically. "Sounds good to me. The more I read about New +Delos and its God-King and his priesthood, the more I think the best thing +that ever happened to the planet was this showing them up." + +Tog looked at him, the sides of her mouth tucking down as usual when she +was going to contradict something he said. "It sounds bad to me," she +said. "Tommy Paine's work is done. He'll be off to some other place and we +won't get there in time to snare him." + +Ronny considered that. It was probably true. "I wonder," he said slowly, +"if it's possible for us to get a list of all ships that have blasted off +since the assassination, all ships and their destination from New Delos." + +The idea grew in him. "Look! It's possible that a dictatorial government +such as theirs would immediately quarantine every spaceport on the +planet." + +Tog said, "There's only one spaceport on New Delos. The priesthood didn't +encourage trade or even communication with the outside. Didn't want its +people contaminated." + +"Holy smokes!" Ronny blurted. "It's possible that Tommy Paine's on that +planet and can't get off. Look, Tog, see if you can raise the Section G +representative on New Delos and--" + +Tog said demurely, "I already have taken that step, Ronny, knowing that +you'd want me to. Agent Mouley Hassan has promised to get the name and +destination of every passenger that leaves New Delos." + +Ronny sat down at a table and dialed himself a mug of stout. "Drink?" he +said to Tog. "Possibly we've got something to celebrate." + +She shook her head disapprovingly. "I don't use depressants." + +There was nothing more to be discussed about New Delos, they simply would +have to wait until their arrival. Ronny switched subjects. "Ever hear of +the planet Shangri-La?" he asked her. He took a sip of his brew. + +"Of course," she said. "A rather small planet, Earth type within four +degrees. Noted for its near perfect climate and its scenic beauty." + +"Captain was talking about it," Ronny said. "Sounds like a regular +paradise." + +Tog made a negative sound. + +"Well, what's wrong with Shangri-La?" Ronny said impatiently. + +"Static," she said briefly. + +He looked at her. "It sounds to me as though it's developed a near perfect +socio-economic system. What do you mean, static?" + +"No push, no drive," Tog said definitely. "Everyone--what is the old +term?--everyone has it made. The place is stagnating. I wouldn't be +surprised to see Tommy Paine show up there sooner or later." + +Ronny said, "Look, since we've known each other, have I ever said anything +you agree with?" + +Tog raised her delicate eyebrows. "Why, Ronny. You know perfectly well we +both agreed that the eggs for breakfast were quite inedible." + +Ronny came to his feet again. Considering her size, she certainly was an +irritating baggage. "I think I'll go to my room and see if I can get any +inspirations on tracking down our quarry." + +"Good night, Ronny," she said demurely. + + ------------------------------------- + +They ran into a minor difficulty upon arrival at New Delos. The captain +called both Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu to the bridge. + +He nodded in the direction of the communications screen. A bald headed, +robed character--obviously a priest--scowled at them. + +Captain Woiski said, "The Sub-Bishop informs me that the provisional +government has ruled that any spacecraft landing on New Delos cannot take +off again without permission and that every individual who lands, even +United Planets personnel, will need an exit visa before being allowed to +depart." + +Ronny said, "Then you can't land?" + +The captain said reasonably, "My destination is Merlini. I've gone out of +my way slightly to drop you off here. But I can't afford to take the +chance of having my ship tied up for what might be an indefinite period. +Evidently, there's considerably civil disorder down there." + +From the screen the priest snapped, "That is an inaccurate manner of +describing the situation." + +"Sorry," the captain said dryly. + +Ronny Bronston said desperately, "But, captain, Miss Tog and I simply have +to land." He reached for his badge. "High priority, Bureau of +Investigation." + +The captain shrugged his hefty shoulders. "Sorry, I have no instructions +that allow me to risk tying up my ship. Here's a possibility. Can you +pilot a landing craft? I could spare you one, then you and your assistant +would be the only ones involved. You could turn it over to whatever Space +Forces base we have here." + +Ronny said miserably, "No. I'm not a space pilot." + +"I am," Tog said softly. "The idea sounds excellent." + +"We shall expect you," the Sub-Bishop said. The screen went blank. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu piloted a landing craft with the same verve that she +seemed to be able to handle any other responsibility. As he sat in the +seat next to her, Ronny Bronston took in her practiced flicking of the +controls from the side of his eyes. He wondered vaguely at the efficiency +of such Section G officials as Metaxa and Jakes that they would assign an +unknown quality such as himself to a task as important as running down +Tommy Paine, and then as an assistant provide him with an experienced +operative such as Tog. The bureaucratic mind can be a dilly, he decided. +Was the fact that she was a rather delicately constructed girl a factor? +He felt the weight of the Model-H gun nestled under his left armpit. +Perhaps in the clutch Section G preferred men as agents. + +They swooped into a landing that brought them as close to the control +tower as was practical. In a matter of moments there was a guard of twenty +or more sloppily uniformed men about their small craft. + +Tog made a move. "Welcoming committee," she said. + + [Illustration.] + +They climbed out the circular port, and flashed their United Planets +Bureau of Investigation badges to the youngish looking soldier who seemed +in command. He was indecisive. + +"United Planets?" he said. "All I know is I'm supposed to arrest anybody +landing." + +Ronny snapped, "We're to be taken immediately to United Planets +headquarters." + +"Well, I don't know about that. I don't take orders from foreigners." + +One of his men was nervously fingering the trigger of his submachine gun. + +Ronny's mouth went dry. He had the feeling of being high, high on a rock +face, inadequately belayed from above. + +Tog said smoothly, "But, major, I'm sure whoever issued your orders had no +expectation of a special delegation from the United Planets coming to +congratulate your new authorities on their success. Of course, it's +unknown to arrest a delegation from United Planets." + +"It is?" he frowned at her. "I mean, you are?" + +"Yes," Tog said sweetly. + +Ronny took the hint. "Where can we find a vehicle, major, to get us to the +capital and to United Planets headquarters? Evidently we arrived before we +were expected. There should have been a big welcoming committee here." + +"Oh," the obviously recently promoted lad said hesitantly. "Well, I +suppose we can make arrangements. This way please." He grinned at Tog as +they walked toward the administration building. "Do all girls dress like +you on Earth?" + +"Well, no," she said demurely. + +"That's too bad," he said gallantly. + +"Why, major!" Tog said, keeping her eyes on the tarmac. + +At the administration building there was little of order, but eventually +they managed to arrange for their transportation. Luckily, they were +supplied with a chauffeur driven helio-car. + +Luckily, because without the chauffeur to help them run the gauntlet they +would have been held up by parades, demonstrations and monstrous street +meetings a dozen times before they ever reached their destination. Twice, +Ronny stopped short of drawing his gun only by a fraction when half +drunken demonstrators stopped them. + +The driver, a wispy, sad looking type, shook his head. "There's no going +back now," he told them over his shoulder. "No going back. Last week I was +all with the rest, I never did believe David the One was really Immortal. +But you was just used to the idea, see? It'd always been that way, with +the priests running everything and we was used to it. Now I wish we was +still that way. At least you knew how you stood, see? Now, what's going to +happen?" + +"That's an interesting question," Tog said politely. + +Ronny said, "Possibly you'll have the chance to build a better world, +now." + +The driver shot a contemptuous look over his shoulder. "Better world? What +do I want with a better world? I just don't want to be bothered. I've been +getting my three squares a day, got a nice little flat for my family. How +do I know it's not going to be a worse world?" + +"That's always a possibility," Tog told him. "Do most people seem to feel +the same?" + +"Practically everybody I know does," he said glumly. "But the fat's in the +fire now. The priests are trying to hold on but their government is +falling apart all over the place." + +"Well," Ronny said, "at least you can figure just about anything in the +way of a new government will be better than one based on superstition and +inquisition. It couldn't get worse." + +"Things can always get worse," the other contradicted him sadly. + + ------------------------------------- + +They left the cab before an impressively tall, many windowed building in +city center. As they mounted the steps, Ronny frowned at her. "You seemed +to be encouraging that man in his pessimism. So far as I can see, the best +thing that ever happened to this planet was toppling that phony +priesthood." + +"Perhaps," she said agreeably. "However, the man's mind was an ossified +one. A surprisingly large percentage of people have them, especially when +it comes to institutions such as religion and government. We weren't going +to be able to teach him anything, but it was possible to learn from him." + +Ronny grunted his disgust. "What could we possibly learn from him?" + +Tog said mildly, "We could learn what people of the street were thinking. +It might give us some ideas about what direction the new government will +take." + +They approached the portals of the building and were halted by an armed +Space Forces guard of half a dozen men. Their sergeant saluted, taking in +their obvious other-planet clothing. + +"Identifications, please," he said briskly. + +They showed their badges and were passed on through. Ronny said to him, +"Much trouble, sergeant?" + +The other shrugged. "No. Just precautions, sir. We've been here only three +or four weeks. Civil disturbance. We're used to it. Were over on Montezuma +two basic months ago. Now there was _real_ trouble. Had to shoot our way +out." + +Tog called, "Coming Ronny? I have this elevator waiting." + +He followed her, scowling. An idea was trying to work its way through. +Somehow he missed getting it. + +Headquarters of the Department of Justice were on the eighth floor. A +receptionist clerk led them through three or four doors to the single +office which housed Section G. + +A red eyed, exhausted agent looked up from the sole desk and snarled a +question at them. Ronny didn't get it, but Tog said mildly, "Probationary +Agent Ronald Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu. On special assignment." She +flicked open her badge so that the other could see it. + +His manner changed. "Sorry," he said, getting up to shake hands. "I'm +Mouley Hassan, in charge of Section G on New Delos. We've just had a +crisis here, as you can imagine. The worst of it's now over." He added +sourly, "I hope. All my assistants have already taken off for Avalon." He +was a short statured, dark complected man, his features betraying his +Semitic background. + +Ronny shook hands with him and said, "Sorry to bother you at a time like +this." + +They found chairs and Mouley Hassan flicked a key on his order box and +said to them, "How about a drink? They make a wonderful sparkling wine on +this planet. Trust any theocracy to have top potables." + +Ronny accepted the offer, Tog refused it politely. She sat demurely, her +hands in her lap. + +Mouley Hassan ran a weary hand through already mussed hair. "What's this +special assignment you're on?" + +Ronny said, "Commissioner Metaxa has sent me looking for Tommy Paine." + +"Tommy Paine!" the other blurted. "At a time like this, when I haven't had +three nights' sleep in the last three basic weeks, you come around looking +for Tommy Paine?" + +Ronny was taken aback. "Sid Jakes seemed to think this might be one of +Paine's jobs." + +Tog said mildly, "What better place to look for Tommy Paine, than in a +situation like this, Agent Hassan?" Her eyebrows went up. "Or don't you +think the quest for Paine is an important one?" + +The other subsided somewhat. "I suppose you're right," he said. "I'm +deathly tired. Do whatever you want. But don't expect much from me." + +Tog said, just a trifle tartly, Ronny thought, "We'll have to call on you, +as usual, Agent Hassan. There's probably no single job in Section G more +important than the pursuit of Tommy Paine." + +"All right, all right," Mouley Hassan admitted. "I'll co-operate. How long +have you been away from Earth?" he said to Ronny. + +"About one basic week." + +"Oh," he grunted. "This is your first stop, eh? Well, I don't envy you +your job." He brought a cool bottle from a delivery drawer in the desk +along with two glasses. "Here's the wine." + +Ronny leaned forward to accept the glass. "This situation here," he said, +"do you think it can be laid to Paine?" + +Mouley Hassan shrugged wearily. "I don't know." + +Ronny sipped the drink, looking at the tired agent over the glass rim. +"From what we understand, check has been kept on all persons leaving the +planet since the bombing." + +"Check is right. There's only one ship that took off and it carried nobody +except my assistants. If you ask me, I still needed them, but some brass +hat back on Earth decided they were more necessary over on Avalon." He was +disgusted. + +Ronny put the glass down. "You mean only one ship's left this planet since +the God-King was killed?" + +"That's right. It was like pulling teeth to get the visas." + +"How many men aboard?" + +Mouley Hassan looked at him speculatively. "Four-man crew and six Section +G operatives." + +Tog said brightly, "Why, that means, then, that either Tommy Paine is +still on this planet, or he's one of the passengers or crew members of +that ship." She added, "That is, of course, unless he had a private craft, +hidden away somewhere." + +Ronny slumped back into his chair as some of the ramifications came home +to him. "If it was Tommy Paine at all," he said. + +Mouley Hassan nodded. "That's always a point." He finished his glass and +looked pleadingly at Tog. "Look, I have work. If I can finish some of it, +I might have time for some sleep. Couldn't we postpone the search for +Tommy Paine." + +Tog said nothing to him. + +Ronny came to his feet. "We'll get along. A couple of ideas occur to me. +I'll check with you later." + +"Fine," the agent said. He shook hands with them again. He said, somehow +more to Tog than to Ronny, "I know how important your job is. It's just +that I've been pushed to the point where I can't operate efficiently." + +She smiled her understanding, gave him her small, delicate hand. + +In the elevator, Ronny said to her, "Why should this sort of thing +particularly affect Section G?" + +Tog said, "It's times like this that planets drop out of the UP. Or, +possibly, get into the hands of some jingoistic military group and start +off halfcocked to provoke a war with some other planet, or to missionarize +or propagandize it." She thought about it a moment. "A new revolution, in +government or religion, seems almost invariably to want to spread the +light. An absolute compulsion to bring to others the new truths that +they've found." She added, her voice holding a trace of mockery, "Usually +the new truths are rather hoary ones, and there are few interested in +hearing them." + + ------------------------------------- + +They spent their first day in getting accommodations in a centrally +located hotel, in making arrangements, through the Department of Justice, +for the local means of exchange--it turned out to be coinage, based on +gold--and getting the feel of their surroundings. + +Evidently Delos, the capital city of the planet New Delos, was but slowly +emerging from the chaos that had taken over on the assassination. A +provisional government, composed of representatives of half a dozen +different organizations which had sprung up like mushrooms following the +collapse of the regime, had assumed power. Elections had been promised and +were to be brought off when arrangements could be made. + +Meanwhile, the actual government was still largely in the hands of the +lower echelons of the priesthood. A nervous priesthood it was, seemingly +desirous of getting out from under while the going was good, afraid of +being held responsible for former excesses. + +Ronny Bronston, high hopes still in his head, looked up the Sub-Bishop who +had given them landing orders while they were still aboard the Space +Forces cruiser. Tog was off making arrangements for various details +involved in their being in Delos in its time of crisis. + +A dozen times, on his way over to keep his appointment with the official, +Ronny had to step into doorways, or in other wise make himself +inconspicuous. Gangs of demonstrators roamed the street, some of them +drunken, looking for trouble, and scornful of police or the military. +Twice, when it looked as though he might be roughed up, Ronny drew his gun +and held it in open sight, ready for use, but not threateningly. The +demonstrators made off. + +His throat was dry by the time he reached his destination. The life of a +Section G agent, on interplanetary assignment, had its drawbacks. + +The Sub-Bishop had formerly been in charge of Interplanetary +Communications which involved commerce as well as intercourse with United +Planets. It must have been an ultra-responsible position only a month ago. +Now his offices were all but deserted. + +He looked at Ronny's badge, only vaguely interested. "Section G of the +Bureau of Investigation," he said. "I don't believe I am aware of your +responsibilities. However," he nodded with sour courtesy, "please be +seated. You must forgive my lack of ability to offer refreshment. Isn't +there an old tradition about rats deserting a sinking ship? I am afraid my +former assistants had rodentlike instincts." + +Ronny said, "Section G deals with Interplanetary Security, sir--" + +"I am addressed as Holiness," the other said. + +Ronny looked at him. "Sorry," he said. "I am a citizen of the United +Planets, not any one planet, even Earth. UP citizens have complete +religious freedom. In my case I am unaffiliated with any church." + +The Sub-Bishop let it pass. He said sourly, "I am afraid that even here on +New Delos, I am seldom honoured by my title any more. Go on, you say you +deal with Interplanetary Security." + +"That's correct. In cases like this we're interested in checking to see if +there is any possibility that citizens of planets other than New Delos are +involved in your internal affairs." + +The other's eyes were suddenly slits. He said, heavily, "You suspect that +David the One was assassinated by an alien?" + +Ronny had to tread carefully here. "I make no such suggestion. I am merely +here to check on the possibility. If such was the case, my duty would be +to arrest the man, or men." + +"If we got hold of him, you'd have small chance of asserting your +authority," the priest growled. "What did you want to know?" + +"I understand that no interplanetary craft have left New Delos since the +assassination." + +"None except a United Planets ship which was carefully inspected." + +Ronny said tightly, "But what facilities do you have to check on secret +spaceports, possibly located in some remote desert or mountain area?" + +The New Delian laughed sourly. "There is no other planet in all the United +Planets with our degree of security. We even imported the most recent +developments in artificial satellites equipped with the most delicate of +detection devices. I assure you, it is utterly impossible for a spacecraft +to land or take off from New Delos without our knowledge." + +Ronny Bronston's eyes lit with excitement. "These security measures of +yours. To what extent do you keep under observation all aliens on the +planet?" + +The priest's chuckle had a nasty quality. "You are quite ignorant of our +institutions, evidently. Every person on New Delos, in every way of life, +was under constant survey from the cradle to the grave. Aliens were highly +discouraged. When they appeared on New Delos at all, they were restricted +in their movements to this, our capital city." + +Ronny let air whistle from his lungs. "Then," he said triumphantly, "if +any alien had anything to do with this, he is still on the planet. Can you +get me a list of all aliens?" + +The other laughed again, still sourly. "But there are none. None except +you employees of United Planets. I'm afraid you're on a wild-goose chase." + +Ronny stared at him blankly. "But commercial representatives, cultural +exchange--" + +The priest said flatly, "No. None at all. All commerce was handled through +UP. We encouraged no cultural exchanges. We wished to keep our people +uncorrupted. United Planets alone had the right to land on our one +spaceport." + +The Section G agent came to his feet. This was much simpler than he could +ever have hoped for. He thanked the other, but avoided the necessity of +shaking hands, and left. + + ------------------------------------- + +He found a helio-cab and dialed it to the UP building, finding strange the +necessity of slipping coins into the vehicle's slots until the correct +amount for his destination had been deposited. Coinage was no longer in +use on Earth. + +At the UP building he retraced his steps of the day before to the single +office of Section G. + +To his surprise, not only Mouley Hassan was there, but Tog as well. Hassan +had evidently had at least a few hours of sleep. He was in better shape. + +They exchanged the usual amenities and took their chairs again. + +Hassan said, "We were just gossiping. It's been years since I've been in +Greater Washington. Lee Chang tells me that Sid Jakes is now a Supervisor. +I worked with him for a while, when I first joined Section G. How about a +glass of wine?" + +Ronny said, "Look. If Tommy Paine was connected with this, and it's almost +positive he was, we've got him." + +The others looked at him. + +"You've evidently been busy," Tog said mildly. + +He turned to her. "He's trapped, Tog! He can't get off the planet." + +Mouley Hassan rubbed a hand through his hair. "It'd be hard, all right. +They've got the people under rein here such as you've never seen before. +Or they did until this blew up." + +Ronny sketched the situation to Tog, winding up with, "The only thing that +makes sense is that it's a Tommy Paine job. The local citizens would never +have been able to get their hands on such a bomb, or been able to have +made the arrangements for its delivery. They're under too much +surveillance." + +Tog said thoughtfully, "but how did he escape all this surveillance?" + +"Don't you understand? He's working here, in this building, as an employee +of UP. There is no other alternative." + +They stared at him. + +"I think perhaps you're right," Tog said finally. + +Ronny turned to Mouley Hassan. "Can you get a list of all UP employees?" + +"Of course." He flicked his order box, barked a command into it. + +Ronny said, "It's going to be a matter of eliminating the impossible. For +instance, what is the earliest known case of Tommy Paine's activity?" + +Tog thought back. "So far as we know definitely, about twenty-two years +ago." + +"Fine," Ronny said, increasingly excited. "That will eliminate all persons +less than, say, forty years of age. We can assume he was at least twenty +when he began." + +Hassan said, "Can we eliminate all women employees?" + +Ronny said, "I'd think so. The few times he's been seen, all reports are +of a man. And that case on the planet Mother where he put himself over as +a Holy Man. He could hardly have been a woman in disguise in a Stone Age +culture such as that." + +Hassan said, "And this Tommy Paine has been flitting around this part of +the galaxy for years, so anyone who has been here steadily for a period of +even a couple of years or so, can't be suspect." + +Mouley Hassan thrust his hand into a delivery drawer and brought forth a +handful of punched cards, possibly fifty in all. + +"Surely there's more people than that working in this building," Ronny +protested. + +Mouley Hassan said, "No. I've eliminated already everyone who is a citizen +of New Delos. Obviously, Tommy Paine is an alien. We have only forty-eight +Earthlings and other United Planets citizens working here." + +He carried the cards to a small collator and worked for a moment on its +controls, as Tog and Ronny watched him with mounting tension. "Let's see," +he muttered. "We eliminate all women, all those less than forty, all who +haven't done a great deal of travel, those who have been here for several +years." + +The end of it was that they eliminated everyone employed in the UP +building. + +The cards were stacked back on Mouley Hassan's desk again, and the three +of them sat around and looked glumly at them. + +Ronny said, "He's tinkered with the files. He counterfeited fake papers +for himself, or something. Possibly he's pulled his own card and it isn't +in this stack you have." + +Mouley Hassan said, "We'll double-check all those possibilities, but +you're wrong. Possibly a few hundred years ago, but not today. Forgery and +counterfeiting are things of the past. And, believe me, the Bureau of +Investigation and especially Section G, may look on the slipshod side, but +they aren't. We're not going to find anything wrong with those cards. +Tommy Paine simply is not working for UP on New Delos." + +"Then," Ronny said, "there's only one alternative. He's on this UP ship +going to, what was the name of its destination?" + +"Avalon," Mouley Hassan said, his face thoughtful. + +Tog said, "Do you have any ideas on the men aboard?" + +Mouley Hassan said, "There were four crew men, and six of our agents." + +Tog said, "Unless one of them has faked papers, the six agents are +eliminated. That leaves the crew members. Do you know anything about +them?" + +Hassan shook his head. + +Ronny said, "Let's communicate with Avalon. Tell our representatives there +to be sure that none of the occupants of that ship leaves Avalon until we +get there." + +Mouley Hassan said, "Good idea." He turned to his screen and said into it, +"Section G, Bureau of Investigation, on the Planet Avalon." + +In moment the screen lit up. An elderly agent, as Section G agents seemed +to go, looked up at them. + +Mouley Hassan held his silver badge so the other could see it and on the +Avalon agent's nod said, "I'm Hassan from New Delos. We've just had a +crisis here and there seems to be a chance that it's a Tommy Paine job. +Agent Bronston here is on an assignment tracking him down. I'll turn it +over to Bronston." + +The Avalon agent nodded again, and looked at Ronny. + +Ronny said urgently, "We haven't the time to give you details, but every +indication is that Paine is on a UP spacecraft with Avalon as its +destination. There are only ten men aboard, and six of them are Section G +operatives." + +The other pursed his lips. "I see. You think you have the old fox +cornered, eh?" + +"Possibly," Ronny said. "There are various ifs. Miss Tog and I can double +check here. Then as soon as we can clear exit visas, we'll make immediate +way for Avalon." + +The Avalon Section G agent said, "I haven't the authority to control the +movements of other agents, they have as high rank as I have," he added, +expressionlessly, "and probably higher than yours." + +Ronny said, "But the four-man crew?" + +The other said, "These men are coming to Avalon to work on a job that will +take at least six months. We'll make a routine check, and I'll try and +make sure the whole ten will still be on Avalon when and if you arrive." + +They had to be satisfied with that. They checked all ways from the middle, +nor did it take long. There was no doubt. If this was a Tommy Paine job, +and it almost surely was, then there was only one way in which he could +have escaped from the planet and that was by the single spacecraft that +had left, destination Avalon. He was not on the planet, that was definite +Ronny felt. A stranger on New Delos was as conspicuous as a walrus in a +goldfish bowl. There simply were no such. + +They spent most of their time checking and rechecking United Planets +personnel, but there was no question there either. + +Mouley Hassan and others of UP personnel helped cut the red tape involved +in getting exit visas from New Delos. It wasn't as complicated as it might +have been a week or two before. No one seemed to be so confident of his +authority in the new provisional government that he dared veto a United +Planets request. + +Mouley Hassan was able to arrange for a small space yacht, slower than a +military craft, but capable of getting them to Avalon in a few days time. +A one-man crew was sufficient, Ronny, and especially Tog, could spell him +on the watches. + +Time aboard was spent largely in studying up on Avalon, going over and +over again anything known about the elusive Tommy Paine, and playing +Battle Chess and bickering with Tog Lee Chang Chu. + +If it hadn't been for this ability to argue against just about anything +Ronny managed to say, he could have been attracted to her to the detriment +of the job. She was a good traveler, few people are; she was an +ultra-efficient assistant; she was a joy to look at; and she never +intruded. But, Great Guns, the woman could bicker. + +The two of them were studying in the ship's luxurious lounge when Ronny +looked up and said, "Do you have any idea why those six agents were sent +to Avalon?" + +"No," she said. + +He indicated the booklet he was reading. "From what I can see here, it +sounds like one of the most advanced planets in the UP. They've made some +of the most useful advances in industrial techniques of the past century." + +"Oh, I don't know," Tog mused. "I haven't much regard for Industrial +Feudalism myself. It starts off with a bang, but tends to go sterile." + +"Industrial feudalism," he said indignantly. "What do you mean? The +government is a constitutional monarchy with the king merely a powerless +symbol. The standard of living is high. Elections are honest and +democratic. They've got a three-party system...." + +"Which is largely phony," Tog interrupted. "You've got to do some reading +between the lines, especially when the books you're reading are turned out +by the industrial feudalistic publishing companies in Avalon." + +"What's this industrial feudalism, you keep talking about? Avalon has a +system of free enterprise." + +"A gobbledygook term," Tog said, irritatingly. "Industrial feudalism is a +socio-economic system that develops when industrial wealth is concentrated +into the hands of a comparatively few families. It finally gets to the +point of a closed circle all but impossible to break into. These +industrial feudalistic families become so powerful that only in rare +instances can anyone lift himself into their society. They dominate every +field, including the so-called labor unions, which amount to one of the +biggest businesses of all. With their unlimited resources they even own +every means of dispensing information." + +"You mean," Ronny argued, "that on Avalon you can't start up a newspaper +of your own and say whatever you wish?" + +"Certainly you can, theoretically. If you have the resources. +Unfortunately, such enterprises become increasingly expensive to start. Or +you could start a radio, TV or Tri-Di station--if you had the resources. +However, even if you overcame all your handicaps and your newspaper or +broadcasting station became a success, the industrial feudalistic families +in control of Avalon's publishing and broadcasting fields have the endless +resources to buy you out, or squeeze you out, by one nasty means or +another." + +Ronny snorted. "Well, the people must be satisfied or they'd vote some +fundamental changes." + +Tog nodded. "They're satisfied, and no wonder. Since childhood every means +of forming their opinions have been in the hands of industrial feudalistic +families--including the schools." + +"You mean the schools are private?" + +"No, they don't have to be. The government is completely dominated by the +fifty or so families which for all practical purposes own Avalon. That +includes the schools. Some of the higher institutions of learning are +private, but they, too, are largely dependent upon grants from the +families." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny was irritated by her know-all air. He tapped the book he'd been +reading with a finger. "They don't control the government. Avalon's got a +three-party system. Any time the people don't like the government, they +can vote in an alternative." + +"That's an optical illusion. There are three parties, but each is +dominated by the fifty families, and election laws are such that for all +practical purposes it's impossible to start another party. Theoretically +it's possible, actually it isn't. The voters can vary back and forth +between the three political parties but it doesn't make any difference +which one they elect. They all stand for the same thing--a continuation of +the status quo." + +"Then you claim it isn't democracy at all?" + +Tog sighed. "That's a much abused word. Actually, pure democracy is seldom +seen. They pretty well had it in primitive society where government was +based on the family. You voted for one of your relatives in your clan to +represent you in the tribal councils. Every one in the tribe was equal so +far as apportionments of the necessities of life were concerned. No one, +even the tribal chiefs, ate better than anyone else, no one had a better +home." + +Ronny said, snappishly, "And if man had remained at that level, we'd never +have gotten anywhere." + +"That's right," she said. "For progress, man needed a leisure class. +Somebody with the time to study, to experiment, to work things out." + +He said, "We're getting away from the point. You said in spite of +appearances they don't have democracy on Avalon." + +"They have a pretense of it. But only free men can practice democracy. So +long as your food, clothing and shelter are controlled by someone else, +you aren't free. Wait until I think of an example." She put her right +forefinger to her chin, thoughtfully. + +Holy smokes, she was a cute trick. If only she wasn't so confounded +irritating. + +Tog said, "Do you remember the State of California in Earth history?" + +"I think so. On the west coast of North America." + +"That's right. Well, back in the Twentieth Century, Christian calendar, +they had an economic depression. During it a crackpot organization called +Thirty Dollars Every Thursday managed to get itself on the ballot. Times +were bad enough but had this particular bunch got into power it would have +become chaotic. At first no thinking person took them seriously, however a +majority of people in California at that time had little to lose and in +the final week or so of the election campaign the polls showed that Thirty +Dollars Every Thursday was going to win. So, a few days before voting many +of the larger industries and businesses in the State ran full page ads in +the newspapers. They said substantially the same thing. _If Thirty Dollars +Every Thursday wins this election, our concern will close its doors. Do +not bother to come back to work Monday._" + +Ronny was scowling at her. "What's your point?" + +She shrugged delicate shoulders. "The crackpots were defeated, of course, +which was actually good for California. But my point is that the voters of +California were not actually free since their livelihoods were controlled +by others. This is an extreme case, of course, but the fact always +applies." + +A thought suddenly hit Ronny Bronston. "Look," he said. "Tommy Paine. Do +you think he's merely escaping from New Delos, or is it possible that +Avalon is his next destination? Is he going to try and overthrow the +government there?" + +She was shaking her head, but frowning. "I don't think so. Things are +quite stable on Avalon." + +"Stable?" he scowled at her. "From what you've been saying, they're pretty +bad." + +She continued to shake her head. "Don't misunderstand, Ronny. On an +assignment like this, it's easy to get the impression that all the United +Planets are in a state of socio-political confusion, but it isn't so. A +small minority of planets are ripe for the sort of trouble Tommy Paine +stirs up. Most are working away, developing, making progress, slowly +evolving. Avalon is one of these. The way things are there, Tommy Paine +couldn't make a dent on changing things, even if he wanted to, and there's +no particular reason to believe he does." + +Ronny growled. "From what I can learn of the guy he's anxious to stir up +trouble wherever he goes." + +"I don't know. If there's any pattern at all in his activities, it seems +to be that he picks spots where things are ripe to boil over on their own. +He acts as a catalyst. In a place like Avalon he wouldn't get to first +base. Possibly fifty years from now, things will have developed on Avalon +to the point where there is dissatisfaction. By that time," she said +dryly, "we'll assume Tommy Paine will no longer be a problem to the +Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs for one reason or the other." + +Ronny took up his book again. He growled, "I can't figure out his +motivation. If I could just put my finger on that." + +For once she agreed with him. "I've got an idea, Ronny, that once you have +that, you'll have Tommy Paine." + + ------------------------------------- + +They drew blank on Avalon. + +Or, at least, it was drawn for them before they ever arrived. + +The Section G agent permanently assigned to that planet had already +checked and double checked the possibilities. None of the four-man crew of +the UP spacecraft had been on New Delos at the time of the assassination +of the God-King. They, and their craft, had been light-years away on +another job. + +Ronny Bronston couldn't believe it. He simply couldn't believe it. + +The older agent, his name was Jheru Bulchand, was definite. He went over +it with Ronny and Tog in a bar adjoining UP headquarters. He had dossiers +on each of the ten men, detailed dossiers. On the face of it, none of them +could be Paine. + +"But one of them has to be," Ronny pleaded. He explained their method of +eliminating the forty-eight employees of UP on New Delos. + +Bulchand shrugged. "You've got holes in that method of elimination. You're +assuming Tommy Paine is an individual, and you have no reason to. My own +theory is that it's an organization." + +Ronny said unhappily, "Then you're of the opinion that there is a Tommy +Paine?" + +The older agent was puffing comfortably on an old style briar pipe. He +nodded definitely. "I believe Tommy Paine exists as an organization. +Possibly once, originally, it was a single person, but now it's a group. +How large, I wouldn't know. Probably not too large or by this time +somebody would have betrayed it, or somebody would have cracked and we +would have caught them. Catch one and you've got the whole organization +what with our modern means of interrogation." + +Tog said, "I've heard the opinion before." + +Jheru Bulchand pointed at Ronny with his pipe stem. "If its an +organization, then none of that eliminating you did is valid. Your +assassin could have been one of the women. He could have been one of the +men you eliminated as too young--someone recently admitted to the Tommy +Paine organization." + +Ronny checked the last of his theories. "Why did Section G send six of its +agents here?" + +"Nothing to do with Tommy Paine," Bulchand said. "It's a different sort of +crisis." + +"Just for my own satisfaction, what kind of crisis?" + +Bulchand sketched it quickly. "There are two Earth type planets in this +solar system. Avalon was the first to be colonized and developed rapidly. +After a couple of centuries, Avalonians went over and settled on Catalina. +They eventually set up a government of their own. Now Avalon has a surplus +of industrial products. Her economic system is such that she produces more +than she can sell back to her own people. There's a glut." + +Tog said demurely, "So, of course, they want to dump it in Catalina." + +Bulchand nodded. "In fact, they're willing to give it away. They've +offered to build railroads, turn over ships and aircraft, donate whole +factories to Catalina's slowly developing economy." + +Ronny said, "Well, how does that call for Section G agents?" + +"Catalina has evoked Article Two of the UP Charter. No member planet of UP +is to interfere with the internal political, socio-economic or religious +affairs of another member planet. Avalon claims the Charter doesn't apply +since Catalina belongs to the same solar system and since she's a former +colony. We're trying to smooth the whole thing over, before Avalon dreams +up some excuse for military action." + +Ronny stared at him. "I get the feeling every other sentence is being left +out of your explanation. It just doesn't make sense. In the first place, +why is Avalon as anxious as all that to give away what sounds like a +fantastic amount of goods?" + +"I told you, they have a glut. They've overproduced and, as a result, +they've got a king-size depression on their hands, or will have unless +they find markets." + +"Well, why not trade with some of the planets that want her products?" + +Tog said as though reasoning with a youngster, "Planets outside her own +solar system are too far away for it to be practical even if she had +commodities they didn't. She needs a nearby planet more backward than +herself, a planet like Catalina." + +"Well, that brings us to the more fantastic question. Why in the world +doesn't Catalina accept? It sounds to me like pure philanthropy on the +part of Avalon." + +Bulchand was wagging his pipe stem in a negative gesture. "Bronston, +governments are never motivated by idealistic reasons. Individuals might +be, and even small groups, but governments never. Governments, including +that of Avalon, exist for the benefit of the class or classes that control +them. The only things that motivate them are the interests of that class." + +"Well, this sounds like an exception," Ronny said argumentatively. "How +can Catalina lose if the Avalonians grant them railroads, factories and +all the rest of it?" + +Tog said, "Don't you see, Ronny? It gives Avalon a foothold in the +Catalina economy. When the locomotives wear out on the railroad, new +engines, new parts, must be purchased. They won't be available on Catalina +because there will be no railroad industry because none will have ever +grown up. Catalina manufacturers couldn't compete with that initial free +gift. They'll be dependent on Avalon for future equipment. In the +factories, when machines wear out, they will be replaceable only with the +products of Avalon's industry." + +Bulchand said, "There's an analogy in the early history of the United +States. When its fledgling steel industry began, they set up a high tariff +to protect it against British competition. The British were amazed and +indignant, pointing out that they could sell American steel products at +one third the local prices, if only allowed to do so. The United States +said no thanks, it didn't want to be tied, industrially, to Great +Britain's apron strings. And in a couple of decades American steel +production passed England's. In a couple of more decades American steel +production was many times that of England's and she was taking British +markets away from her all over the globe." + +"At any rate," Ronny said, "it's not a Tommy Paine matter." + +Just for luck, though, Ronny and Tog double checked all over again on +Bulchand's efforts. They interviewed all six of the Section G agents. Each +of them carried a silver badge that gleamed only for the individual who +possessed it. All of which eliminated the possibility that Paine had +assumed the identity of a Section G operative. So that was out. + +They checked the four crew members, but there was no doubt there, either. +The craft had been far away at the time of the assassination on New Delos. + +On the third day, Ronny Bronston, disgusted, knocked on the door of Tog's +hotel room. The door screen lit up and Tog, looking out at him said, "Oh, +come on in, Ronny, I was just talking to Earth." + +He entered. + +Tog had set up her Section G communicator on a desk top and Sid Jakes' +grinning face was in the tiny, brilliant screen. Ronny approached close +enough for the other to take him in. + +Jakes said happily, "Hi, Ronny, no luck, eh?" + +Ronny shook his head, trying not to let his face portray his feelings of +defeat. This after all was a probationary assignment, and the supervisor +had the power to send Ronny Bronston back to the drudgery of his office +job at Population Statistics. + +"Still working on it. I suppose it's a matter of returning to New Delos +and grinding away at the forty-eight employees of the UP there." + +Sid Jakes pursed his lips. "I don't know. Possibly this whole thing was a +false alarm. At any rate, there seems to be a hotter case on the fire. If +our local agents have it straight, Paine is about to pull one of his coups +on Kropotkin. This is a top-top-secret, of course, one of the few times +we've ever detected him before the act." + +Ronny was suddenly alert, his fatigue of disgust of but a moment ago, +completely forgotten. "Where?" he said. + +"Kropotkin," Jakes said. "One of the most backward planets in UP and +seemingly a setup for Paine's sort of trouble making. The authorities, if +you can use the term applied to Kropotkin, are already complaining, +threatening to invoke Article One of the Charter, or to resign from UP." +Jake looked at Tog again. "Do you know Kropotkin, Lee Chang?" + +She shook her head. "I've heard of it, rather vaguely. Named after some +old anarchist, I believe." + +"That's the place. One of the few anarchist societies in UP. You don't +hear much from them." He turned to Ronny again. "I think that's your bet. +Hop to it, boy. We're going to catch this Tommy Paine guy, or +organization, or whatever, soon or United Planets is going to know it. We +can't keep the lid on indefinitely. If word gets around of his activities, +then we'll lose member planets like Christmas trees shedding needles after +New Year's." He grinned widely. "That's sounds like a neat trick, eh?" + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny Bronston had got to the point where he avoided controversial +subjects with Tog even when provoked and she had a sneaky little way of +provoking arguments. They had only one really knock down and drag-out +verbal battle on the way to Kropotkin. + +It had started innocently enough after dinner on the space liner on which +they had taken passage for the first part of the trip. To kill time they +were playing Battle Chess with its larger board and added contingents of +pawns and castles. + +Ronny said idly, "You know, in spite of the fact that I'm a third +generation United Planets citizen and employee, I'm just beginning to +realize how far out some of our member planets are. I had no idea before." + +She frowned in concentration, before moving. She was advancing her men in +echelon attack, taking losses in exchange for territory and trying to pen +him up in such small space that he couldn't maneuver. + +She said, "How do you mean?" + +Ronny lifted and dropped a shoulder. "Well, New Delos and its theocracy, +for instance, and Shangri-La and Mother and some of the other planets with +extremes in government of socio-economic system. I hadn't the vaguest idea +about such places." + +She made a deprecating sound. "You should see Amazonia, or, for that +matter, the Orwellian State." + +"_Amazonia_," he said, "does that mean what it sounds like it does?" + +She made her move and settled back in satisfaction. Her pawns were in such +position that his bishops were both unusable. He'd tried to play a phalanx +game in the early stages of her attack, but she'd broken through, rolling +up his left flank after sacrificing a castle and a knight. + +"Certainly does," she said. "A fairly recently colonized planet. A few +thousand feminists no men at all--moved onto it a few centuries ago. And +it's still an out and out matriarchy." + +Ronny cleared his throat delicately. "Without men ... ah, how did they +continue several centuries?" + +Tog suppressed her amusement. "Artificial insemination, at first, so I +understand. They brought their, ah, supply with them. But then there were +boys among the first generation on the new planet and even the Amazonians +weren't up to cold bloodedly butchering their children. So they merely +enslaved them. Nice girls." + +Ronny stared at her. "You mean all men are automatically slaves on this +planet?" + +"That's right." + +Ronny made an improperly thought out move, trying to bring up a castle to +reinforce his collapsing flank. He said, "UP allows _anybody_ to join +evidently," and there was disgust in his voice. + +"Why not?" she said mildly. + +"Well, there should be _some_ standards." + +Tog moved quickly, dominating with a knight several squares he couldn't +afford to lose. She looked up at him, her dark eyes sparking. "The point +of UP is to include all the planets. That way at least conflict can be +avoided and some exchange of science, industrial techniques and cultural +gains take place. And you must remember that while in power practically no +socio-economic system will admit to the fact that it could possibly change +for the better. But actually there is nothing less stable. Socio-economic +systems are almost always in a condition of flux. Planets such as Amazonia +might for a time seem so brutal in their methods as to exclude their right +to civilized intercourse with the rest. However, one of these days +there'll be a change--or one of these centuries. They all change, sooner or +later." She added softly, "Even Han." + +"Han?" Ronny said. + +Her voice was quiet. "Where I was born, Ronny. Colonized from China in the +very early days. In fact, I spent my childhood in a commune." She said +musingly, "The party bureaucrats thought their system an impregnable, +unchangeable one. Your move." + +Ronny was fascinated. "And what happened?" He was in full retreat now, and +with nowhere to go, his pieces pinned up for the slaughter. He moved a +pawn to try and open up his queen. + +"Why don't you concede?" she said. "Tommy Paine happened." + +"Paine!" + +"Uh-huh. It's a long story. I'll tell you about it some time." She pressed +closer with her own queen. + +He stared disgustedly at the board. "Well, that's what I mean," he +muttered. "I had no idea there were so many varieties of crackpot +politico-economic systems among the UP membership." + +"They're not necessarily crackpot," she protested mildly. "Just at +different stages of development." + +"Not crackpot!" he said. "Here we are heading for a planet named Kropotkin +which evidently practices anarchy." + +"Your move," she said. "What's wrong with anarchism?" + +He glowered at her, in outraged disgust. Was it absolutely impossible for +him to say anything without her disagreement? + +Tog said mildly, "The anarchistic ethic is one of the highest man has ever +developed." She added, after a moment of pretty consideration. +"Unfortunately, admittedly, it hasn't been practical to put to practice. +It will be interesting to see how they have done on Kropotkin." + +"Anarchist ethic, yes," Ronny snapped. "I'm no student of the movement but +the way I understand it, there isn't any." + +Tog smiled sweetly. "The belief upon which they base their teachings is +that no man is capable of judging another." + +Ronny cast his eyes ceilingward. "O.K., I give up!" + +She began rapidly resetting the pieces. "Another game?" she said brightly. + +"Hey! I didn't mean the game! I was just about to counterattack." + +"Ha!" she said. + + ------------------------------------- + +The Section G agent on Kropotkin was named Hideka Yamamoto, but he was on +a field tour and wouldn't be back for several days. However, there wasn't +especially any great hurry so far as Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu +knew. They got themselves organized in the rather rustic equivalent of a +hotel, which was located fairly near UP headquarters, and took up the +usual problems of arranging for local exchange, meals, means of +transportation and such necessities. + +It was a greater problem than usual. In fact, hadn't it been for the +presence of the UP organization, which had already gone through all this +the hard way, some of the difficulties would have been all but +insurmountable. + +For instance, there was no local exchange. There was no medium of exchange +at all. Evidently simple barter was the rule. + +In the hotel--if it could be called a hotel--lobby, Ronny Bronston looked at +Tog. "Anarchism!" he said. "Oh, great. The highest ethic of all. And +what's the means of transportation on this wonderful planet? The horse. +And how are we going to get a couple of horses with no means of exchange?" + +She tinkled laughter. + +"All right," he said. "You're the Man Friday. You find out the details and +handle them. I'm going out to take a look around the town--if you can call +this a town." + +"It's the capital of Kropotkin," Tog said placatingly, though with a +mocking background in her tone. "Name of Bakunin. And very pleasant, too, +from what little I've seen. Not a bit of smog, industrial fumes, street +dirt, street noises--" + +"How could there be?" he injected disgustedly. "There isn't any industry, +there aren't any cars, and for all practical purposes, no streets. The +houses are a quarter of a mile or so apart." + +She laughed at him again. "City boy," she said. "Go on out there and enjoy +nature a little. It'll do you good. Anybody who has cooped himself up in +that one big city, Earth, all his life ought to enjoy seeing what the +great outdoors looks like." + +He looked at her and grinned. She was cute as a pixie, and there were no +two ways about that. He wondered for a moment what kind of a wife she'd +make. And then shuddered inwardly. Life would be one big contradiction of +anything he'd managed to get out of his trap. + +He strolled idly along what was little more than a country path and it +came to him that there were probably few worlds in the whole UP where he'd +have been prone to do this within the first few hours he'd been on the +planet. He would have been afraid, elsewhere, of anything from footpads to +police, from unknown vehicles to unknown traffic laws. There was something +bewildering about being an Earthling and being set down suddenly in New +Delos or on Avalon. + +Here, somehow, he already had a feeling of peace. + +Evidently, although Bakunin was supposedly a city, its populace tilled +their fields and provided themselves with their own food. He could see no +signs of stores or warehouses. And the UP building, which was no great +edifice itself, was the only thing in town which looked even remotely like +a governmental building. + +Bakunin was neat. Clean as a pin, as the expression went. Ronny was +vaguely reminded of a historical Tri-Di romance he'd once seen. It had +been laid in ancient times in a community of the Amish in old +Pennsylvania. + +He approached one of the wooden houses. The things would have been +priceless on Earth as an antique to be erected as a museum in some crowded +park. For that matter it would have been priceless for the wood it +contained. Evidently, the planet Kropotkin still had considerable virgin +forest. + +An old-timer smoking a pipe, sat on the cottage's front step. He nodded +politely. + +Ronny stopped. He might as well try to get a little of the feel of the +place. He said courteously, "A pleasant evening." + +The old-timer nodded. "As evenings should be after a fruitful day's toil. +Sit down, comrade. You must be from the United Planets. Have you ever seen +Earth?" + +Ronny accepted the invitation and felt a soothing calm descend upon him +almost immediately. An almost disturbingly pleasant calm. He said, "I was +born on Earth." + +"Ai?" the old man said. "Tell me. The books say that Kropotkin is an Earth +type planet within what they call a few degrees. But is it? Is Kropotkin +truly like the mother planet?" + +Ronny looked about him. He'd seen some of this world as the shuttle rocket +had brought them down from the passing liner. The forests, the lakes, the +rivers, and the great sections untouched by man's hands. Now he saw the +areas between homes, the neat fields, the signs of human toil--the toil of +hands, not machines. + +"No," he said, shaking his head. "I'm afraid not. This is how Earth must +once have been. But no longer." + +The other nodded. "Our total population is but a few million," he said. +Then, "I would like to see the mother planet, but I suppose I never +shall." + +Ronny said diplomatically, "I have seen little of Kropotkin thus far but I +am not so sure but that I might not be happy to stay here, rather than +ever return to Earth." + +The old man knocked the ashes from his pipe by striking it against the +heel of a work-gnarled hand. He looked about him thoughtfully and said, +"Yes, perhaps you're right. I am an old man and life has been good. I +suppose I should be glad that I'll unlikely live to see Kropotkin change." + +"Change? You plan changes?" + + ------------------------------------- + +The old man looked at him and there seemed to be a very faint bitterness, +politely suppressed. "I wouldn't say _we_ planned them, comrade. Certainly +not we of the older generation. But the trend toward change is already to +be seen by anyone who wishes to look, and our institutions won't long be +able to stand. But, of course, if you're from United Planets you would +know more of this than I." + +"I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about." + +"You are new indeed on Kropotkin," the old man said. "Just a moment." He +went into his house and emerged with a small power pack. He indicated it +to Ronny Bronston. "This is our destruction," he said. + +The Section G agent shook his head, bewildered. + +The old-timer sat down again. "My son," he said, "runs the farm now. Six +months ago, he traded one of our colts for a small pump, powered by one of +these. It was little use on my part to argue against the step. The pump +eliminates considerable work at the well and in irrigation." + +Ronny still didn't understand. + +"The power pack is dead now," the old man said, "and my son needs a new +one." + +"They're extremely cheap," Ronny said. "An industrialized planet turns +them out in multi-million amounts at practically no cost." + +"We have little with which to trade. A few handicrafts, at most." + +Ronny said, "But, good heavens, man, build yourselves a plant to +manufacture power packs. With a population this small, a factory employing +no more than half a dozen men could turn out all you need." + +The old man was shaking his head. He held up the battery. "This comes from +the planet Archimedes," he said, "one of the most highly industrialized in +the UP, so I understand. On Archimedes do you know how many persons it +takes to manufacture this power pack?" + + [Illustration.] + +"A handful to operate the whole factory, Archimedes is fully automated." + +The old man was still moving his head negatively. "No. It takes the total +working population of the planet. How many different metals do you think +are contained in it, in all? I can immediately see what must be lead and +copper." + +Ronny said uncomfortably, "Probably at least a dozen, some in microscopic +amounts." + +"That's right. So we need a highly developed metallurgical industry before +we can even begin. Then a developed transportation industry to take metals +to the factory. We need power to run the factory, hydro-electric, solar, +or possibly atomic power. We need a tool-making industry to equip the +factory, the transport industry and the power industry. And while the men +are employed in these, we need farmers to produce food for them, educators +to teach them the sciences and techniques involved, and an entertainment +industry to amuse them in their hours of rest. As their lives become more +complicated with all this, we need a developed medical industry to keep +them in health." + +The old man hesitated for a moment, then said, "And, above all, we need a +highly complicated government to keep all this accumulation of wealth in +check and balance. No. You see, my friend, it takes _social labor_ to +produce products such as this, and thus far we have avoided that on +Kropotkin. In fact, it was for such avoidance that my ancestors originally +came to this planet." + +Ronny said, scowling, "This gets ridiculous. You show me this basically +simple power pack and say it will ruin your socio-economic system. On the +face of it, it's ridiculous." + +The old man sighed and looked out over the village unseeingly. "It's not +just that single item, of course. The other day one of my neighbors turned +up with a light bulb with built-in power for a year's time. It is the envy +of the unthinking persons of the neighborhood most of whom would give a +great deal for such a source of light. A nephew of mine has somehow even +acquired a powered bicycle, I think you call them, from somewhere or +other. One by one, item by item, these products of advanced technology +turn up--from whence, we don't seem to be able to find out." + +Under his breath, Ronny muttered, "_Paine!_" + +"I beg your pardon," the old man said. + +"Nothing," the Section G agent said. He leaned forward and, a worried +frown working its way over his face, began to question the other more +closely. + +Afterwards, Ronny Bronston strode slowly toward the UP headquarters. There +was only a small contingent of United Planets personnel on this little +populated member planet but, as always, there seemed to be an office for +Section G. + +Ronny stood outside it for a moment. There were voices from within, but he +didn't knock. + +In fact, he cast his eyes up and down the short corridor. At the far end +was a desk with a girl in the Interplanetary Cultural Exchange Department +working away in concentration. She wasn't looking in his direction. + +Ronny Bronston put his ear to the door. The building was primitive enough, +rustic enough in its construction, to permit his hearing. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu was saying seriously, "Oh, it was chaotic all right, but +no, I don't really believe it could have been a Tommy Paine case. Actually +I'd suggest to you that you run over to Catalina. When I was on Avalon I +heard rumors that Tommy Paine's finger seemed to be stirring around in the +mess there. Yes, I'd recommend that you take off for Catalina immediately. +If Paine is anywhere in this vicinity at all, it would be Catalina." + +For a moment, Ronny Bronston froze. Then in automatic reflex his hand went +inside his jacket to rest over the butt of the Model H automatic there. + +No, that wasn't the answer. His hand dropped away from the gun. + +He listened, further. + +Another voice was saying, "We thought we were on the trail for a while on +Hector, but it turned out it wasn't Paine. Just a group of local agitators +fed up with the communist regime there. There's going to be a blood bath +on Hector, before they're through, but it doesn't seem to be Paine's work +this time." + +Tog's voice was musing. "Well, you never know, it sounds like the sort of +muck he likes to play in." + +The strange voice said argumentatively, "Well, Hector _needs_ a few +fundamental changes." + +"It could be," Tog said, "but that's their internal affairs, of course. +Our job in Section G is to prevent troubles between the differing +socio-economic and religious features of member planets. Whatever we think +of some of the things Paine does, our task is to get him." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny Bronston pushed the door open and went through. Tog Lee Chang Chu +was sitting at a desk, nonchalant and petitely beautiful as usual, +comfortably seated in easy-chairs were two young men by their attire +probably citizens of United Planets and possibly even Earthlings. + +"Hello, Ronny," Tog said softly. "Meet Frederic Lippman and Pedro Nazar, +both Section G operatives. This is my colleague, Ronald Bronston, +gentlemen. Fredric and Pedro were just leaving, Ronny." + +The two agents got up to shake hands. + +Ronny said, "You can't be in that much of a hurry. What's your assignment, +boys?" + +Lippman, an earnest type, and by his appearance not more than twenty-five +or so years of age, began to answer, but Nazar said hurriedly, "Actually, +it's a confidential assignment. We're working directly out of the +Octagon." + +Lippman said, frowning, "It's not that confidential, Tog. Bronston's an +agent, too. What's your assignment, Ronny?" + +Ronny said very slowly, "I'm beginning to suspect that it's the same as +yours and various pieces are beginning to fall into place." + +Lippman was taken aback. "You mean you're looking for Tommy Paine?" His +eyes went to his associate. "How could that be, Tog? I didn't know more +than one of us were on this job. Why, that means if Bronston here finds +him first, I won't get my permanent appointment." + +Ronny looked at Tog Lee Chang Chu who was sitting demurely, hands in lap, +and a resigned expression on her face. He said, "Nor if you find him +first, will I. Look here, Tog, how many men does Sid Jakes have out on +this assignment?" + +"I wouldn't know," she said mildly. + +He snapped, "A few dozen or so? Or possibly a few hundred?" + +"It seems unlikely there could be that many," she said mildly. She looked +at the other two agents. "I think you two had better run along. Take my +suggestion I made earlier." + +"Wait a minute," Ronny snapped. "You mean that they go to Catalina? That's +ridiculous." + +Tog Lee Chang Chu looked at Pedro Nazar and he turned and started for the +door followed by Fredric Lippman who was still scowling his puzzlement. + +"Wait a minute!" Ronny snapped. "I tell you it's ridiculous. And why +follow her suggestions? She's just my assistant." + +Pedro Nazar said, "Come on, Fred, let's get going, we'll have to pack." +But Lippman wasn't having any. + +"His assistant?" he said to Tog Lee Chang Chu. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu's face changed expression in sudden decision. She opened +her bag and brought forth a Section G identification wallet and flicked it +open. The badge was gold. "I suggest you hurry," she said to the two +agents. + +They left, and Tog turned back to Ronny, her eyebrows raised +questioningly. + +Ronny sank down into one of the chairs recently occupied by the other two +agents and tried to unravel thoughts. He said finally, "I suppose my +question should be, why do Ross Metaxa and Sid Jakes send an agent of +supervisor rank to act as assistant to a probationary agent? But that's +not what I'm asking yet. First, Lippman just called his buddy Tog. How +come?" + +Tog took her seat again, rueful resignation on her face. "You should be +figuring it out on your own by this time, Ronny." + +He looked at her belligerently. "I'm too stupid, eh?" The anger was +growing within him. + +"Tog," she said. "It's a nickname, or possibly you might call it a title. +Tog. T-O-G. The Other Guy. My name is Lee Chang Chu, and I'm of supervisor +grade presently working at developing new Section G operatives. +Considering the continuing rapid growth of UP, and the continuing crises +that come up in UP activities, developing new operatives is one of the +department's most pressing jobs. Each new agent, on his first assignment, +is always paired with an experienced old-timer." + +"I see," he said flatly. "Your principal job being to needle the fledging, +eh?" + +She lowered her eyes. "I wouldn't exactly word it that way," she said. She +was obviously unrepentant. + +He said, "You must get a lot of laughs out of it. If I say, it seems to me +democracy is a good thing, you give me an argument about the superiority +of rule by an elite. If I say anarchism is ridiculous, you dredge up an +opinion that it's man's highest ethic. You must laugh yourself to sleep at +nights. You and Metaxa and Jakes and every other agent in Section G. +Everybody is in on the Tog gag but the sucker." + +"Sometimes there are amusing elements to the work," Lee Chang conceded, +demurely. + +"Just one more thing I'd like to ask," Ronny rapped. "This first +assignment, agents are given. Is it always to look for Tommy Paine?" + +She looked up at him, said nothing, but her eyes were questioning. + +"Don't worry," he snapped. "I've already found out who Paine is." + +"Ah?" She was suddenly interested. "Then I'm glad I ordered that other +probationary agent to leave. Evidently, he hasn't. Obviously, I didn't +want the two of you comparing notes." + +"No, that would never do," he said bitterly. "Well, this is the end of the +assignment so far as you and I are concerned. I'm heading back for Earth." + +"Of course," she said. + + ------------------------------------- + +He had time on the way to think it all over, and over and over again, and +a great deal of it simply didn't make sense. He had enough information to +be disillusioned, sick at heart. To have crumbled an idealistic edifice +that had taken a lifetime to build. A lifetime? At least three. His father +and his grandfather before him had had the dream. He'd been weaned on the +idealistic purposes of the United Planets and man's fated growth into the +stars. + +He was a third-generation dreamer of participating in the glory. His +grandfather had been a citizen of Earth and gave up a commercial position +to take a job that amounted to little more than a janitor in an obscure +department of Interplanetary Financial Clearing. He wanted to get into the +big job, into space, but never made it. Ronny's father managed to work up +to the point where he was a supervisor in Interplanetary Medical Exchange, +in the tabulating department. He, too, had wanted into space, and never +made it. Ronny had loved them both. In a way fulfilling his own dreams had +been a debt he owed them, because at the same time he was fulfilling +theirs. + +And now this. All that had been gold, was suddenly gilted lead. The dream +had become contemptuous nightmare. + +Finally back in Greater Washington, he went immediately from the +shuttleport to the Octagon. His Bureau of Investigation badge was enough +to see him through the guide-guards and all the way through to the office +of Irene Kasansky. + +She looked up at him quickly. "Hi," she said. "Ronny Bronston, isn't it?" + +"That's right. I want to see Commissioner Metaxa." + +She scowled. "I can't work you in now. How about Sid Jakes?" + +He said, "Jakes is in charge of the Tommy Paine routine, isn't he?" + +She shot a sharper look up at him. "That's right," she said warily. + +"All right," Ronny said. "I'll see Jakes." + +Her deft right hand slipped open a drawer in her desk. "You'd better leave +your gun here," she said. "I've known probationary agents to get excited, +in my time." + +He looked at her. + +And she looked back, her gaze level. + +Ronny Bronston shrugged, slipped the Model H from under his armpit and +tossed it into the drawer. + +Irene Kasansky went back to her work. "You know the way," she said. + +This time Ronny Bronston pushed open the door to Sid Jakes' office without +knocking. The Section G supervisor was poring over reports on his desk. He +looked up and grinned his Sid Jakes' grin. + +"Ronny!" he said. "Welcome back. You know, you're one of the quickest men +ever to return from a Tommy Paine assignment. I was talking to Lee Chang +only a day or so ago. She said you were on your way." + +Ronny grunted, his anger growing within him. He lowered himself into one +of the room's heavy chairs, and glared at the other. + +Sid Jakes chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Before we go any +further, just to check, who is Tommy Paine?" + +Ronny snapped, "You are." + +The supervisor's eyebrows went up. + +Ronny said, "You and Ross Metaxa and Lee Chang Chu--and all the rest of +Section G. Section G is Tommy Paine." + +"Good man!" Sid Jakes chortled. He flicked a switch on his order box. +"Irene," he said, "how about clearing me through to the commissioner? I +want to take Ronny in for his finals." + +Irene snapped back something and Sid Jakes switched off and turned to +Ronny happily. "Let's go," he said. "Ross is free for a time." + +Ronny Bronston said nothing. He followed the other. The rage within him +was still mounting. + +In the months that had elapsed since Ronny Bronston had seen Ross Metaxa +the latter had changed not at all. His clothing was still sloppy, his eyes +bleary with lack of sleep or abundance of alcohol--or both. His expression +was still sour and skeptical. + +He looked up at their entry and scowled, and made no effort to rise and +shake hands. He said to Ronny sourly, "O.K., sound off and get it over +with. I haven't too much time this afternoon." + +Ronny Bronston was just beginning to feel tentacles of cold doubt, but he +suppressed them. The boiling anger was uppermost. He said flatly, "All my +life I've been a dedicated United Planets man. All my life I've considered +its efforts the most praiseworthy and greatest endeavor man has ever +attempted." + +"Of course, old chap," Jakes told him cheerfully. "We know all that, or +you wouldn't ever have been chosen as an agent for Section G." + +Ronny looked at him in disgust. "I've resigned that position, Jakes." + +Jakes grinned back at him. "To the contrary, you're now in the process of +receiving permanent appointment." + +Ronny snorted his disgust and turned back to Metaxa. "Section G is a +secret department of the Bureau of Investigation devoted to subverting +Article One of the United Planets Charter." + +Metaxa nodded. + +"You don't deny it?" + +Metaxa shook his head. + +"Article One," Ronny snapped, "is the basic foundation of the Charter +which every member of UP and particularly every citizen of United Planets, +such as ourselves, has sworn to uphold. But the very reason for the +existence of this Section G is to interfere with the internal affairs of +member planets, to subvert their governments, their economic systems, +their religions, their ideals, their very way of life." + +Metaxa yawned and reached into a desk drawer for his bottle. "That's +right," he said. "Anybody like a drink?" + +Ronny ignored him. "I'm surprised I didn't catch on even sooner," he said. +"On New Delos Mouley Hassan, the local agent, knew the God-King was going +to be assassinated. He brought in extra agents and even a detail of Space +Forces guards for the emergency. He probably engineered the assassination +himself." + +"Nope," Jakes said. "We seldom go _that_ far. Local rebels did the actual +work, but, admittedly, we knew what they were planning. In fact, I've got +a sneaking suspicion that Mouley Hassan provided them with the bomb. That +lad's a bit too dedicated." + +"But _why_," Ronny blurted. "That's deliberately interfering with internal +affairs. If the word got out, every planet in UP would resign." + +"Probably no planet in the system that needed a change so badly," Metaxa +growled. "If they were ever going to swing into real progress, that +hierarchy of priests had to go." He snorted. "An immortal God-King, yet." + +Ronny pressed on. "That was bad enough, but how about this planet Mother, +where the colonists had attempted to return to nature and live in the +manner man did in earliest times." + +"Most backward planet in the UP," Metaxa said sourly. "They just had to be +roused." + +"And Kropotkin!" Ronny blurted. "Don't you understand, those people were +_happy_ there. Their lives were simple, uncomplicated, and they had +achieved a happiness that--" + +Metaxa came to his feet. He scowled at Ronny Bronston and growled, +"Unfortunately, the human race can't take the time out for happiness. Come +along, I want to show you something." + +He swung around the corner of his desk and made his way toward a +ceiling-high bookcase. + +Ronny stared after him, taken off guard, but Sid Jakes was grinning his +amusement. + +Ross Metaxa pushed a concealed button and the bookcase slid away to one +side to reveal an elevator beyond. + +"Come along," Metaxa repeated over his shoulder. He entered the elevator, +followed by Jakes. + +There was nothing else to do. Ronny Bronston followed them, his face still +flushed with the angered argument. + +The elevator dropped, how far, Ronny had no idea. It stopped and they +emerged into a plain, sparsely furnished vault. Against one wall was a +boxlike affair that reminded Ronny of nothing so much as a deep-freeze. + +For all practical purposes, that's what it was. Ross Metaxa led him over +and they stared down into its glass-covered interior. + +Ronny's eyes bugged. The box contained the partly charred body of an +animal approximately the size of a rabbit. No, not an animal. It had +obviously once been clothed, and its limbs were obviously those of a tool +using life form. + +Metaxa and Jakes were staring down at it solemnly, for once no inane grin +on the supervisor's face. And that of Ross Metaxa was more weary than +ever. + +Ronny said finally, "What is it?" But he knew. + +"You tell us," Metaxa growled sourly. + +"It's an intelligent life form," Ronny blurted. "Why has it been kept +secret?" + +"Let's go on back upstairs," Metaxa sighed. + +Back in his office he said, "Now I go into my speech. Shut up for a +while." He poured himself a drink, not offering one to the other two. +"Ronny," he said, "man isn't alone in the galaxy. There's other +intelligent life. Dangerously intelligent." + +In spite of himself Ronny reacted in amusement. "That little creature down +there? The size of a small monkey?" As soon as he said it, he realized the +ridiculousness of his statement. + +Metaxa grunted. "Obviously, size means nothing. That little fellow down +there was picked up by one of our Space Forces scouts over a century ago. +How long he'd been drifting through space, we don't know. Possibly only +months, but possibly hundreds of centuries. But however long he's proof +that man is not alone in the galaxy. And we have no way of knowing when +the expanding human race will come up against this other intelligence--and +whoever it was fighting." + + [Illustration.] + +"But," Ronny protested, "you're assuming they're aggressive. Perhaps +coming in contact with these aliens will be the best thing that ever +happened to man. Possibly that little fellow down there is the most +benevolent creature ever evolved." + +Metaxa looked at him strangely. "Let's hope so," he said. "However, when +found he was in what must have been a one-man scout. He was dead and his +craft was blasted and torn--obviously from some sort of weapons' fire. His +scout was obviously a military craft, highly equipped with what could only +be weapons, most of them so damaged our engineers haven't been able to +figure them out. To the extent they have been able to reconstruct them, +they're scared silly. No, there's no two ways about it, our little rabbit +sized intelligence down in the vault was killed in an interplanetary +conflict. And sooner or later, Ronny, man in his explosion into the stars +is going to run into either or both of the opponents in that conflict." + +Ronny Bronston slumped back into his chair, his brain running out a dozen +leads at once. + +Metaxa and Jakes remained quiet, looking at him speculatively. + +Ronny said slowly, "Then the purpose of Section G is to push the member +planets of UP along the fastest path of progress, to get them ready for +the eventual, inevitable meeting." + +"Not just Section G," Metaxa growled, "but all of the United Planets +organization, although most of the rank and file don't even know our basic +purpose. Section G? We do the dirty work, and are proud to do it, by every +method we can devise." + +Ronny leaned forward. "But look," he said. "Why not simply inform all +member planets of this common danger? They'd all unite in the effort to +meet the common potential foe. Anything standing in the way would be +brushed aside." + +Metaxa shook his head wearily. "Would they? Is a common danger enough for +man to change his institutions, particularly those pertaining to property, +power and religion? History doesn't show it. Delve back into early times +and you'll recall, for an example, that in man's early discovery of +nuclear weapons he almost destroyed himself. Three or four different +socio-economic systems co-existed at that time and all would have +preferred destruction rather than changes in their social forms." + +Jakes said, in an unwonted quiet tone, "No, until someone comes up with a +better answer it looks as though Section G is going to have to continue +the job of advancing man's institutions, in spite of himself." + +The commissioner made it clearer. "It's not as though we deal with all our +member planets. It isn't necessary. But you see, Ronny, the best colonists +are usually made up of the, well, crackpot element. Those who are +satisfied, stay at home. America, for instance, was settled by the +adventurers, the malcontents, the non-conformists, the religious cultists, +and even fugitives and criminals of Europe. So it is in the stars. A group +of colonists go out with their dreams, their schemes, their far-out ideas. +In a few centuries they've populated their new planet, and often do very +well indeed. But often not and a nudge, a push, from Section G can start +them up another rung or so of the ladder of social evolution. Most of them +don't want the push. Few cultures, if any, realize they are mortal; like +Hitler's Reich, they expect to last at least a thousand years. They resist +any change--even change for the better." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny's defenses were crumbling, but he threw one last punch. "How do you +know the changes you make are for the better?" + +Metaxa shrugged heavy shoulders. "It's sometimes difficult to decide, but +we aim for changes that will mean an increased scientific progress, a more +advanced industrial technology, more and better education, the opening of +opportunity for every member of the culture to exert himself to the full +of his abilities. The last is particularly important. Too many cultures, +even those that think of themselves as particularly advanced, suppress the +individual by one means or another." + +Ronny was still mentally reeling with the magnitude of it all. "But how +can you account for the fact that these alien intelligences haven't +already come in contact with us?" + +Metaxa shrugged again. "The Solar System, our sun, is way out in a +sparsely populated spiral arm of our galaxy. Undoubtedly, these others are +further in toward the center. We have no way of knowing how far away they +are, or how many sun systems they dominate, or even how many other empires +of intelligent life forms there are. All we know is that there are other +intelligences in the galaxy, that they are near enough like us to live on +the same type planets. The more opportunity man has to develop before the +initial contact takes place, the stronger bargaining position, or military +position, as the case may be, he'll be in." + +Sid Jakes summed up the Tommy Paine business for Ronny's sake. "We need +capable agents badly, but we need dedicated and efficient ones. We can't +afford anything less. So when we come upon potential Section G operatives +we send them out with a trusted Tog to get a picture of these United +Planets of ours. It's the quickest method of indoctrination we've hit +upon; the agent literally teaches himself by observation and +participation. Usually, it takes four or five stops, on this planet and +that, before the probationary agent begins sympathizing with the efforts +of this elusive Tommy Paine. Especially since every Section G agent he +runs into, including the Tog, of course, fills him full of stories of +Tommy Paine's activities. + +"You were one of the quickest to stumble on the true nature of our Section +G. After calling at only three planets you saw that we ourselves are Tommy +Paine." + +"But ... but what's the end?" Ronny said plaintively. "You say our job is +advancing man, even in spite of himself when it comes to that. We start at +the bottom of the evolutionary ladder in a condition of savagery, clan +communism in government, simple animism in religion, and slowly we +progress through barbarism to civilization, through paganism to the higher +ethical codes, through chattel slavery and then feudalism and beyond. What +is the final end, the Ultima Thule?" + +Metaxa was shaking his head again. He poured himself another drink, +offered the bottle this time to the others. "We don't know," he said +wearily, "perhaps there is none. Perhaps there is always another rung on +this evolutionary ladder." He punched at his order box and said, "Irene, +have them do up a silver badge for Ronny." + +Ronny Bronston took a deep breath and reached for the brown bottle. +"Well," he said. "I suppose I'm ready to ask for my first assignment." He +thought for a moment. "By the way, if there's any way to swing it, I +wouldn't mind working with Supervisor Lee Chang Chu." + +THE END + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** + + + +CREDITS + + +October 25, 2009 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 30334-8.txt or 30334-8.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/3/3/30334/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. 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\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30334-8.zip b/30334-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a6d98a --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-8.zip diff --git a/30334-h.zip b/30334-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b497e92 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-h.zip diff --git a/30334-h/30334-h.html b/30334-h/30334-h.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7db5042 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-h/30334-h.html @@ -0,0 +1,7562 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /><link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" /><meta name="DC.Creator" content="Dallas McCord Reynolds" /><meta name="DC.Title" content="Ultima Thule" /><meta name="DC.Date" content="October 25, 2009" /><meta name="DC.Language" content="English" /><meta name="DC.Publisher" content="Project Gutenberg" /><meta name="DC.Identifier" content="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/30334" /><meta name="DC.Rights" content="This text is in the public domain." /><title>The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ultima Thule by Dallas McCord Reynolds</title><style type="text/css">/* +The Gnutenberg Press - default CSS2 stylesheet + +Any generated element will have a class "tei" and a class "tei-elem" +where elem is the element name in TEI. +The order of statements is important !!! 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You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: Ultima Thule + +Author: Dallas McCord Reynolds + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [Ebook #30334] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** +</pre></div> + </div> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + + </div> + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Ultima Thule</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">by</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Dallas McCord Reynolds</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Illustrated by John Schoenherr.</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">Analog Science Fact & Fiction</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">March 1961</p> + </div> + + </div> +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +[Transcriber's Note: This text was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction March +1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed.] +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page009">[pg 009]</span><a name="Pg009" id="Pg009" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/front.png" width="602" height="700" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At least he'd got far +enough to wind up with +a personal interview. +It's one thing doing up +an application and seeing +it go onto an endless tape and be +fed into the maw of a machine and +then to receive, in a matter of moments, +a neatly printed rejection. It's +another thing to receive an appointment +to be interviewed by a placement +officer in the Commissariat of +Interplanetary Affairs, Department +of Personnel. Ronny Bronston was +under no illusions. Nine out of ten +men of his age annually made the +same application. Almost all were +annually rejected. Statistically speaking +practically nobody ever got an +interplanetary position. But he'd +made step one along the path of a +lifetime ambition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He stood at easy attention immediately +inside the door. At the desk at +the far side of the room the placement +officer was going through a +sheaf of papers. He looked up and +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Ronald Bronston? Sit down. +You'd like an interplanetary assignment, +eh? So would I.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny took the chair. For a moment +he tried to appear alert, earnest, +ambitious but not <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">too</span></em> ambitious, +fearless, devoted to the cause, and indispensable. +For a moment. Then he +gave it up and looked like Ronny +Bronston. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other looked up and took him +in. The personnel official saw a man +of averages. In the late twenties. Average +height, weight and breadth. +Pleasant of face in an average sort of +way, but not handsome. Less than +sharp in dress, hair inclined to be on +the undisciplined side. Brown of +hair, dark of eye. In a crowd, inconspicuous. +In short, Ronny Bronston. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The personnel officer grunted. He +pushed a button, said something into +his order box. A card slid into the +slot and he took it out and stared +gloomily at it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What're your politics?”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Politics?”</span> Ronny Bronston said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I haven't any politics. My father and +grandfather before me have been citizens +of United Planets. There hasn't +been any politics in our family for +three generations.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Family?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“None.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other grunted and marked the +card. <span class="tei tei-q">“Racial prejudices?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your pardon?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Do you have any racial prejudices? +Any at all.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page010">[pg 010]</span><a name="Pg010" id="Pg010" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The personnel officer said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Most +people answer that way at first, these +days, but some don't at second. For +instance, suppose you had to have a +blood transfusion. Would you have +any objection to it being blood donated +by, say, a Negro, a Chinese, or, +say, a Jew?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny ticked it off on his fingers. +<span class="tei tei-q">“One of my greatgrandfathers was a +French <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">colon</span></span> who married a Moroccan +girl. The Moors are a blend of +Berber, Arab, Jew and Negro. Another +of my greatgrandfathers was a +Hawaiian. They're largely a blend +of Polynesians, Japanese, Chinese and +Caucasians especially Portuguese. +Another of my greatgrandfathers was +Irish, English and Scotch. He married +a girl who was half Latvian, half +Russian.”</span> Ronny wound it up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Believe +me, if I had a blood transfusion +from just anybody at all, the blood +would feel right at home.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The interviewer snorted, even as +he marked the card. <span class="tei tei-q">“That accounts +for three greatgrandfathers,”</span> he said +lightly. <span class="tei tei-q">“You seem to have made a +study of your family tree. What was +the other one?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Rocky said expressionlessly, <span class="tei tei-q">“A +Texan.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The secretary shrugged and looked +at the card again. <span class="tei tei-q">“Religion?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Reformed Agnostic,”</span> Ronny said. +This one was possibly where he ran +into a brick wall. Many of the planets +had strong religious beliefs of one +sort or another. Some of them had +state religions and you either belonged +or else. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page011">[pg 011]</span><a name="Pg011" id="Pg011" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Is there any such church?”</span> the +personnel officer frowned. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No. I'm a one-man member. I'm +of the opinion that if there are any +greater-powers-that-be They're keeping +the fact from us. And if that's the +way They want it, it's Their business. +If and when They want to contact +me—one of Their puppets dangling +from a string—then I suppose They'll +do it. Meanwhile, I'll wait.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other said interestedly, <span class="tei tei-q">“You +think that if there is a Higher Power +and if It ever wants to get in touch +with you, It will?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Um-m-m. In Its own good time. +Sort of a <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">don't call Me</span></span>, thing, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">I'll call +you</span></span>.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The personnel officer said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There +have been a few revealed religions, +you know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So they said, so they said. None of +them have made much sense to me. If +a Super-Power wanted to contact +man, it seems unlikely to me that it'd +be all wrapped up in a lot of complicated +gobbledegook. It would all be +very clear indeed.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The personnel officer sighed. He +marked the card, stuck it back into +the slot in his order box and it disappeared. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked up at Ronny Bronston. +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right, that's all.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny came to his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, +what happened?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other grinned at him sourly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Darned if I know,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“By the +time you get to the outer office, you'll +probably find out.”</span> He scratched the +end of his nose and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I sometimes +wonder what I'm doing here.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny thanked him, told him +good-by, and left. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the outer office a girl looked up +from a card she'd just pulled from +her own order box. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ronald Bronston?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She handed the card to him. <span class="tei tei-q">“You're +to go to the office of Ross Metaxa +in the Octagon, Commissariat of Interplanetary +Affairs, Department of +Justice, Bureau of Investigation, Section +G.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In a lifetime spent in first preparing +for United Planets employment +and then in working for the organization, +Ronny Bronston had never been +in the Octagon Building. He'd seen +photographs, Tri-Di broadcasts and +he'd heard several thousand jokes on +various levels from pun to obscenity +about getting around in the building, +but he'd never been there. For that +matter, he'd never been in Greater +Washington before, other than a long +ago tourist trip. Population Statistics, +his department, had its main offices +in New Copenhagen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His card was evidently all that he +needed for entry. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the sixth gate he dismissed his +car and let it shoot back into the +traffic mess. He went up to one of +the guard-guides and presented the +card. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The guide inspected it. <span class="tei tei-q">“Section G +of the Bureau of Investigation,”</span> he +muttered. <span class="tei tei-q">“Every day, something +new. I never heard of it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's probably some outfit in charge +of cleaning the heads on space liners.”</span> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page012">[pg 012]</span><a name="Pg012" id="Pg012" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Ronny said unhappily. He'd +never heard of it either. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, it's no problem,”</span> the guard-guide +said. He summoned a three-wheel, +fed the co-ordinates into it +from Ronny's card, handed the card +back and flipped an easy salute. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You'll soon know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The scooter slid into the Octagon's +hall traffic and proceeded up one corridor, +down another, twice taking to +ascending ramps. Ronny had read +somewhere the total miles of corridors +in the Octagon. He hadn't believed +the figures at the time. Now +he believed them. He must have traversed +several miles before they got +to the Department of Justice alone. +It was another quarter mile to the +Bureau of Investigation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The scooter eventually came to a +halt, waited long enough for Ronny +to dismount and then hurried back +into the traffic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He entered the office. A neatly uniformed +reception girl with a harassed +and cynical eye looked up from +her desk. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ronald Bronston?”</span> she +said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where've you been?”</span> She had a +snappy cuteness. <span class="tei tei-q">“The commissioner +has been awaiting you. Go through +that door and to your left.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny went through that door and +to the left. There was another door, +inconspicuously lettered <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ross Metaxa, +Commissioner, Section G</span></span>. Ronny +knocked and the door opened. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa was going through a +wad of papers. He looked up; a man +in the middle years, sour of expression, +moist of eye as though he either +drank too much or slept too little. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“You're Ronald +Bronston, eh? What do they call +you, Ronny? It says here you've got a +sense of humor. That's one of the +first requirements in this lunatic department.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny sat down and tried to form +some opinions of the other by his appearance. +He was reminded of nothing +so much as the stereotype city +editor you saw in the historical romance +Tri-Ds. All that was needed +was for Metaxa to start banging on +buttons and yelling something about +tearing down the front page, whatever +that meant. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It also says you have +some queer hobbies. Judo, small +weapons target shooting, mountain +climbing—”</span> He looked up from the +reports. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why does anybody climb +mountains?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Nobody's ever figured +out.”</span> That didn't seem to be enough, +especially since Ross Metaxa was +staring at him, so he added, <span class="tei tei-q">“Possibly +we devotees keep doing it in hopes +that someday somebody'll find out.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa said sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Not <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">too</span></em> +much humor, please. You don't act as +though getting this position means +much to you.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I figured out +some time ago that every young man +on Earth yearns for a job that will +send him shuttling from one planet +to another. To achieve it they study, +they sweat, they make all out efforts +to meet and suck up to anybody they +think might help. Finally, when and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page013">[pg 013]</span><a name="Pg013" id="Pg013" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +if they get an interview for one of +the few openings, they spruce up in +their best clothes, put on their best +party manners, present themselves as +the sincere, high I.Q., ambitious +young men that they are—and then +flunk their chance. I decided I might +as well be what I am.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa looked at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“O.K.,”</span> +he said finally. <span class="tei tei-q">“We'll give you a try.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said blankly, <span class="tei tei-q">“You mean +I've got the job?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'll be damned.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Probably,”</span> Metaxa said. He +yawned. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you know what Section +G handles?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well no, but as for me, just so I +get off Earth and see some of the +galaxy.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa had been sitting with his +heels on his desk. Now he put them +down and reached a hand into a +drawer to emerge with a brown bottle +and two glasses. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you drink?”</span> he +said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Even during working hours?”</span> +Metaxa scowled. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“When occasion calls.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good,”</span> Metaxa said. He poured +two drinks. <span class="tei tei-q">“You'll get your fill of +seeing the galaxy,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Not that +there's much to see. Man can settle +only Earth-type planets and after +you've seen a couple of hundred +you've seen them all.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny sipped at his drink, then +blinked reproachfully down into the +glass. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Good, eh? A kind of +tequila they make on Deneb Eight. +Bunch of Mexicans settled there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What,”</span> said Ronny hoarsely, <span class="tei tei-q">“do +they make it out of?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Lord only knows,”</span> Metaxa said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“To get back to Section G. We're +Interplanetary Security. In short, Department +Cloak and Dagger. Would +you be willing to die for the United +Planets, Bronston?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That curve had come too fast. +Ronny blinked again. <span class="tei tei-q">“Only in emergency,”</span> +he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Who'd want to kill +me?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa poured another drink. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Many of the people you'll be working +with,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">why</span></em>? What will I be doing?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You'll be representing United +Planets,”</span> Metaxa explained. <span class="tei tei-q">“Representing +United Planets in cases where +the local situation is such that the +folks you're working among will be +teed off at the organization.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, why are they members if +they don't like the UP?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's a good question,”</span> Metaxa +said. He yawned. <span class="tei tei-q">“I guess I'll have to +go into my speech.”</span> He finished his +drink. <span class="tei tei-q">“Now, shut up till I give you +some background. You're probably +full of a lot of nonsense you picked +up in school.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny shut up. He'd expected +more of an air of dedication in the +Octagon and in such ethereal departments +as that of Interplanetary Justice, +however, he was in now and not +adverse to picking up some sophistication +beyond the ken of the Earth-bound +employees of UP. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page014">[pg 014]</span><a name="Pg014" id="Pg014" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other's voice took on a far +away, albeit bored tone. <span class="tei tei-q">“It seems +that most of the times man gets a +really big idea, he goes off half +cocked. Just one example. Remember +when the ancient Hellenes exploded +into the Mediterranean? A score of +different City-States began sending +out colonies, which in turn sprouted +colonies of their own. Take Syracuse, +on Sicily. Hardly was she established +than, bingo, she sent off colonists to +Southern Italy, and they in turn to +Southern France, Corsica, the Balearics. +Greeks were exploding all over +the place, largely without adequate +plans, without rhyme or reason. Take +Alexander. Roamed off all the way to +India, founding cities and colonies of +Greeks all along the way.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The older man shifted in his chair. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You wonder what I'm getting at, eh? +Well, much the same thing is happening +in man's explosion into space, +now that he has the ability to leave +the solar system behind. Dashing off +half cocked, in all directions, he's +flowing out over this section of the +galaxy without plan, without rhyme +or reason. I take that last back, he +has reasons all right—some of the +screwiest. Religious reasons, racial +reasons, idealistic reasons, political +reasons, altruistic reasons and mercenary +reasons.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Inadequate ships, manned by +small numbers of inadequate people, +setting out to find their own planets, +to establish themselves on one of the +numberless uninhabited worlds that +offer themselves to colonization and +exploitation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny cleared his throat. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, +isn't that a good thing, sir?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa looked at him and +grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“What difference does it +make if it's good or not? It's happening. +We're spreading our race out +over tens of hundreds of new worlds +in the most haphazard fashion. As a +result, we of United Planets now +have a chaotic mishmash on our +hands. How we manage to keep as +many planets in the organization as +we do, sometimes baffles me. I suppose +most of them are afraid to drop +out, conscious of the protection UP +gives against each other.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He picked up a report. <span class="tei tei-q">“Here's +Monet, originally colonized by a +bunch of painters, writers, musicians +and such. They had dreams of starting +a new race”</span>—Metaxa snorted—<span class="tei tei-q">“with +everybody artists. They were all +so impractical that they even managed +to crash their ship on landing. +For three hundred years they were +uncontacted. What did they have in +the way of government by that time? +A military theocracy, something like +the Aztecs of Pre-Conquest Mexico. +A matriarchy, at that. And what's +their religion based on? That of ancient +Phoenicia including plenty of +human sacrifice to good old Moloch. +What can United Planets do about +it, now that they've become a member? +Work away very delicately, trying +to get them to at least eliminate +the child sacrifice phase of their culture. +Will they do it? Hell no, not +if they can help it. The Head Priestess +and her clique are afraid that if +they don't have the threat of sacrifice +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page015">[pg 015]</span><a name="Pg015" id="Pg015" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to hold over the people, they'll be +overthrown.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was surprised. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd never +heard of a member planet like that. +Monet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa sighed. <span class="tei tei-q">“No, of course not. +You've got a lot to learn, Ronny, my +lad. First of all, what're Articles One +and Two of the United Planets Charter?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That was easy. Ronny recited. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Article One: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The United Planets +organization shall take no steps to +interfere with the internal political, +socio-economic, or religious institutions +of its member planets.</span></span> Article +Two: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">No member planets of United +Planets shall interfere with the internal +political, socioeconomic or religious +institutions of any other member +planet.</span></span>”</span> He looked at the department +head. <span class="tei tei-q">“But what's that got to +do with the fact that I was unfamiliar +with even the existence of Monet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Suppose one of the advanced +planets, or even Earth itself,”</span> Metaxa +growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“openly discussed in magazines, +on newscasts, or wherever, the +religious system of Monet. A howl +would go up among the liberals, the +progressives, the do-gooders. And the +howl would be heard on the other +advanced planets. Eventually, the citizen +in the street on Monet would +hear about it and be affected. And +before you knew it, a howl would go +up from Monet's government. Why? +Because the other planets would be +interfering with her internal affairs, +simply by discussing them.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So what you mean is,”</span> Ronny said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“part of our job is to keep information +about Monet's government and religion +from being discussed at all on +other member planets.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right,”</span> Metaxa nodded. +<span class="tei tei-q">“And that's just one of our dirty little +jobs. One of many. Section G, believe +me, gets them all. Which brings +us to your first assignment.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny inched forward in his chair. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It takes me into space?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It takes you into space all right,”</span> +Metaxa snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“At least it will after +a few months of indoctrination. I'm +sending you out after a legend, Ronny. +You're fresh, possibly you'll get +some ideas older men in the game +haven't thought of.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A legend?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm sending you to look for Tommy +Paine. Some members of the +department don't think he exists. I +do.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A pseudonym that somebody +hung on him way back before even +my memory in this Section. Did you +ever hear of Thomas Paine in American +history?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He wrote a pamphlet during the +Revolutionary War, didn't he?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“ <span class="tei tei-q">‘Common Sense,’</span> ”</span> Metaxa nodded. +<span class="tei tei-q">“But he was more than that. He +was born in England but went to +America as a young man and his +writings probably did as much as +anything to put over the revolt +against the British. But that wasn't +enough. When that revolution was +successful he went back to England +and tried to start one there. The government +almost caught him, but he +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page016">[pg 016]</span><a name="Pg016" id="Pg016" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +escaped and got to France where he +participated in the French Revolution.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He seemed to get around,”</span> Ronny +Bronston said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And so does this namesake of his. +We've been trying to catch up with +him for some twenty years. How long +before that he was active, we have no +way of knowing. It was some time +before we became aware of the fact +that half the revolts, rebellions, revolutions +and such that occur in the +United Planets have his dirty finger +stirring around in them.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But you said some department +members don't believe in his existence.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“They're working +on the theory that no one man could +do all that Tommy Paine has laid to +him. Possibly it's true that he sometimes +gets the blame for accomplishments +not his. Or, for that matter, +possibly he's more than one person. I +don't know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well,”</span> Ronny said hesitantly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“what's an example of his activity?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa picked up another report +from the confusion of his desk. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Here's one only a month old. Dictator +on the planet Megas. Kidnapped +and forced to resign. There's still confusion +but it looks as though a new +type of government will be formed +now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But how do they know it wasn't +just some dissatisfied citizens of Megas?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It seems as though the kidnap +vehicle was an old fashioned Earth-type +helicopter. There were no such +on Megas. So Section G suspects it's +a possible Tommy Paine case. We +could be wrong, of course. That's +why I say the man's in the way of +being a legend. Perhaps the others +are right and he doesn't even exist. I +think he does, and if so, it's our job +to get him and put him out of circulation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“But why +would that come under our jurisdiction? +It seems to me that it would +be up to the police of whatever planet +he was on.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa looked thoughtfully +at his brown bottle, shook his head +and returned it to its drawer. He +looked at a desk watch. <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't read +into the United Planets organization +more than there is. It's a fragile institution +with practically no independent +powers to wield. Every +member planet is jealous of its prerogatives, +which is understandable. It's +no mistake that Articles One and Two +are the basic foundation of the Charter. +No member planet wants to be +interfered with by any other or by +United Planets as an organization. +They want to be left alone.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Within our ranks we have planets +with every religion known to man +throughout the ages. Everything ranging +from primitive animism to the +most advanced philosophic ethic. We +have every political system ever +dreamed of, and every socio-economic +system. It can all be blamed on the +crack-pot manner in which we're colonizing. +Any minority, no matter how +small—religious, political, racial, or +whatever—if it can collect the funds +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page017">[pg 017]</span><a name="Pg017" id="Pg017" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to buy or rent a spacecraft, can dash +off on its own, find a new Earth-type +planet and set up in business.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Fine. One of the prime jobs of +Section G is to carry out, to enforce, +Articles One and Two of the Charter. +A planet with Buddhism as its state +religion, doesn't want some die-hard +Baptist missionary stirring up controversy. +A planet with a feudalistic socio-economic +systems doesn't want +some hot-shot interplanetary businessman +coming in with some big deal +that would eventually cause the feudalistic +nobility to be tossed onto the +ash heap. A planet with a dictatorship +doesn't want subversives from +some democracy trying to undermine +their institutions—and vice versa.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And its our job to enforce all this, +eh?”</span> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right,”</span> Metaxa told him +sourly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's not always the nicest job +in the system. However, if you believe +in United Planets, an organization +attempting to co-ordinate in +such manner as it can, the efforts of +its member planets, for the betterment +of all, then you must accept +Section G and Interplanetary Security.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston thought about it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa added, <span class="tei tei-q">“That's why one of +the requirements of this job is that +you yourself be a citizen of United +Planets, rather than of any individual +planet, have no religious affiliations, +no political beliefs, and no racial prejudices. +You've got to be able to stand +aloof.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yeah,”</span> Ronny said thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa looked at his watch +again and sighed wearily. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll turn +you over to one of my assistants,”</span> he +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll see you again, though, before +you leave.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Before I leave?”</span> Ronny said, coming +to his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“But where do I start +looking for this Tommy Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How the hell would I know?”</span> Ross +Metaxa growled. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the outer office, Ronny said to +the receptionist, <span class="tei tei-q">“Commissioner Metaxa +said for me to get in touch with +Sid Jakes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm Irene Kasansky. Are +you with us?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your pardon?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said impatiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Are you going +to be with the Section? If you +are, I've got to clear you with your old +job. You were in statistics over in +New Copenhagen, weren't you?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Somehow it seemed far away now, +the job he'd held for more than five +years. <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, Commissioner +Metaxa has given me an appointment.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked up at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Probably to +look for Tommy Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was taken aback. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. +How did you know?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“There was talk. This Section is +pretty well integrated.”</span> She grimaced, +but on her it looked good. <span class="tei tei-q">“One +big happy family. High interdepartmental +morale. That sort of jetsam.”</span> +She flicked some switches. <span class="tei tei-q">“You'll find +Supervisor Jakes through that door, +one to your left, two to your right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He could have asked one <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em> to +his left and two <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em> to his right, but +evidently Irene Kasansky thought he +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page018">[pg 018]</span><a name="Pg018" id="Pg018" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had enough information to get him +to his destination. She'd gone back to +her work. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p18.png" width="700" height="447" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was one turn to his left and two +turns to his right. The door was lettered +simply <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Sidney Jakes</span></span>. He knocked +and a voice shouted happily, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +open. It's always open.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Supervisor Jakes was as informal +as his superior. His attire was on the +happy-go-lucky side, more suited for +sports wear than a fairly high ranking +job in the ultra-staid Octagon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He couldn't have been much older +than Ronny Bronston but he had a +nervous vitality about him that would +have worn out the other in a few +hours. He jumped up and shook +hands. <span class="tei tei-q">“You must be Bronston. Call +me Sid.”</span> He waved a hand at a typed +report he'd been reading. <span class="tei tei-q">“Now I've +seen them all. They've just applied +for entry to United Planets. Republic. +What a name, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What?”</span> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down, sit down.”</span> He rushed +Ronny to a chair, saw him seated, returned +to the desk and flicked an +order box switch. <span class="tei tei-q">“Irene,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“do +up a badge for Ronny, will you? +You've got his code, haven't you? +Good. Send it over. Bronze, of course.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes turned back to Ronny +and grinned at him. He motioned to +the report again. <span class="tei tei-q">“What a name for a +planet. Republic. Bunch of screw-balls, +again. Out in the vicinity of +Sirius. Based their system on Plato's +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Republic</span></span>. Have to go the whole way. +Don't even speak Basic. Certainly not. +They speak Ancient Greek. That's +going to be a neat trick, finding interpreters. +How'd you like the Old +Man?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, dazed at the conversational +barrage, <span class="tei tei-q">“Old Man? Oh, you +mean Commissioner Metaxa.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure, sure,”</span> Sid grinned, perching +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page019">[pg 019]</span><a name="Pg019" id="Pg019" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +himself on the edge of the desk. <span class="tei tei-q">“Did +he give you that drink of tequila during +working hours routine? He'd like +to poison every new agent we get. +What a character.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The grin was infectious. Ronny +said carefully, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, I did think his +method of hiring a new man was a +little—cavalier.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Cavalier, yet,”</span> Sid Jakes chortled. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look, don't get the Old Man wrong. +He knows what he's doing. He always +knows what he's doing.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But he took me on after only two +or three minutes conversation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes cocked his head to one side. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh? You think so? When did you +first apply for interplanetary assignment, +Ronny?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't know, about three years +ago.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, depend on it, +you've been under observation for +that length of time. At any one period, +Section G is investigating possibly +a thousand potential agents. We +need men but qualifications are high.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He hopped down from his position, +sped around to the other side of the +desk and lowered himself into his +chair. <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't get the wrong idea, +though. You're not in. You're on probation. +Whatever the assignment the +Old Man gave you, you've got to +carry it out successfully before you're +full fledged.”</span> He flicked the order-box +switch and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Irene, where the +devil's Ronny's badge?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston heard the office +girl's voice answer snappishly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right, all right,”</span> Jakes said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +love you, too. Send it in when it +comes.”</span> He turned to Ronny. <span class="tei tei-q">“What +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">is</span></em> your assignment?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He wants me to go looking for +some firebrand nicknamed Tommy +Paine. I'm supposed to arrest him. +The commissioner said you'd give me +details.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes' face went serious. He +puckered up his lips. <span class="tei tei-q">“Wow, that'll +be a neat trick to pull off,”</span> he said. +He flicked the order-box switch again. +Irene's voice snapped something before +he could say anything and Sid +Jakes grinned and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“O.K., O.K., +darling, but if this is the way you're +going to be I won't marry you. Then +what will the children say? Besides, +that's not what I called about. Have +ballistics do up a model H gun for +Ronny, will you? Be sure it's adjusted +to his code.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He flicked off the order box and +turned back to Ronny. <span class="tei tei-q">“I understand +you're familiar with hand guns. It's +in this report on you.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny nodded. He was just beginning +to adjust to this free-wheeling +character. <span class="tei tei-q">“What will I need a gun +for?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes laughed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Heavens to Betsy, +you babe in the woods. Do you realize +this Tommy Paine character has supposedly +stirred up a couple of score +wars, revolutions and revolts? Not to +speak of having laid in his lap two or +three dozen assassinations. He's a +quick lad with a gun. A regular Nihilist.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nihilist?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes chuckled. <span class="tei tei-q">“When you've been +in this Section for a while, you'll be +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page020">[pg 020]</span><a name="Pg020" id="Pg020" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +familiar with every screwball outfit +man has ever dreamed up. The Nihilists +were a European group, mostly +Russian, back in the Nineteenth +Century. They believed that by bumping +off a few Grand Dukes and a +Czar or so they could force the ruling +class to grant reforms. Sometimes +they were pretty ingenious. Blew up +trains, that sort of thing.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look here,”</span> Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“what +motivates this Paine fellow? What's +he get out of all this trouble he stirs +up?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Search me. Nobody seems to +know. Some think he's a mental case. +For one thing, he's not consistent.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How do you mean?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, he'll go to one planet and +break his back trying to overthrow, +say, feudalism. Then, possibly after +being successful, he goes to another +planet and devotes his energies to +establishing the same socio-economic +system.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny assimilated that. <span class="tei tei-q">“You're +one of those who believes he exists?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, he exists all right, all right,”</span> +Sid Jakes said happily. <span class="tei tei-q">“Matter of fact, +I almost ran into him a few years +ago.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny leaned forward. <span class="tei tei-q">“I guess I +ought to know about it. The more information +I have, the better.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure, sure,”</span> Jakes said. <span class="tei tei-q">“This deal +of mine was on one of the Aldebaran +planets. A bunch of nature boys had +settled there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nature boys?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Um-m-m. Back to nature. The +trouble with the human race is that +it's got too far away from nature. So +a whole flock of them landed on this +planet. They call it Mother, of all +things. They landed and set up a +primitive society. Absolute stone age. +No metals. Lived by the chase and by +picking berries, wild fruit, that sort of +thing. Not even any agriculture. +Wore skins. Bows and arrows were +the nearest thing they allowed themselves +in the way of mechanical devices.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good grief,”</span> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It was a laugh,”</span> Jakes told him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I was assigned there as Section G +representative with the UP organization. +Picture it. We had to wear +skins for clothes. We had to confine +ourselves to two or three long houses. +Something like the American Iroquois +lived in before Columbus. Their +society on Mother was based on +primitive communism. The clan, the +phratry, the tribe. Their religion was +mostly a matter of knocking into +everybody's head that any progress +was taboo. Oh, it was great.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, were they happy?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's happiness? I suppose they +were as happy as anybody ever averages. +Frankly, I didn't mind the assignment. +Lots of fishing, lots of +hunting.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, where does +Tommy Paine come in?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He snuck up on us. Started way +back in the boondocks away from any +of the larger primitive settlements. +Went around putting himself over as +a holy man. Cured people of various +things from gangrene to eye diseases. +Given antibiotics and such, you can +imagine how successful he was.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page021">[pg 021]</span><a name="Pg021" id="Pg021" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, what harm did he do?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I didn't say he did any harm. But +in that manner he made himself awfully +popular. Then he'd pull some +trick like showing them how to smelt +iron, and distribute some corn and +wheat seed around and plant the idea +of agriculture. The local witch doctors +would try to give him a hard +time, but the people figured he was a +holy man.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, what happened finally?”</span> +Ronny wasn't following too well. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Communications being what they +were, before he'd been discovered by +the central organization—they had a +kind of Council of Tribes which met +once a year—he'd planted so many +ideas that they couldn't be stopped. +The young people'd never go back to +flint knives, once introduced to iron. +We went looking for friend Tommy +Paine, but he got wind of it and took +off. We even found where he'd hidden +his little space cruiser. Oh, it was +Paine, all right, all right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But what harm did he do? I don't +understand,”</span> Ronny scowled. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He threw the whole shebang on +its ear. Last I heard, the planet had +broken up into three main camps. +They were whaling away at each other +like the Assyrians and Egyptians. +Iron weapons, chariots, domesticated +horses. Agriculture was sweeping the +planet. Population was exploding. +Men were making slaves out of each +other, to put them to work. Oh, it was +a mess from the viewpoint of the +original nature boys.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A red light flickered on his desk +and Sid Jakes opened a delivery +drawer and dipped his hand into it. +It emerged with a flat wallet. He +tossed it to Ronny Bronston. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Here you are. Your badge.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny opened the wallet and examined +it. He'd never seen one before, +but for that matter he'd never +heard of Section G before that morning. +It was a simple enough bronze +badge. It said on it, merely, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Ronald +Bronston, Section G, Bureau of Investigation, +United Planets</span></span>. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes explained. <span class="tei tei-q">“You'll get co-operation +with that through the Justice +Department anywhere you go. +We'll brief you further on procedure +during indoctrination. You in turn, of +course, are to co-operate with any +other agent of Section G. You're under +orders of anyone with”</span>—his hand +snaked into a pocket and emerged +with a wallet similar to Ronny's—<span class="tei tei-q">“a +silver badge, carried by a First +Grade Agent, or a gold one of Supervisor +rank.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny noted that his badge wasn't +really bronze. It had a certain sheen, a +brightness. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Here, look at this.”</span> He +tossed his own badge to the new +man. Ronny looked down at it in surprise. +The gold had gone dull. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes laughed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Now give me +yours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny got up and walked over to +him and handed it over. As soon as the +other man's hand touched it, the +bronze lost its sheen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes handed it back. <span class="tei tei-q">“See, it's +tuned to you alone,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“And +mine is tuned to my code. Nobody +can swipe a Section G badge and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page022">[pg 022]</span><a name="Pg022" id="Pg022" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +impersonate an agent. If anybody ever +shows you a badge that doesn't have +its sheen, you know he's a fake. Neat +trick, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Very neat,”</span> Ronny admitted. He +returned the other's gold badge. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look, to get back to this Tommy +Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But the red light flickered again +and Jakes brought forth from the delivery +drawer a hand gun complete +with shoulder harness. <span class="tei tei-q">“Nasty weapon,”</span> +he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“But we'd better go on +down to the armory and show you its +workings.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He stood up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes, don't let me +forget to give you a communicator. +A real gizmo. About as big as a +woman's vanity case. Puts you in immediate +contact with the nearest Section +G office, no matter how near or +far away it is. Or, if you wish, in contact +with our offices here in the Octagon. +Very neat trick.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He led Ronny from his office +and down the corridors beyond to an +elevator. He said happily, <span class="tei tei-q">“This is a +crazy outfit, this Section G. You'll +probably love it. Everybody does.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny learned to love Section G—in +moderation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was initially taken aback by +the existence of the organization at +all. He'd known, of course, of the Department +of Justice and even of the +Bureau of Investigation, but Section +G was hush-hush and not even United +Planets publications ever mentioned +it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The problems involved in remaining +hush-hush weren't as great as all +that. The very magnitude of the UP +which involved more than two thousand +member planets, allowed of departments +and bureaus hidden away +in the endless stretches of red tape. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In fact, although Ronny Bronston +had spent the better part of his life, +thus far, in studying for a place in +the organization, and then working in +the Population Statistics Department +for some years, he was only now beginning +to get the over-all picture of +the workings of the mushrooming, +chaotic United Planets organization. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was Earth's largest industry by +far. In fact, for all practical purposes +it was her only major industry. Tourism, +yes, but even that, in a way, was +related to the United Planets organization. +Millions of visitors whose ancestors +had once emigrated from the +mother planet, streamed back in racial +nostalgia. Streamed back to see +the continents and oceans, the Arctic +and the Antarctic, the Amazon River +and Mount Everest, the Sahara and +New York City, the ruins of Rome +and Athens, the Vatican, the Louvre +and the Hermitage. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But the populace of Earth, in its +hundreds of millions were largely +citizens of United Planets and worked +in the organization and with its auxiliaries +such as the Space Forces. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Section G? To his surprise, Ronny +found that Ross Metaxa's small section +of the Bureau of Investigation +seemed almost as great a secret within +the Bureau as it was to the man in +the street. At one period, Ronny wondered +if it were possible that this +was a department which had been +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page023">[pg 023]</span><a name="Pg023" id="Pg023" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +lost in the wilderness of boondoggling +that goes on in any great bureaucracy. +Had Section G been set up a century +or so ago and then forgotten by those +who had originally thought there was +a need for it? In the same way that it +is usually more difficult to get a statute +off the lawbooks than it was originally +to pass it, in the same manner eliminating +an office, with its employees +can prove more difficult than originally +establishing it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But that wasn't it. In spite of the +informality, the unconventional brashness +of its personnel on all levels, +and the seeming chaos in which its +tasks were done, Section G was no +make-work project set up to provide +juicy jobs for the relatives of high +ranking officials. To the contrary, it +didn't take long in the Section before +anybody with open eyes could see that +Ross Metaxa was privy to the decisions +made by the upper echelons of +UP. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston came to the conclusion +that the appointment he'd received +was putting him in a higher +bracket of the UP hierarchy than he'd +at first imagined. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His indoctrination course was a +strain such as he'd never known in +school years. Ross Metaxa was evidently +of the opinion that a man +could assimilate concentrated information +at a rate several times faster +than any professional educator ever +dreamed possible. No threats were +made, but Ronny realized that he +could be dropped even more quickly +than he'd seemed to have been taken +on. There were no classes, to either +push or retard the rate of study. He +worked with a series of tutors, and +pushed himself. The tutors were almost +invariably Section G agents, +temporarily in Greater Washington +between assignments, or for briefing +on this phase or that of their work. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Even as he studied, Ronny Bronston +kept the eventual assignment, at +which he was to prove himself, in +mind. He made a point of inquiring +of each agent he met, about Tommy +Paine. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The name was known to all, but no +two reacted in the same manner. Several +of them even brushed the whole +matter aside as pure legend. <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Nobody</span></em> +could accomplish all the trouble that +Tommy Paine had supposedly stirred +up. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To one of these, Ronny said plaintively, +<span class="tei tei-q">“See here, the Old Man believes +in him, Sid Jakes believes in +him. My final appointment depends +on arresting him. How can I ever secure +this job, if I'm chasing a myth?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't ask +me. I've got my own problems. O.K., +now, let's run over this question of +Napoleonic law. There are at least +two hundred planets that base their +legal system on it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +But the majority of his fellow employees +in Section G had strong +enough opinions on the interplanetary +firebrand. Three or four even +claimed to have seen him fleetingly, +although no two descriptions jibed. +That, of course, could be explained. +The man could resort to plastic surgery +and other disguise. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Theories there were in plenty, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page024">[pg 024]</span><a name="Pg024" id="Pg024" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +some of them going back long years, +and some of them pure fable. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> Ronny said in disgust one +day after a particularly unbelievable +siege with two agents recently returned +from a trouble spot in a planetary +system that involved three aggressive +worlds which revolved about +the same sun. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, it's impossible +for one man to accomplish all this. +He's blamed for half the <span lang="fr" class="tei tei-foreign" xml:lang="fr"><span style="font-style: italic">coups +d'états</span></span>, revolts and upheavals that +have taken place for the past quarter +century. It's obvious nonsense. Why, +a revolutionist usually spends the +greater part of his life toppling a government. +Then, once it's toppled, he +spends the rest of his life trying to +set up a new government—and he's +usually unsuccessful.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the others was shaking his +head negatively. <span class="tei tei-q">“You don't understand +this Tommy Paine's system, +Bronston.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You sure don't,”</span> the other agent, a +Nigerian, grinned widely. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've been +on planets where he'd operated.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny leaned forward. The three +of them were having a beer in a part +of the city once called Baltimore. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You have?”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Tell me about +it, eh? The more background I get +on this guy, the better.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sure. And this'll give you an idea +of how he operates, how he can get +so much trouble done. Well, I was on +this planet Goshen, understand? It +had kind of a strange history. A bunch +of colonists went out there, oh, four +or five centuries ago. Pretty healthy +expedition, as such outfits go. Bright +young people, lots of equipment, lots +of know-how and books. Well, through +sheer bad luck everything went wrong +from the beginning. Everything. Before +they got set up at all they had an +explosion that killed off all their communications +technicians. They lost +contact with the outside. O.K. Within +a couple of centuries they'd gotten +into a state of chattel slavery. Pretty +well organized, but static. Kind of an +Athenian Democracy on top, a hierarchy, +but nineteen people out of +twenty were slaves, and I mean real +slaves, like animals. They were at this +stage when a scout ship from the UP +Space Forces discovered them and, of +course, they joined up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where does Tommy Paine come +in?”</span> Ronny said. He signaled to a +waiter for more beer. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He comes in a few years later. I +was the Section G agent on Goshen, +understand? No planet was keener +about Articles One and Two of the +UP Charter. The hierarchy understood +well enough that if their people +ever came to know about more +advanced socio-economic systems it'd +be the end of Goshen's Golden Age. +So they allowed practically no intercourse. +No contact whatsoever between +UP personnel and anyone outside +the upper class, understand? All +right. That's where Tommy Paine +came in. It couldn't have taken him +more than a couple of months at +most.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston was fascinated. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What'd he do?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He introduced the steam engine, +and then left.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page025">[pg 025]</span><a name="Pg025" id="Pg025" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was looking at him blankly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Steam engine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That and the fly shuttle and the +spinning jenny,”</span> the Nigerian said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That Goshen hierarchy never knew +what hit them.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was still blank. The waiter +came up with the steins of beer, and +Ronny took one and drained half of +it without taking his eyes from the +storyteller. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other agent took it up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't +you see? Their system was based on +chattel slavery, hand labor. Given +machinery and it collapses. Chattel +slavery isn't practical in a mechanized +society. Too expensive a labor +force, for one thing. Besides, you +need an educated man and one with +some initiative—qualities that few +slaves possess—to run an industrial +society.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny finished his beer. <span class="tei tei-q">“Smart +cooky, isn't he?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He's smart all right. But I've got +a still better example of his fouling +up a whole planetary socio-economic +system in a matter of weeks. A friend +of mine was working on a planet +with a highly-developed feudalism. +Barons, lords, dukes, counts and no-accounts, +all stashed safely away in +castles and fortresses up on the top +of hills. The serfs down below did all +the work in the fields, provided servants, +artisans and foot soldiers for the +continual fighting that the aristocracy +carried on. Very similar to Europe +back in the Dark Ages.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“So?”</span> Ronny said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd think that'd +be a deal that would take centuries +to change.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Section G agent laughed. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy Paine stayed just long +enough to introduce gunpowder. +That was the end of those impregnable +castles up on the hills.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What gets me,”</span> Ronny said slowly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“is his motivation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other two both grunted agreement +to that. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Toward the end of his indoctrination +studies, Ronny appeared one +morning at the Octagon Section G +offices and before Irene Kasansky. +Watching her fingers fly, listening to +her voice rapping and snapping, O.K.-ing +and rejecting, he came to the +conclusion that automation could go +just so far in office work and then you +were thrown back on the hands of +the efficient secretary. Irene was a +one-woman office staff. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked up at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Hello, +Ronny. Thought you'd be off on your +assignment by now. Got any clues on +Tommy Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's why I'm +here. I wanted to see the commissioner.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“About what?”</span> She flicked a +switch. When a light flickered on one +of her order boxes, she said into it, +<span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> emphatically, and turned back +to him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“He said he wanted to see me again +before I took off.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She fiddled some more, finally said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right, Ronny. Tell him he's got +time for five minutes with you.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Five minutes!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then he's got an appointment +with the Commissioner of Interplanetary +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page026">[pg 026]</span><a name="Pg026" id="Pg026" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Culture,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“You'd better +hurry along.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston retraced the route +of his first visit here. How long ago? +It already seemed ages since his probationary +appointment. Your life +changed fast when you were in Section +G. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa's brown bottle, or its +twin, was sitting on his desk and he +was staring at it glumly. He looked +up and scowled. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ronald Bronston,”</span> Ronny said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Irene Kasansky told me to say I +could have five minutes with you, +then you have an appointment with +the Commissioner of Interplanetary +Culture.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I remember you,”</span> Metaxa said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Have a drink. Interplanetary Culture, +ha! The Xanadu Folk Dance +Troupe. They dance nude. They've +been touring the whole UP. Roaring +success everywhere, obviously. Now +they're assigned to Virtue, a planet +settled by a bunch of Fundamentalists. +They want the troupe to wear +Mother Hubbards. The Xanadu outfit +is in a tizzy. They've been insulted. +They claim they're the most +modest members of UP, that nudity +has nothing to do with modesty. The +government of Virtue said that's fine +but they wear Mother Hubbards or +they don't dance. Xanadu says it'll +withdraw from United Planets.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston said painfully, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why not let them?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa poured himself a Denebian +tequila, offered his subordinate +a drink again with a motion of +the bottle. Ronny shook his head. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa said, <span class="tei tei-q">“If we didn't take +steps to soothe these things over, there +wouldn't be any United Planets. In +any given century every member in +the organization threatens to resign at +least once. Even Earth. And then +what'd happen? You'd have interplanetary +war before you knew it. +What'd you want, Ronny?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm about set to take up my search +for this Tommy Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ah, yes, Tommy Paine. If you +catch him, there are a dozen planets +where he'd be eligible for the death +sentence.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny cleared his throat. <span class="tei tei-q">“There +must be. What I wanted was the file +on him, sir.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“File?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, sir. I've got to the point +where I want to cram up on everything +we have on him. So far, all I've +got is verbal information from individual +agents and from Supervisor Jakes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't be silly, Ronny. There isn't +any file on Tommy Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny just looked at the other. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa said impatiently, +<span class="tei tei-q">“The very knowledge of the existence +of the man is top secret. Isn't that +obvious? Suppose some reporter got +the story and printed it. If our member +planets knew there was such a +man and that we haven't been able to +scotch him, why they'd drop out of +UP so fast the computers couldn't keep +up with it. There's not one planet +in ten that feels secure enough to lay +itself open to subversion. Why some +of our planets are so far down the +ladder of social evolution they live under +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page027">[pg 027]</span><a name="Pg027" id="Pg027" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +primitive tribal society; their +leaders, their wise men and witch-doctors, +whatever you call them, are +scared someone will come along and +establish chattel slavery. Those planets +that have a system based on slavery +are scared to death of developing feudalism, +and those that have feudalism +are afraid of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">creeping capitalism</span></span>. +Those with an anarchistic basis—and +we have several—are afraid of being +subverted to statism, and those who +have a highly developed government +are afraid of anarchism. The socio-economic +systems based on private +ownership of property hate the very +idea of socialism or communism, and +vice versa, and those planets with +state capitalism hate them both.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 30%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p27.png" width="238" height="700" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He glared at Ronny. <span class="tei tei-q">“What do you +think the purpose of this Section is, +Bronston? Our job is to keep our +member planets from being afraid of +each other. If they found that Tommy +Paine and his group, if he's got a +group, were buzzing through the system +subverting everything they can +foul up, they'd drop out of UP and +set up quarantines that a space mite +couldn't get through. No sir, there is +no file on Tommy Paine and there +never will be. And if any news of him +spreads to the outside, this Section +will emphatically deny he exists. I +hope that's clear.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, yes sir,”</span> Ronny said. The +commissioner had been all but roaring +toward the end. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The order box clicked on Ross +Metaxa's desk and he said loudly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“What?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't yell at me,”</span> Irene snapped +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page028">[pg 028]</span><a name="Pg028" id="Pg028" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +back. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ronny's five minutes are up. +You've got an appointment. I'm getting +tired of this job. It's a mad-house. +I'm going to quit and get a +job with Interplanetary Finance.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yeah.”</span> Ross snarled back. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's what you think. I've taken +measures. Top security. I've warned +off every Commissioner in UP. You +can't get away from me until you +reach retirement age. Although I +don't know why I care. I hate nasty +tempered women.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Huh!”</span> she snorted and clicked off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“There's a woman for you,”</span> Ross +Metaxa growled at Ronny. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's too +bad she's indispensable. I'd love to +fire her. Look, you go in and see Sid +Jakes. Seems to me he said something +about Tommy Paine this morning. +Maybe it's a lead.”</span> He came to his +feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“So long and good luck, Ronny. +I feel optimistic about you. I think +you'll get this Paine troublemaker.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Which was more than Ronny +Bronston thought. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes already had a visitor in +his office, which didn't prevent him +from yelling, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's open,”</span> when Ronny +Bronston knocked. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He bounced from his chair, came +around the desk and shook hands enthusiastically. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ronny!”</span> he said, his +tone implying they were favorite +brothers for long years parted. <span class="tei tei-q">“You're +just in time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny took in the office's other +occupant appreciatively. She was a +small girl, almost tiny. He estimated +her to be at least half Chinese, or +maybe Indo-Chinese, the rest probably +European or North American. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She evidently favored her Asiatic +blood, her dress was traditional Chinese, +slit almost to the thigh Shanghai +style. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Tog Lee Chang +Chu—Ronny Bronston. You'll be +working together. Bloodhounding old +Tommy Paine. A neat trick if you +can pull it off. Well, are you all set +to go?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny mumbled something to the +girl in the way of amenity, then +looked back at the supervisor. <span class="tei tei-q">“Working +together?”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. Lucky you, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog Lee Chang Chu said demurely, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Possibly Mr. Bronston objects to +having a female assistant.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes snorted, and hurried +around his desk to resume his seat. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Does he look crazy? Who'd object to +having a cutey like you around day in +and day out? Call him Ronny. Might +as well get used to it. Two of you'll be +closer than man and wife.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Assistant?”</span> Ronny said, bewildered. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What do I need an assistant +for?”</span> He turned his eyes to the girl. +<span class="tei tei-q">“No reflection on you, Miss ... ah, +Tog.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes laughed easily. <span class="tei tei-q">“Section +G operatives always work in pairs, +Ronny. Especially new agents. The +advantages will come home to you as +you go along. Look on Tog Lee Chang +Chu as a secretary, a man Friday. +This isn't her first assignment, of +course. You'll find her invaluable.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The supervisor plucked a card from +an order box. <span class="tei tei-q">“Now here's the dope. +Can you leave within four hours? +There's a UP Space Forces cruiser +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page029">[pg 029]</span><a name="Pg029" id="Pg029" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +going to Merlini, they can drop you +off at New Delos. Fastest way you +could possibly get there. The cruiser +takes off from Neuve Albuquerque +in, let's see, three hours and forty-five +minutes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“New Delos?”</span> Ronny said, taking +his eyes from the girl and trying to +catch up with the grasshopper-like +conversation of his superior. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“New Delos it is,”</span> Jakes said happily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“With luck, you might catch him +before he can get off the planet.”</span> He +chuckled at the other's expression. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look alive, Ronny! The quarry is +flushed and on the run. Tommy +Paine's just assassinated the Immortal +God-King of New Delos. A neat +trick, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The following hours were chaotic. +There was no indication of how long +a period he'd be gone. For all he +knew, it might be years. For that matter, +he might never return to Earth. +This Ronny Bronston had realized +before he ever applied for an interplanetary +appointment. Mankind was +exploding through this spiral arm of +the galaxy. There was a racial enthusiasm +about it all. Man's destiny lay +out in the stars, only a laggard stayed +home of his own accord. It was the +ambition of every youth to join the +snowballing avalanche of man into +the neighboring stars. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It took absolute severity by Earth +authorities to prevent the depopulation +of the planet. But someone had +to stay to administer the ever more +complicated racial destiny. Earth became +a clearing house for a thousand +cultures, attempting, with only moderate +success, to co-ordinate her widely +spreading children. She couldn't +afford to let her best seed depart. Few +there were, any more, allowed to emigrate +from Earth. New colonies drew +their immigrants from older ones. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lucky was the Earthling able to +find service in interplanetary affairs, +in any of the thousands of tasks that +involved journey between member +planets of UP. Possibly one hundredth +of the population at one time +or another, and for varying lengths of +time, managed it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston was lucky and +knew it. The thing now was to pull +off this assignment and cinch the appointment +for good. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He packed in a swirl of confusion. +He phoned a relative who lived in +the part of town once known as Richmond, +explained the situation and +asked that the other store his things +and dispose of the apartment he'd +been occupying. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Luckily, the roof of his apartment +building was a copter-cab pickup +point and he was able to hustle over +to the shuttleport in a matter of a few +minutes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He banged into the reservations +office, hurried up to one of the windows +and said into the screen, <span class="tei tei-q">“I've +got to get to Neuve Albuquerque +immediately.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The expressionless voice said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The +next rocket leaves at sixteen hours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sixteen hours! I've got to be at +the spaceport by that time!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The voice said dispassionately, <span class="tei tei-q">“We +are sorry.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page030">[pg 030]</span><a name="Pg030" id="Pg030" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The bottom fell out of everything. +Ronny said, desperately, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, if I +miss my ship in Neuve Albuquerque, +what is the next spaceliner leaving +from there for New Delos?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A moment, citizen.”</span> There was an +agonized wait, and then the voice +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There is a liner leaving for New +Delos on the 14th of next month. It +arrives in New Delos on the 31st, +Basic Earth calendar.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The 31st! Tommy Paine could be +halfway across the galaxy by that +time. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A gentle voice next to him said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Could I help, Ronny?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked around at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“Evidently, +nobody can,”</span> he said disgustedly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“There's no way of getting to +Neuve Albuquerque in time to get +that cruiser to New Delos.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog Lee Chang Chu fished in her +bag and came up with a wallet similar +to the one in which Ronny carried +his Section G badge. She held it +up to the screen. <span class="tei tei-q">“Bureau of Investigation, +Section G,”</span> she said calmly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It will be necessary that Agent Bronston +and myself be in Neuve Albuquerque +within the hour.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The metallic voice said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Of course. +Proceed to your right and through +Corridor K to Exit Four. Your rocket +will be there. Identify yourself to +Lieutenant Economou who will be at +the desk at Exit Four.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog turned to Ronny Bronston. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Shall we go?”</span> she said demurely. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He cleared his throat, feeling foolish. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Thanks, Tog,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not at all, Ronny. Why, this is my +job.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Was there the faintest of sarcasm +in her voice? It hadn't been more +than a couple of hours ago that he +had been hinting rather heavily to +Sid Jakes that he needed no assistance. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She even knew the layout of the +West Greater Washington shuttleport. +Her small body swiveled through +the hurrying passengers, her small +feet a-twinkle, as she led him to and +down Corridor K and then to the +desk at Exit Four. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny anticipated her here. He +flashed his own badge at the chair-borne +Space Forces lieutenant there. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Lieutenant Economou?”</span> he said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ronald Bronston, of the Bureau of +Investigation, Section G. We've got +to get to Neuve Albuquerque soonest.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The lieutenant, only mildly impressed, +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We can have you in +the air in ten minutes, citizen. Just a +moment and I'll guide you myself.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the rocket, Ronny had time to +appraise her at greater length. She +was a delicately pretty thing, although +her expression was inclined to the +over-serious. There was only a touch +of the Mongolian fold at the corner +of her eyes. On her it looked unusually +good. Her complexion was that +which only the blend of Chinese and +Caucasian can give. Her figure, thanks +to her European blood, was fuller than +Eastern Asia usually boasts; tiny, but +full. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Let's admit it, he decided. My assistant +is the cutest trick this side of a +Tri-Di movie queen, and we're going +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page031">[pg 031]</span><a name="Pg031" id="Pg031" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to be thrown in the closest of juxtaposition +for an indefinite time. This +comes under the head of work? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look here, Tog, you were +with Sid Jakes longer than I was. +What's the full story?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She folded her slim hands in her +lap, looking like a schoolgirl about to +recite. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you know anything about +the socio-economic system on New +Delos?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, no,”</span> he admitted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said severely, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd think that +they would have given you more background +before an assignment of this +type.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said impatiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“In the +past three months I've been filled in +on the economic systems, the religious +beliefs, the political forms, of a thousand +planets. I just happened to miss +New Delos.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her mouth expressed disapproval +by rucking down on the sides, which +was all very attractive but also irritating. +She said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There are two thousand, +four hundred and thirty-six +member planets in the UP, I'd think +an agent of Section G would be up on +the basic situation on each.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He had her there. He said snidely, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the +number is two thousand, four hundred +and thirty-four.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then,”</span> she nodded agreeably, +<span class="tei tei-q">“membership has changed since this +morning when Menalaus and Aldebaran +Three were admitted. Have +two planets dropped out?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“let's stop bickering. +What's the word on New Delos?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Did you ever read Frazer's <span class="tei tei-q">‘Golden +Bough’</span>?”</span> she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You should. At any rate, New +Delos is a theocracy. A priesthood +elite rules it. A God-King, who is +immortal, holds absolute authority. +The strongest of superstition plus an +efficient inquisition, keeps the people +under control.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sounds terrible,”</span> Ronny growled. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why? Possibly the government is +extremely efficient and under it the +planet progressing at a rate in advance +of UP averages.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He stared at her in surprise. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Would you rather be +ruled by the personal, arbitrary whims +of supremely wise men, or by laws +formulated by a mob?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It stopped him momentarily. In all +his adult years, he couldn't remember +ever meeting an intelligent, educated +person who had been opposed to the +democratic theory. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wait a minute, now,”</span> he said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Who decides that they're supremely +wise men who are doing this arbitrary +ruling? Let any group come to power, +by whatever means, and they'll +soon tell you they're an elite. But +let's get back to New Delos, from +what you've said so far, the people are +held in a condition of slavery.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's wrong with slavery?”</span> Tog +said mildly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He all but glared at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are you +kidding?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I seldom jest,”</span> Tog said primly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Under the proper conditions, slavery +can be the most suitable system +for a people.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page032">[pg 032]</span><a name="Pg032" id="Pg032" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Under <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em> conditions!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Have you forgotten your Earth +history to the point where Egypt, +Greece and Rome mean nothing to +you? Man made some of his outstanding +progress under slavery. And +do you contend that man's lot is necessarily +miserable given slavery? As far +back as Aesop we know of slaves who +have reached the heights in their society. +Slaves sometimes could and did +become the virtual rulers in ancient +countries.”</span> She shrugged prettily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The prejudices which you hold today, +on Earth, do not necessarily apply +to all time, nor to all places.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said, impatiently, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, Tog, +we can go into this further, later. Let's +get back to New Delos. What happened?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The very foundation of +their theocracy is the belief on the +part of the populace that the God-King +is immortal. No man conspires +against his Deity. Supervisor Jakes +informed me that it is understood by +UP Intelligence, that about once every +twenty years the priesthood secretly +puts in a new God-King. Plastic +surgery would guarantee facial resemblance, +and, of course, the rank +and file citizen would probably never +be allowed close enough to discover +that their God-King seemed different +every couple of decades. At any rate, +it's been working for some time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And there's been no revolt against +this religious aristocracy?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shook her head. <span class="tei tei-q">“Evidently not. +It takes a brave man to revolt against +both his king and his God at the same +time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But what happened now?”</span> Ronny +pursued. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Evidently, right in the midst of a +particularly important religious ceremony, +with practically the whole +planet watching on TV, the God-King +was killed with a bomb. No +doubt about it, definitely killed. There +are going to be a lot of people on +New Delos wondering how it can be +that an immortal God-King can die.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And Sid thinks it's Tommy +Paine's work?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shifted dainty shoulders in a +shrug. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's the sort of thing he does. +I suppose we'll learn when we get +there.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Even on the fast Space Forces cruiser, +the trip was going to take a week, +and there was precious little Ronny +Bronston could do until arrival. He +spent most of his time reading up on +New Delos and the several other planets +in the UP organization which had +fairly similar regimes. More than a +few theocracies had come and gone +during the history of man's development +into the stars. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He also spent considerable time +playing Battle Chess or talking with +Tog and with the ship's officers. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +These latter were a dedicated +group, high in morale, enthusiastic +about their work which evidently involved +the combined duties of a +Navy, a Coast Guard, and a Coast and +Geodetic Survey system, if we use the +ocean going services of an earlier age +for analogy. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They all had the dream. The enthusiasm +of men participating in a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page033">[pg 033]</span><a name="Pg033" id="Pg033" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +race's expansion to glory. There was +the feeling, even stronger here in +space than back on Earth, of man's +destiny being fulfilled, that humanity +had finally emerged from its infancy, +that the fledgling had finally found its +wings and got off the ground. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After one of his studying binges, +Ronny Bronston had spent an hour +or so once with the captain of the +craft, while that officer stood an easy +watch on the ship's bridge. There +was little enough to do in space, +practically nothing, but there was always +an officer on watch. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They leaned back in the acceleration +chairs before the ship's controls +and Ronny listened to the other's +space lore. Stories of far planets, as +yet untouched. Stories of planets that +had seemingly been suitable for colonization, +but had proved disastrous +for man, for this reason or that. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“And never in all this +time have we run into a life form +that has proved intelligent?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Captain Woiski said, <span class="tei tei-q">“No. Not that +I know of. There was an animal on +Shangri-La of about the mental level +of the chimpanzee. So far as I know, +that's the nearest to it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Shangri-La?”</span> Ronny said. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's +a new one.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was an affectionate gleam in +the captain's eye. <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“If +and when I retire, I think that'd be +the planet of my choice, if I could +get permission to leave Earth, of +course.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny scowled in attempted memory. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Now that you mention it, I +think I did see it listed the other +day among planets with a theocratic +government.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The captain grunted protest. <span class="tei tei-q">“If +you're comparing it to this New Delos +you're going to, you're wrong. There +can be theocracy and theocracy, I +suppose. Actually, I imagine Shangri-La +has the most, well <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">gentle</span></em> government +in the system.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was interested. His recent +studies hadn't led him to much respect +for a priesthood in political +power. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's the particular feature +that's seemed to have gained your regard?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Moderation,”</span> Woiski chuckled. +<span class="tei tei-q">“They carry it almost to the point of +immoderation. But not quite. Briefly, +it works something like this. They +have a limited number of monks—I +suppose you'd call them—who spend +their time at whatever moves them. +At the arts, at scientific research, at +religious contemplation—any religion +will do—as students of anything and +everything, and at the governing of +Shangri-La. They make a point of enjoying +the luxuries in moderation and +aren't a severe drain on the rank and +file citizens of the planet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I have a growing distrust +of hierarchies. Who decides who +is to become a monk and who remain +a member of the rank and file?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The captain said, <span class="tei tei-q">“A series of the +best tests they can devise to determine +a person's intelligence and aptitudes. +From earliest youth, the whole +populace is checked and rechecked. +At the age of thirty, when it is considered +that a person has become +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page034">[pg 034]</span><a name="Pg034" id="Pg034" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +adult and has finished his basic education, +a limited number are offered +monkhood. Not all want it.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny thought about it. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why not? +What are the shortcomings?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The captain shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“Responsibility, +I suppose.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The monks aren't allowed sex, +booze, that sort of thing, I imagine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good heavens, why not? In moderation, +of course.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And they live on a higher scale?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No, no, not at all. Don't misunderstand. +The planet is a prosperous one. +Exceedingly prosperous. There is +everything needed for comfortable existence +for everyone. Shangri-La is +one planet where the pursuit of happiness +is pursuable by all.”</span> Captain +Woiski chuckled again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It sounds good +enough, although I'm leery of benevolent +dictatorships. The trouble with +them is that it's up to the dictators to +decide what's benevolent. And almost +always, nepotism rears its head, +favoritism of one sort or another. +How long will it be before one of +your moderate monks decides he'll +moderately tinker with the tests, or +whatever, just to be sure his favorite +nephew makes the grade? A high +I.Q. is no guarantee of integrity.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The captain didn't disagree. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's +always possible, I suppose. One guard +against it, in this case, is the matter of +motive. The <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">privilege</span></em> of being a monk +isn't as great as all that. Materially, +you aren't particularly better off than +any one else. You have more leisure, +that's true, but actually most of them +are so caught up in their studies or +research that they put in more hours +of endeavor than does the farmer or +industrial worker on Shangri-La.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well,”</span> Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“let's just hope +that Tommy Paine never hears of this +place.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Who?”</span> the captain said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston reversed his engines. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, nobody important. A guy +I know of.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Captain Woiski scowled. <span class="tei tei-q">“Seems to +me I've heard the name.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At first Ronny leaned forward with +quick interest. Perhaps the cruiser's +skipper had a lead. But, no, he sank +back into his chair. That name was +strictly a Section G pseudonym. No +one used it outside the department, +and he'd already said too much by +using the term at all. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said idly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Probably two different +people. I think I'll go on back +and see how Tog is doing.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog was at her communicator +when he entered the tiny ship's +lounge. Ronny could see in the brilliant +little screen of the compact device, +the grinning face of Sid Jakes. +Tog looked up at Ronny and smiled, +then clicked the device off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's new?”</span> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She moved graceful shoulders. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +just called Supervisor Jakes. Evidently +there's complete confusion on New +Delos. Mobs are storming the temples. +In the capital the priests tried to +present a new God-King and he was +laughed out of town.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny snorted cynically. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sounds +good to me. The more I read about +New Delos and its God-King and his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page035">[pg 035]</span><a name="Pg035" id="Pg035" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +priesthood, the more I think the best +thing that ever happened to the planet +was this showing them up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog looked at him, the sides of +her mouth tucking down as usual +when she was going to contradict +something he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“It sounds bad to +me,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy Paine's work +is done. He'll be off to some other +place and we won't get there in time +to snare him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny considered that. It was +probably true. <span class="tei tei-q">“I wonder,”</span> he said +slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“if it's possible for us to get a +list of all ships that have blasted off +since the assassination, all ships and +their destination from New Delos.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The idea grew in him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look! It's +possible that a dictatorial government +such as theirs would immediately +quarantine every spaceport on the +planet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There's only one spaceport +on New Delos. The priesthood +didn't encourage trade or even communication +with the outside. Didn't +want its people contaminated.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Holy smokes!”</span> Ronny blurted. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +possible that Tommy Paine's on that +planet and can't get off. Look, Tog, +see if you can raise the Section G +representative on New Delos and—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said demurely, <span class="tei tei-q">“I already have +taken that step, Ronny, knowing that +you'd want me to. Agent Mouley +Hassan has promised to get the name +and destination of every passenger +that leaves New Delos.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny sat down at a table and +dialed himself a mug of stout. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Drink?”</span> he said to Tog. <span class="tei tei-q">“Possibly +we've got something to celebrate.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shook her head disapprovingly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't use depressants.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was nothing more to be discussed +about New Delos, they simply +would have to wait until their arrival. +Ronny switched subjects. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ever +hear of the planet Shangri-La?”</span> he +asked her. He took a sip of his brew. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“A rather +small planet, Earth type within four +degrees. Noted for its near perfect +climate and its scenic beauty.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Captain was talking about it,”</span> +Ronny said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sounds like a regular +paradise.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog made a negative sound. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, what's wrong with Shangri-La?”</span> +Ronny said impatiently. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Static,”</span> she said briefly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“It sounds to me +as though it's developed a near perfect +socio-economic system. What do +you mean, static?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No push, no drive,”</span> Tog said definitely. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Everyone—what is the old +term?—everyone has it made. The +place is stagnating. I wouldn't be +surprised to see Tommy Paine show +up there sooner or later.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, since we've +known each other, have I ever said +anything you agree with?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog raised her delicate eyebrows. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why, Ronny. You know perfectly +well we both agreed that the eggs +for breakfast were quite inedible.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny came to his feet again. Considering +her size, she certainly was an +irritating baggage. <span class="tei tei-q">“I think I'll go to +my room and see if I can get any inspirations +on tracking down our +quarry.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page036">[pg 036]</span><a name="Pg036" id="Pg036" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good night, Ronny,”</span> she said demurely. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They ran into a minor difficulty +upon arrival at New Delos. The captain +called both Ronny Bronston and +Tog Lee Chang Chu to the bridge. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He nodded in the direction of the +communications screen. A bald headed, +robed character—obviously a +priest—scowled at them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Captain Woiski said, <span class="tei tei-q">“The Sub-Bishop +informs me that the provisional +government has ruled that any +spacecraft landing on New Delos cannot +take off again without permission +and that every individual who lands, +even United Planets personnel, will +need an exit visa before being allowed +to depart.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Then you can't +land?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The captain said reasonably, <span class="tei tei-q">“My +destination is Merlini. I've gone out +of my way slightly to drop you off +here. But I can't afford to take the +chance of having my ship tied up for +what might be an indefinite period. +Evidently, there's considerably civil +disorder down there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From the screen the priest snapped, +<span class="tei tei-q">“That is an inaccurate manner of describing +the situation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry,”</span> the captain said dryly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston said desperately, +<span class="tei tei-q">“But, captain, Miss Tog and I simply +have to land.”</span> He reached for his +badge. <span class="tei tei-q">“High priority, Bureau of Investigation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The captain shrugged his hefty +shoulders. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry, I have no instructions +that allow me to risk tying up +my ship. Here's a possibility. Can you +pilot a landing craft? I could spare +you one, then you and your assistant +would be the only ones involved. +You could turn it over to whatever +Space Forces base we have here.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said miserably, <span class="tei tei-q">“No. I'm +not a space pilot.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I am,”</span> Tog said softly. <span class="tei tei-q">“The idea +sounds excellent.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We shall expect you,”</span> the Sub-Bishop +said. The screen went blank. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog Lee Chang Chu piloted a +landing craft with the same verve that +she seemed to be able to handle any +other responsibility. As he sat in the +seat next to her, Ronny Bronston +took in her practiced flicking of the +controls from the side of his eyes. He +wondered vaguely at the efficiency of +such Section G officials as Metaxa +and Jakes that they would assign an +unknown quality such as himself to +a task as important as running down +Tommy Paine, and then as an assistant +provide him with an experienced +operative such as Tog. The bureaucratic +mind can be a dilly, he decided. +Was the fact that she was a +rather delicately constructed girl a +factor? He felt the weight of the +Model-H gun nestled under his left +armpit. Perhaps in the clutch Section +G preferred men as agents. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They swooped into a landing that +brought them as close to the control +tower as was practical. In a matter of +moments there was a guard of twenty +or more sloppily uniformed men +about their small craft. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog made a move. <span class="tei tei-q">“Welcoming +committee,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page037">[pg 037]</span><a name="Pg037" id="Pg037" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p37.png" width="700" height="427" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They climbed out the circular port, +and flashed their United Planets Bureau +of Investigation badges to the +youngish looking soldier who seemed +in command. He was indecisive. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“United Planets?”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“All I +know is I'm supposed to arrest anybody +landing.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“We're to be taken +immediately to United Planets headquarters.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, I don't know about that. I +don't take orders from foreigners.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of his men was nervously fingering +the trigger of his submachine +gun. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny's mouth went dry. He had +the feeling of being high, high on a +rock face, inadequately belayed from +above. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said smoothly, <span class="tei tei-q">“But, major, +I'm sure whoever issued your orders +had no expectation of a special delegation +from the United Planets coming +to congratulate your new authorities +on their success. Of course, it's +unknown to arrest a delegation from +United Planets.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It is?”</span> he frowned at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“I mean, +you are?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> Tog said sweetly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny took the hint. <span class="tei tei-q">“Where can +we find a vehicle, major, to get us to +the capital and to United Planets +headquarters? Evidently we arrived +before we were expected. There +should have been a big welcoming +committee here.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh,”</span> the obviously recently promoted +lad said hesitantly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, I +suppose we can make arrangements. +This way please.”</span> He grinned at Tog +as they walked toward the administration +building. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do all girls dress +like you on Earth?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, no,”</span> she said demurely. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's too bad,”</span> he said gallantly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why, major!”</span> Tog said, keeping +her eyes on the tarmac. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the administration building +there was little of order, but eventually +they managed to arrange for their +transportation. Luckily, they were +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page038">[pg 038]</span><a name="Pg038" id="Pg038" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +supplied with a chauffeur driven helio-car. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Luckily, because without the chauffeur +to help them run the gauntlet +they would have been held up by parades, +demonstrations and monstrous +street meetings a dozen times before +they ever reached their destination. +Twice, Ronny stopped short of drawing +his gun only by a fraction when +half drunken demonstrators stopped +them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The driver, a wispy, sad looking +type, shook his head. <span class="tei tei-q">“There's no +going back now,”</span> he told them over +his shoulder. <span class="tei tei-q">“No going back. Last +week I was all with the rest, I never +did believe David the One was really +Immortal. But you was just used to +the idea, see? It'd always been that +way, with the priests running everything +and we was used to it. Now I +wish we was still that way. At least +you knew how you stood, see? Now, +what's going to happen?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's an interesting question,”</span> +Tog said politely. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Possibly you'll have +the chance to build a better world, +now.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The driver shot a contemptuous +look over his shoulder. <span class="tei tei-q">“Better world? +What do I want with a better world? +I just don't want to be bothered. I've +been getting my three squares a day, +got a nice little flat for my family. +How do I know it's not going to be a +worse world?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's always a possibility,”</span> Tog +told him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do most people seem to +feel the same?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Practically everybody I know +does,”</span> he said glumly. <span class="tei tei-q">“But the fat's in +the fire now. The priests are trying to +hold on but their government is falling +apart all over the place.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well,”</span> Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“at least you +can figure just about anything in the +way of a new government will be +better than one based on superstition +and inquisition. It couldn't get worse.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Things can always get worse,”</span> the +other contradicted him sadly. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They left the cab before an impressively +tall, many windowed building +in city center. As they mounted +the steps, Ronny frowned at her. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You seemed to be encouraging that +man in his pessimism. So far as I can +see, the best thing that ever happened +to this planet was toppling that +phony priesthood.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps,”</span> she said agreeably. +<span class="tei tei-q">“However, the man's mind was an +ossified one. A surprisingly large percentage +of people have them, especially +when it comes to institutions +such as religion and government. We +weren't going to be able to teach him +anything, but it was possible to learn +from him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny grunted his disgust. <span class="tei tei-q">“What +could we possibly learn from him?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“We could learn +what people of the street were thinking. +It might give us some ideas about +what direction the new government +will take.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They approached the portals of the +building and were halted by an armed +Space Forces guard of half a dozen +men. Their sergeant saluted, taking in +their obvious other-planet clothing. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page039">[pg 039]</span><a name="Pg039" id="Pg039" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Identifications, please,”</span> he said +briskly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They showed their badges and +were passed on through. Ronny said +to him, <span class="tei tei-q">“Much trouble, sergeant?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“No. Just precautions, +sir. We've been here only +three or four weeks. Civil disturbance. +We're used to it. Were over on Montezuma +two basic months ago. Now +there was <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">real</span></em> trouble. Had to shoot +our way out.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog called, <span class="tei tei-q">“Coming Ronny? I have +this elevator waiting.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He followed her, scowling. An +idea was trying to work its way +through. Somehow he missed getting +it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Headquarters of the Department of +Justice were on the eighth floor. A +receptionist clerk led them through +three or four doors to the single office +which housed Section G. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A red eyed, exhausted agent looked +up from the sole desk and snarled +a question at them. Ronny didn't get +it, but Tog said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Probationary +Agent Ronald Bronston and Tog Lee +Chang Chu. On special assignment.”</span> +She flicked open her badge so that +the other could see it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His manner changed. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry,”</span> he +said, getting up to shake hands. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm +Mouley Hassan, in charge of Section +G on New Delos. We've just had a crisis +here, as you can imagine. The +worst of it's now over.”</span> He added +sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I hope. All my assistants +have already taken off for Avalon.”</span> +He was a short statured, dark complected +man, his features betraying +his Semitic background. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny shook hands with him and +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry to bother you at a time +like this.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They found chairs and Mouley +Hassan flicked a key on his order box +and said to them, <span class="tei tei-q">“How about a +drink? They make a wonderful +sparkling wine on this planet. Trust +any theocracy to have top potables.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny accepted the offer, Tog refused +it politely. She sat demurely, +her hands in her lap. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan ran a weary hand +through already mussed hair. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's +this special assignment you're on?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Commissioner Metaxa +has sent me looking for Tommy +Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy Paine!”</span> the other blurted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“At a time like this, when I haven't +had three nights' sleep in the last +three basic weeks, you come around +looking for Tommy Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was taken aback. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sid Jakes +seemed to think this might be one +of Paine's jobs.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“What better +place to look for Tommy Paine, than +in a situation like this, Agent Hassan?”</span> +Her eyebrows went up. <span class="tei tei-q">“Or +don't you think the quest for Paine +is an important one?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other subsided somewhat. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +suppose you're right,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm +deathly tired. Do whatever you want. +But don't expect much from me.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, just a trifle tartly, Ronny +thought, <span class="tei tei-q">“We'll have to call on you, +as usual, Agent Hassan. There's probably +no single job in Section G more +important than the pursuit of Tommy +Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page040">[pg 040]</span><a name="Pg040" id="Pg040" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right, all right,”</span> Mouley Hassan +admitted. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll co-operate. How +long have you been away from +Earth?”</span> he said to Ronny. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“About one basic week.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh,”</span> he grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“This is your +first stop, eh? Well, I don't envy you +your job.”</span> He brought a cool bottle +from a delivery drawer in the desk +along with two glasses. <span class="tei tei-q">“Here's the +wine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny leaned forward to accept +the glass. <span class="tei tei-q">“This situation here,”</span> he +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“do you think it can be laid to +Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan shrugged wearily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny sipped the drink, looking at +the tired agent over the glass rim. +<span class="tei tei-q">“From what we understand, check has +been kept on all persons leaving the +planet since the bombing.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Check is right. There's only one +ship that took off and it carried nobody +except my assistants. If you ask +me, I still needed them, but some +brass hat back on Earth decided they +were more necessary over on Avalon.”</span> +He was disgusted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny put the glass down. <span class="tei tei-q">“You +mean only one ship's left this planet +since the God-King was killed?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. It was like pulling +teeth to get the visas.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How many men aboard?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan looked at him +speculatively. <span class="tei tei-q">“Four-man crew and +six Section G operatives.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said brightly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Why, that +means, then, that either Tommy +Paine is still on this planet, or he's +one of the passengers or crew members +of that ship.”</span> She added, <span class="tei tei-q">“That +is, of course, unless he had a private +craft, hidden away somewhere.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny slumped back into his chair +as some of the ramifications came +home to him. <span class="tei tei-q">“If it was Tommy +Paine at all,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's +always a point.”</span> He finished his glass +and looked pleadingly at Tog. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look, +I have work. If I can finish some of +it, I might have time for some sleep. +Couldn't we postpone the search for +Tommy Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said nothing to him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny came to his feet. <span class="tei tei-q">“We'll get +along. A couple of ideas occur to me. +I'll check with you later.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Fine,”</span> the agent said. He shook +hands with them again. He said, +somehow more to Tog than to Ronny, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I know how important your job +is. It's just that I've been pushed to +the point where I can't operate efficiently.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She smiled her understanding, +gave him her small, delicate hand. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the elevator, Ronny said to her, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why should this sort of thing particularly +affect Section G?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's times like this that +planets drop out of the UP. Or, possibly, +get into the hands of some +jingoistic military group and start off +halfcocked to provoke a war with +some other planet, or to missionarize +or propagandize it.”</span> She thought +about it a moment. <span class="tei tei-q">“A new revolution, +in government or religion, +seems almost invariably to want to +spread the light. An absolute compulsion +to bring to others the new truths +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page041">[pg 041]</span><a name="Pg041" id="Pg041" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that they've found.”</span> She added, her +voice holding a trace of mockery, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Usually the new truths are rather +hoary ones, and there are few interested +in hearing them.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They spent their first day in getting +accommodations in a centrally located +hotel, in making arrangements, +through the Department of Justice, +for the local means of exchange—it +turned out to be coinage, based on +gold—and getting the feel of their +surroundings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Evidently Delos, the capital city of +the planet New Delos, was but slowly +emerging from the chaos that had +taken over on the assassination. A +provisional government, composed of +representatives of half a dozen different +organizations which had +sprung up like mushrooms following +the collapse of the regime, had assumed +power. Elections had been +promised and were to be brought off +when arrangements could be made. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Meanwhile, the actual government +was still largely in the hands of the +lower echelons of the priesthood. A +nervous priesthood it was, seemingly +desirous of getting out from under +while the going was good, afraid of +being held responsible for former excesses. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston, high hopes still +in his head, looked up the Sub-Bishop +who had given them landing orders +while they were still aboard the +Space Forces cruiser. Tog was off +making arrangements for various details +involved in their being in Delos +in its time of crisis. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A dozen times, on his way over to +keep his appointment with the official, +Ronny had to step into doorways, or +in other wise make himself inconspicuous. +Gangs of demonstrators +roamed the street, some of them +drunken, looking for trouble, and +scornful of police or the military. +Twice, when it looked as though he +might be roughed up, Ronny drew +his gun and held it in open sight, +ready for use, but not threateningly. +The demonstrators made off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +His throat was dry by the time he +reached his destination. The life of a +Section G agent, on interplanetary +assignment, had its drawbacks. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Sub-Bishop had formerly been +in charge of Interplanetary Communications +which involved commerce +as well as intercourse with United +Planets. It must have been an ultra-responsible +position only a month +ago. Now his offices were all but deserted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at Ronny's badge, only +vaguely interested. <span class="tei tei-q">“Section G of the +Bureau of Investigation,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +don't believe I am aware of your responsibilities. +However,”</span> he nodded +with sour courtesy, <span class="tei tei-q">“please be seated. +You must forgive my lack of ability +to offer refreshment. Isn't there an +old tradition about rats deserting a +sinking ship? I am afraid my former +assistants had rodentlike instincts.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Section G deals with +Interplanetary Security, sir—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I am addressed as Holiness,”</span> the +other said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny looked at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sorry,”</span> he +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am a citizen of the United +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page042">[pg 042]</span><a name="Pg042" id="Pg042" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Planets, not any one planet, even +Earth. UP citizens have complete religious +freedom. In my case I am unaffiliated +with any church.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Sub-Bishop let it pass. He +said sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I am afraid that even +here on New Delos, I am seldom +honoured by my title any more. Go on, +you say you deal with Interplanetary +Security.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's correct. In cases like this +we're interested in checking to see +if there is any possibility that citizens +of planets other than New Delos +are involved in your internal affairs.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other's eyes were suddenly +slits. He said, heavily, <span class="tei tei-q">“You suspect +that David the One was assassinated +by an alien?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny had to tread carefully here. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I make no such suggestion. I am +merely here to check on the possibility. +If such was the case, my duty +would be to arrest the man, or men.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“If we got hold of him, you'd have +small chance of asserting your authority,”</span> +the priest growled. <span class="tei tei-q">“What +did you want to know?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I understand that no interplanetary +craft have left New Delos since +the assassination.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“None except a United Planets +ship which was carefully inspected.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said tightly, <span class="tei tei-q">“But what facilities +do you have to check on secret +spaceports, possibly located in some +remote desert or mountain area?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The New Delian laughed sourly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“There is no other planet in all the +United Planets with our degree of +security. We even imported the most +recent developments in artificial satellites +equipped with the most delicate +of detection devices. I assure you, it +is utterly impossible for a spacecraft +to land or take off from New Delos +without our knowledge.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston's eyes lit with excitement. +<span class="tei tei-q">“These security measures of +yours. To what extent do you keep +under observation all aliens on the +planet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The priest's chuckle had a nasty +quality. <span class="tei tei-q">“You are quite ignorant of +our institutions, evidently. Every person +on New Delos, in every way of +life, was under constant survey from +the cradle to the grave. Aliens were +highly discouraged. When they appeared +on New Delos at all, they +were restricted in their movements +to this, our capital city.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny let air whistle from his +lungs. <span class="tei tei-q">“Then,”</span> he said triumphantly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“if any alien had anything to do with +this, he is still on the planet. Can you +get me a list of all aliens?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other laughed again, still sourly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“But there are none. None except +you employees of United Planets. +I'm afraid you're on a wild-goose +chase.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny stared at him blankly. <span class="tei tei-q">“But +commercial representatives, cultural +exchange—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The priest said flatly, <span class="tei tei-q">“No. None +at all. All commerce was handled +through UP. We encouraged no cultural +exchanges. We wished to keep +our people uncorrupted. United +Planets alone had the right to land +on our one spaceport.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Section G agent came to his +feet. This was much simpler than he +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page043">[pg 043]</span><a name="Pg043" id="Pg043" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +could ever have hoped for. He +thanked the other, but avoided the +necessity of shaking hands, and left. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He found a helio-cab and dialed it +to the UP building, finding strange +the necessity of slipping coins into +the vehicle's slots until the correct +amount for his destination had been +deposited. Coinage was no longer in +use on Earth. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the UP building he retraced his +steps of the day before to the single +office of Section G. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To his surprise, not only Mouley +Hassan was there, but Tog as well. +Hassan had evidently had at least a +few hours of sleep. He was in better +shape. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They exchanged the usual amenities +and took their chairs again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We were just gossiping. +It's been years since I've been in +Greater Washington. Lee Chang tells +me that Sid Jakes is now a Supervisor. +I worked with him for a while, +when I first joined Section G. How +about a glass of wine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Look. If Tommy +Paine was connected with this, and +it's almost positive he was, we've got +him.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The others looked at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You've evidently been busy,”</span> Tog +said mildly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He turned to her. <span class="tei tei-q">“He's trapped, +Tog! He can't get off the planet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan rubbed a hand +through his hair. <span class="tei tei-q">“It'd be hard, all +right. They've got the people under +rein here such as you've never seen +before. Or they did until this blew up.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny sketched the situation to +Tog, winding up with, <span class="tei tei-q">“The only +thing that makes sense is that it's a +Tommy Paine job. The local citizens +would never have been able to get +their hands on such a bomb, or been +able to have made the arrangements +for its delivery. They're under too +much surveillance.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said thoughtfully, <span class="tei tei-q">“but how +did he escape all this surveillance?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't you understand? He's +working here, in this building, as an +employee of UP. There is no other +alternative.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They stared at him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I think perhaps you're right,”</span> Tog +said finally. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny turned to Mouley Hassan. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Can you get a list of all UP employees?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course.”</span> He flicked his order +box, barked a command into it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's going to be a matter +of eliminating the impossible. +For instance, what is the earliest +known case of Tommy Paine's activity?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog thought back. <span class="tei tei-q">“So far as we +know definitely, about twenty-two +years ago.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Fine,”</span> Ronny said, increasingly +excited. <span class="tei tei-q">“That will eliminate all persons +less than, say, forty years of age. +We can assume he was at least twenty +when he began.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Can we eliminate all +women employees?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'd think so. The few +times he's been seen, all reports are +of a man. And that case on the planet +Mother where he put himself over as +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page044">[pg 044]</span><a name="Pg044" id="Pg044" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a Holy Man. He could hardly have +been a woman in disguise in a Stone +Age culture such as that.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“And this Tommy +Paine has been flitting around this +part of the galaxy for years, so anyone +who has been here steadily for a period +of even a couple of years or so, +can't be suspect.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan thrust his hand +into a delivery drawer and brought +forth a handful of punched cards, +possibly fifty in all. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Surely there's more people than +that working in this building,”</span> Ronny +protested. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“No. I've +eliminated already everyone who is a +citizen of New Delos. Obviously, +Tommy Paine is an alien. We have +only forty-eight Earthlings and other +United Planets citizens working +here.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He carried the cards to a small collator +and worked for a moment on +its controls, as Tog and Ronny +watched him with mounting tension. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Let's see,”</span> he muttered. <span class="tei tei-q">“We eliminate +all women, all those less than +forty, all who haven't done a great +deal of travel, those who have been +here for several years.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The end of it was that they eliminated +everyone employed in the UP +building. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The cards were stacked back on +Mouley Hassan's desk again, and the +three of them sat around and looked +glumly at them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“He's tinkered with +the files. He counterfeited fake papers +for himself, or something. Possibly +he's pulled his own card and it +isn't in this stack you have.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We'll double-check +all those possibilities, but +you're wrong. Possibly a few hundred +years ago, but not today. Forgery and +counterfeiting are things of the past. +And, believe me, the Bureau of Investigation +and especially Section G, +may look on the slipshod side, but +they aren't. We're not going to find +anything wrong with those cards. +Tommy Paine simply is not working +for UP on New Delos.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then,”</span> Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“there's only +one alternative. He's on this UP ship +going to, what was the name of its +destination?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Avalon,”</span> Mouley Hassan said, his +face thoughtful. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you have any ideas +on the men aboard?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There were +four crew men, and six of our agents.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Unless one of them has +faked papers, the six agents are eliminated. +That leaves the crew members. +Do you know anything about +them?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Hassan shook his head. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Let's communicate +with Avalon. Tell our representatives +there to be sure that none of the occupants +of that ship leaves Avalon +until we get there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Good idea.”</span> +He turned to his screen and said into +it, <span class="tei tei-q">“Section G, Bureau of Investigation, +on the Planet Avalon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In moment the screen lit up. An +elderly agent, as Section G agents +seemed to go, looked up at them. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page045">[pg 045]</span><a name="Pg045" id="Pg045" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan held his silver badge +so the other could see it and on the +Avalon agent's nod said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm Hassan +from New Delos. We've just had a +crisis here and there seems to be +a chance that it's a Tommy Paine job. +Agent Bronston here is on an assignment +tracking him down. I'll turn it +over to Bronston.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Avalon agent nodded again, +and looked at Ronny. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said urgently, <span class="tei tei-q">“We haven't +the time to give you details, but every +indication is that Paine is on a UP +spacecraft with Avalon as its destination. +There are only ten men aboard, +and six of them are Section G operatives.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other pursed his lips. <span class="tei tei-q">“I see. +You think you have the old fox cornered, +eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Possibly,”</span> Ronny said. <span class="tei tei-q">“There are +various ifs. Miss Tog and I can double +check here. Then as soon as we can +clear exit visas, we'll make immediate +way for Avalon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Avalon Section G agent said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I haven't the authority to control the +movements of other agents, they have +as high rank as I have,”</span> he added, +expressionlessly, <span class="tei tei-q">“and probably higher +than yours.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“But the four-man +crew?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other said, <span class="tei tei-q">“These men are +coming to Avalon to work on a job +that will take at least six months. +We'll make a routine check, and I'll +try and make sure the whole ten will +still be on Avalon when and if you +arrive.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They had to be satisfied with that. +They checked all ways from the +middle, nor did it take long. There +was no doubt. If this was a Tommy +Paine job, and it almost surely was, +then there was only one way in which +he could have escaped from the planet +and that was by the single spacecraft +that had left, destination Avalon. +He was not on the planet, that +was definite Ronny felt. A stranger +on New Delos was as conspicuous as +a walrus in a goldfish bowl. There +simply were no such. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They spent most of their time +checking and rechecking United +Planets personnel, but there was no +question there either. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan and others of UP +personnel helped cut the red tape involved +in getting exit visas from New +Delos. It wasn't as complicated as it +might have been a week or two before. +No one seemed to be so confident +of his authority in the new provisional +government that he dared +veto a United Planets request. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Mouley Hassan was able to arrange +for a small space yacht, slower +than a military craft, but capable of +getting them to Avalon in a few +days time. A one-man crew was sufficient, +Ronny, and especially Tog, +could spell him on the watches. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Time aboard was spent largely in +studying up on Avalon, going over +and over again anything known about +the elusive Tommy Paine, and playing +Battle Chess and bickering with +Tog Lee Chang Chu. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +If it hadn't been for this ability to +argue against just about anything +Ronny managed to say, he could have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page046">[pg 046]</span><a name="Pg046" id="Pg046" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been attracted to her to the detriment +of the job. She was a good traveler, +few people are; she was an ultra-efficient +assistant; she was a joy to +look at; and she never intruded. But, +Great Guns, the woman could bicker. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The two of them were studying in +the ship's luxurious lounge when +Ronny looked up and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you +have any idea why those six agents +were sent to Avalon?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He indicated the booklet he was +reading. <span class="tei tei-q">“From what I can see here, +it sounds like one of the most advanced +planets in the UP. They've +made some of the most useful advances +in industrial techniques of the +past century.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I don't know,”</span> Tog mused. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +haven't much regard for Industrial +Feudalism myself. It starts off with +a bang, but tends to go sterile.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Industrial feudalism,”</span> he said indignantly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What do you mean? The +government is a constitutional monarchy +with the king merely a powerless +symbol. The standard of living is +high. Elections are honest and democratic. +They've got a three-party system....”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Which is largely phony,”</span> Tog interrupted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You've got to do some +reading between the lines, especially +when the books you're reading are +turned out by the industrial feudalistic +publishing companies in Avalon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's this industrial feudalism, +you keep talking about? Avalon has a +system of free enterprise.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A gobbledygook term,”</span> Tog said, +irritatingly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Industrial feudalism is a +socio-economic system that develops +when industrial wealth is concentrated +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page047">[pg 047]</span><a name="Pg047" id="Pg047" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +into the hands of a comparatively +few families. It finally gets to the +point of a closed circle all but impossible +to break into. These industrial +feudalistic families become so +powerful that only in rare instances +can anyone lift himself into their society. +They dominate every field, including +the so-called labor unions, +which amount to one of the biggest +businesses of all. With their unlimited +resources they even own every +means of dispensing information.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You mean,”</span> Ronny argued, <span class="tei tei-q">“that +on Avalon you can't start up a newspaper +of your own and say whatever +you wish?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Certainly you can, theoretically. +If you have the resources. Unfortunately, +such enterprises become increasingly +expensive to start. Or you +could start a radio, TV or Tri-Di station—if +you had the resources. However, +even if you overcame all your +handicaps and your newspaper or +broadcasting station became a success, +the industrial feudalistic families +in control of Avalon's publishing +and broadcasting fields have the endless +resources to buy you out, or +squeeze you out, by one nasty means +or another.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, the people +must be satisfied or they'd vote some +fundamental changes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“They're satisfied, and +no wonder. Since childhood every +means of forming their opinions have +been in the hands of industrial feudalistic +families—including the schools.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You mean the schools are private?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No, they don't have to be. The +government is completely dominated +by the fifty or so families which for +all practical purposes own Avalon. +That includes the schools. Some of +the higher institutions of learning are +private, but they, too, are largely dependent +upon grants from the families.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was irritated by her know-all +air. He tapped the book he'd been +reading with a finger. <span class="tei tei-q">“They don't +control the government. Avalon's got +a three-party system. Any time the +people don't like the government, +they can vote in an alternative.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's an optical illusion. There +are three parties, but each is dominated +by the fifty families, and election +laws are such that for all practical +purposes it's impossible to start +another party. Theoretically it's possible, +actually it isn't. The voters can +vary back and forth between the three +political parties but it doesn't make +any difference which one they elect. +They all stand for the same thing—a +continuation of the status quo.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then you claim it isn't democracy +at all?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog sighed. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's a much abused +word. Actually, pure democracy is +seldom seen. They pretty well had it +in primitive society where government +was based on the family. You +voted for one of your relatives in +your clan to represent you in the +tribal councils. Every one in the tribe +was equal so far as apportionments of +the necessities of life were concerned. +No one, even the tribal chiefs, ate +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page048">[pg 048]</span><a name="Pg048" id="Pg048" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +better than anyone else, no one had +a better home.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, snappishly, <span class="tei tei-q">“And if +man had remained at that level, we'd +never have gotten anywhere.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“For progress, +man needed a leisure class. +Somebody with the time to study, to +experiment, to work things out.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“We're getting away from +the point. You said in spite of appearances +they don't have democracy +on Avalon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“They have a pretense of it. But +only free men can practice democracy. +So long as your food, clothing +and shelter are controlled by someone +else, you aren't free. Wait until I +think of an example.”</span> She put her +right forefinger to her chin, thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Holy smokes, she was a cute trick. +If only she wasn't so confounded irritating. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you remember the +State of California in Earth history?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I think so. On the west coast of +North America.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. Well, back in the +Twentieth Century, Christian calendar, +they had an economic depression. +During it a crackpot organization +called Thirty Dollars Every +Thursday managed to get itself on +the ballot. Times were bad enough +but had this particular bunch got into +power it would have become chaotic. +At first no thinking person took them +seriously, however a majority of people +in California at that time had +little to lose and in the final week +or so of the election campaign the +polls showed that Thirty Dollars Every +Thursday was going to win. So, a +few days before voting many of the +larger industries and businesses in +the State ran full page ads in the +newspapers. They said substantially +the same thing. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">If Thirty Dollars +Every Thursday wins this election, +our concern will close its doors. Do +not bother to come back to work +Monday.</span></span>”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was scowling at her. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What's your point?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shrugged delicate shoulders. +<span class="tei tei-q">“The crackpots were defeated, of +course, which was actually good for +California. But my point is that the +voters of California were not actually +free since their livelihoods were controlled +by others. This is an extreme +case, of course, but the fact always +applies.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A thought suddenly hit Ronny +Bronston. <span class="tei tei-q">“Look,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy +Paine. Do you think he's merely escaping +from New Delos, or is it possible +that Avalon is his next destination? +Is he going to try and overthrow +the government there?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She was shaking her head, but +frowning. <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't think so. Things +are quite stable on Avalon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Stable?”</span> he scowled at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“From +what you've been saying, they're +pretty bad.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She continued to shake her head. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't misunderstand, Ronny. On an +assignment like this, it's easy to get +the impression that all the United +Planets are in a state of socio-political +confusion, but it isn't so. A small +minority of planets are ripe for the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page049">[pg 049]</span><a name="Pg049" id="Pg049" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sort of trouble Tommy Paine stirs +up. Most are working away, developing, +making progress, slowly evolving. +Avalon is one of these. The way +things are there, Tommy Paine couldn't +make a dent on changing things, +even if he wanted to, and there's no +particular reason to believe he does.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny growled. <span class="tei tei-q">“From what I can +learn of the guy he's anxious to stir +up trouble wherever he goes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I don't know. If there's any pattern +at all in his activities, it seems to be +that he picks spots where things are +ripe to boil over on their own. He +acts as a catalyst. In a place like Avalon +he wouldn't get to first base. +Possibly fifty years from now, things +will have developed on Avalon to +the point where there is dissatisfaction. +By that time,”</span> she said dryly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“we'll assume Tommy Paine will no +longer be a problem to the Commissariat +of Interplanetary Affairs for +one reason or the other.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny took up his book again. He +growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“I can't figure out his motivation. +If I could just put my finger +on that.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For once she agreed with him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I've got an idea, Ronny, that once +you have that, you'll have Tommy +Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They drew blank on Avalon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Or, at least, it was drawn for them +before they ever arrived. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Section G agent permanently +assigned to that planet had already +checked and double checked the possibilities. +None of the four-man crew +of the UP spacecraft had been on +New Delos at the time of the assassination +of the God-King. They, and +their craft, had been light-years away +on another job. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston couldn't believe +it. He simply couldn't believe it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The older agent, his name was +Jheru Bulchand, was definite. He +went over it with Ronny and Tog +in a bar adjoining UP headquarters. +He had dossiers on each of the ten +men, detailed dossiers. On the face of +it, none of them could be Paine. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But one of them has to be,”</span> Ronny +pleaded. He explained their method +of eliminating the forty-eight employees +of UP on New Delos. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bulchand shrugged. <span class="tei tei-q">“You've got +holes in that method of elimination. +You're assuming Tommy Paine is an +individual, and you have no reason +to. My own theory is that it's an organization.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said unhappily, <span class="tei tei-q">“Then you're +of the opinion that there is a +Tommy Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The older agent was puffing comfortably +on an old style briar pipe. He +nodded definitely. <span class="tei tei-q">“I believe Tommy +Paine exists as an organization. Possibly +once, originally, it was a single +person, but now it's a group. How +large, I wouldn't know. Probably not +too large or by this time somebody +would have betrayed it, or somebody +would have cracked and we would +have caught them. Catch one and +you've got the whole organization +what with our modern means of interrogation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I've heard the opinion +before.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page050">[pg 050]</span><a name="Pg050" id="Pg050" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jheru Bulchand pointed at Ronny +with his pipe stem. <span class="tei tei-q">“If its an organization, +then none of that eliminating +you did is valid. Your assassin could +have been one of the women. He +could have been one of the men you +eliminated as too young—someone +recently admitted to the Tommy +Paine organization.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny checked the last of his theories. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why did Section G send six of +its agents here?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nothing to do with Tommy +Paine,”</span> Bulchand said. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's a different +sort of crisis.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Just for my own satisfaction, what +kind of crisis?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bulchand sketched it quickly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“There are two Earth type planets in +this solar system. Avalon was the +first to be colonized and developed +rapidly. After a couple of centuries, +Avalonians went over and settled on +Catalina. They eventually set up a +government of their own. Now Avalon +has a surplus of industrial products. +Her economic system is such +that she produces more than she can +sell back to her own people. There's +a glut.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said demurely, <span class="tei tei-q">“So, of course, +they want to dump it in Catalina.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bulchand nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“In fact, they're +willing to give it away. They've offered +to build railroads, turn over +ships and aircraft, donate whole factories +to Catalina's slowly developing +economy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, how does that +call for Section G agents?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Catalina has evoked Article Two +of the UP Charter. No member planet +of UP is to interfere with the internal +political, socio-economic or religious +affairs of another member +planet. Avalon claims the Charter +doesn't apply since Catalina belongs +to the same solar system and since +she's a former colony. We're trying to +smooth the whole thing over, before +Avalon dreams up some excuse for +military action.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny stared at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“I get the +feeling every other sentence is being +left out of your explanation. It just +doesn't make sense. In the first place, +why is Avalon as anxious as all that +to give away what sounds like a fantastic +amount of goods?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I told you, they have a glut. They've +overproduced and, as a result, +they've got a king-size depression on +their hands, or will have unless they +find markets.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, why not trade with some of +the planets that want her products?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said as though reasoning with +a youngster, <span class="tei tei-q">“Planets outside her own +solar system are too far away for it +to be practical even if she had commodities +they didn't. She needs a +nearby planet more backward than +herself, a planet like Catalina.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, that brings us to the more +fantastic question. Why in the world +doesn't Catalina accept? It sounds +to me like pure philanthropy on the +part of Avalon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bulchand was wagging his pipe +stem in a negative gesture. <span class="tei tei-q">“Bronston, +governments are never motivated +by idealistic reasons. Individuals +might be, and even small groups, but +governments never. Governments, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page051">[pg 051]</span><a name="Pg051" id="Pg051" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +including that of Avalon, exist for the +benefit of the class or classes that control +them. The only things that motivate +them are the interests of that +class.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, this sounds like an exception,”</span> +Ronny said argumentatively. +<span class="tei tei-q">“How can Catalina lose if the Avalonians +grant them railroads, factories +and all the rest of it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't you see, Ronny? +It gives Avalon a foothold in the +Catalina economy. When the locomotives +wear out on the railroad, new +engines, new parts, must be purchased. +They won't be available on +Catalina because there will be no +railroad industry because none will +have ever grown up. Catalina manufacturers +couldn't compete with that +initial free gift. They'll be dependent +on Avalon for future equipment. In +the factories, when machines wear +out, they will be replaceable only +with the products of Avalon's industry.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bulchand said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There's an analogy +in the early history of the United +States. When its fledgling steel industry +began, they set up a high tariff +to protect it against British competition. +The British were amazed and +indignant, pointing out that they +could sell American steel products at +one third the local prices, if only +allowed to do so. The United States +said no thanks, it didn't want to be +tied, industrially, to Great Britain's +apron strings. And in a couple of +decades American steel production +passed England's. In a couple of more +decades American steel production +was many times that of England's +and she was taking British markets +away from her all over the globe.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“At any rate,”</span> Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“it's not +a Tommy Paine matter.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Just for luck, though, Ronny and +Tog double checked all over again on +Bulchand's efforts. They interviewed +all six of the Section G agents. Each +of them carried a silver badge that +gleamed only for the individual who +possessed it. All of which eliminated +the possibility that Paine had assumed +the identity of a Section G +operative. So that was out. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They checked the four crew members, +but there was no doubt there, +either. The craft had been far away +at the time of the assassination on +New Delos. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the third day, Ronny Bronston, +disgusted, knocked on the door of +Tog's hotel room. The door screen lit +up and Tog, looking out at him said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, come on in, Ronny, I was just +talking to Earth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He entered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog had set up her Section G communicator +on a desk top and Sid +Jakes' grinning face was in the tiny, +brilliant screen. Ronny approached +close enough for the other to take +him in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes said happily, <span class="tei tei-q">“Hi, Ronny, no +luck, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny shook his head, trying not +to let his face portray his feelings of +defeat. This after all was a probationary +assignment, and the supervisor +had the power to send Ronny +Bronston back to the drudgery of his +office job at Population Statistics. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page052">[pg 052]</span><a name="Pg052" id="Pg052" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Still working on it. I suppose it's +a matter of returning to New Delos +and grinding away at the forty-eight +employees of the UP there.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes pursed his lips. <span class="tei tei-q">“I don't +know. Possibly this whole thing was a +false alarm. At any rate, there seems +to be a hotter case on the fire. If our +local agents have it straight, Paine is +about to pull one of his coups on +Kropotkin. This is a top-top-secret, +of course, one of the few times we've +ever detected him before the act.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was suddenly alert, his fatigue +of disgust of but a moment ago, +completely forgotten. <span class="tei tei-q">“Where?”</span> he +said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Kropotkin,”</span> Jakes said. <span class="tei tei-q">“One of +the most backward planets in UP and +seemingly a setup for Paine's sort of +trouble making. The authorities, if +you can use the term applied to +Kropotkin, are already complaining, +threatening to invoke Article One of +the Charter, or to resign from UP.”</span> +Jake looked at Tog again. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you +know Kropotkin, Lee Chang?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shook her head. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've heard of +it, rather vaguely. Named after some +old anarchist, I believe.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's the place. One of the few +anarchist societies in UP. You don't +hear much from them.”</span> He turned to +Ronny again. <span class="tei tei-q">“I think that's your bet. +Hop to it, boy. We're going to catch +this Tommy Paine guy, or organization, +or whatever, soon or United +Planets is going to know it. We can't +keep the lid on indefinitely. If word +gets around of his activities, then +we'll lose member planets like Christmas +trees shedding needles after +New Year's.”</span> He grinned widely. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's sounds like a neat trick, eh?”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston had got to the +point where he avoided controversial +subjects with Tog even when provoked +and she had a sneaky little way +of provoking arguments. They had +only one really knock down and drag-out +verbal battle on the way to Kropotkin. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It had started innocently enough +after dinner on the space liner on +which they had taken passage for the +first part of the trip. To kill time they +were playing Battle Chess with its +larger board and added contingents +of pawns and castles. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said idly, <span class="tei tei-q">“You know, in +spite of the fact that I'm a third generation +United Planets citizen and +employee, I'm just beginning to realize +how far out some of our member +planets are. I had no idea before.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She frowned in concentration, before +moving. She was advancing her +men in echelon attack, taking losses +in exchange for territory and trying +to pen him up in such small space +that he couldn't maneuver. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She said, <span class="tei tei-q">“How do you mean?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny lifted and dropped a shoulder. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, New Delos and its theocracy, +for instance, and Shangri-La +and Mother and some of the other +planets with extremes in government +of socio-economic system. I hadn't +the vaguest idea about such places.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She made a deprecating sound. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You should see Amazonia, or, for +that matter, the Orwellian State.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Amazonia</span></span>,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“does that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page053">[pg 053]</span><a name="Pg053" id="Pg053" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +mean what it sounds like it does?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She made her move and settled +back in satisfaction. Her pawns were +in such position that his bishops were +both unusable. He'd tried to play a +phalanx game in the early stages of +her attack, but she'd broken through, +rolling up his left flank after sacrificing +a castle and a knight. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Certainly does,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“A fairly +recently colonized planet. A few +thousand feminists no men at all—moved +onto it a few centuries ago. +And it's still an out and out matriarchy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny cleared his throat delicately. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Without men ... ah, how did +they continue several centuries?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog suppressed her amusement. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Artificial insemination, at first, so I +understand. They brought their, ah, +supply with them. But then there +were boys among the first generation +on the new planet and even the +Amazonians weren't up to cold bloodedly +butchering their children. So they +merely enslaved them. Nice girls.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny stared at her. <span class="tei tei-q">“You mean +all men are automatically slaves on +this planet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny made an improperly +thought out move, trying to bring up +a castle to reinforce his collapsing +flank. He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“UP allows <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">anybody</span></em> +to join evidently,”</span> and there was disgust +in his voice. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why not?”</span> she said mildly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, there should be <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">some</span></em> standards.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog moved quickly, dominating +with a knight several squares he couldn't +afford to lose. She looked up at +him, her dark eyes sparking. <span class="tei tei-q">“The +point of UP is to include all the planets. +That way at least conflict can be +avoided and some exchange of science, +industrial techniques and cultural +gains take place. And you must +remember that while in power practically +no socio-economic system will +admit to the fact that it could possibly +change for the better. But actually +there is nothing less stable. Socio-economic +systems are almost always +in a condition of flux. Planets such as +Amazonia might for a time seem so +brutal in their methods as to exclude +their right to civilized intercourse +with the rest. However, one of these +days there'll be a change—or one of +these centuries. They all change, +sooner or later.”</span> She added softly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Even Han.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Han?”</span> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her voice was quiet. <span class="tei tei-q">“Where I was +born, Ronny. Colonized from China +in the very early days. In fact, I spent +my childhood in a commune.”</span> She +said musingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“The party bureaucrats +thought their system an impregnable, +unchangeable one. Your move.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was fascinated. <span class="tei tei-q">“And what +happened?”</span> He was in full retreat +now, and with nowhere to go, his +pieces pinned up for the slaughter. +He moved a pawn to try and open +up his queen. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Why don't you concede?”</span> she said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy Paine happened.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Paine!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Uh-huh. It's a long story. I'll tell +you about it some time.”</span> She pressed +closer with her own queen. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page054">[pg 054]</span><a name="Pg054" id="Pg054" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He stared disgustedly at the board. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, that's what I mean,”</span> he muttered. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I had no idea there were so +many varieties of crackpot politico-economic +systems among the UP +membership.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“They're not necessarily crackpot,”</span> +she protested mildly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just at different +stages of development.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not crackpot!”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Here we +are heading for a planet named Kropotkin +which evidently practices anarchy.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Your move,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“What's +wrong with anarchism?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He glowered at her, in outraged +disgust. Was it absolutely impossible +for him to say anything without her +disagreement? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog said mildly, <span class="tei tei-q">“The anarchistic +ethic is one of the highest man has +ever developed.”</span> She added, after +a moment of pretty consideration. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Unfortunately, admittedly, it hasn't +been practical to put to practice. It +will be interesting to see how they +have done on Kropotkin.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Anarchist ethic, yes,”</span> Ronny +snapped. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm no student of the movement +but the way I understand it, +there isn't any.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog smiled sweetly. <span class="tei tei-q">“The belief +upon which they base their teachings +is that no man is capable of judging +another.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny cast his eyes ceilingward. +<span class="tei tei-q">“O.K., I give up!”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She began rapidly resetting the +pieces. <span class="tei tei-q">“Another game?”</span> she said +brightly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hey! I didn't mean the game! I +was just about to counterattack.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ha!”</span> she said. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Section G agent on Kropotkin +was named Hideka Yamamoto, but +he was on a field tour and wouldn't +be back for several days. However, +there wasn't especially any great hurry +so far as Ronny Bronston and Tog +Lee Chang Chu knew. They got themselves +organized in the rather rustic +equivalent of a hotel, which was located +fairly near UP headquarters, +and took up the usual problems of +arranging for local exchange, meals, +means of transportation and such +necessities. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was a greater problem than +usual. In fact, hadn't it been for the +presence of the UP organization, +which had already gone through all +this the hard way, some of the difficulties +would have been all but insurmountable. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For instance, there was no local +exchange. There was no medium of +exchange at all. Evidently simple +barter was the rule. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the hotel—if it could be called +a hotel—lobby, Ronny Bronston +looked at Tog. <span class="tei tei-q">“Anarchism!”</span> he said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, great. The highest ethic of all. +And what's the means of transportation +on this wonderful planet? The +horse. And how are we going to get a +couple of horses with no means of +exchange?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She tinkled laughter. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“You're the +Man Friday. You find out the details +and handle them. I'm going out to +take a look around the town—if you +can call this a town.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page055">[pg 055]</span><a name="Pg055" id="Pg055" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's the capital of Kropotkin,”</span> Tog +said placatingly, though with a mocking +background in her tone. <span class="tei tei-q">“Name +of Bakunin. And very pleasant, too, +from what little I've seen. Not a bit +of smog, industrial fumes, street dirt, +street noises—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“How could there be?”</span> he injected +disgustedly. <span class="tei tei-q">“There isn't any industry, +there aren't any cars, and for all +practical purposes, no streets. The +houses are a quarter of a mile or so +apart.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She laughed at him again. <span class="tei tei-q">“City +boy,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Go on out there and +enjoy nature a little. It'll do you +good. Anybody who has cooped himself +up in that one big city, Earth, +all his life ought to enjoy seeing +what the great outdoors looks like.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at her and grinned. She +was cute as a pixie, and there were +no two ways about that. He wondered +for a moment what kind of a wife +she'd make. And then shuddered inwardly. +Life would be one big contradiction +of anything he'd managed to +get out of his trap. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He strolled idly along what was +little more than a country path and +it came to him that there were probably +few worlds in the whole UP +where he'd have been prone to do this +within the first few hours he'd been +on the planet. He would have been +afraid, elsewhere, of anything from +footpads to police, from unknown +vehicles to unknown traffic laws. +There was something bewildering +about being an Earthling and being +set down suddenly in New Delos or +on Avalon. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Here, somehow, he already had a +feeling of peace. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Evidently, although Bakunin was +supposedly a city, its populace tilled +their fields and provided themselves +with their own food. He could see no +signs of stores or warehouses. And +the UP building, which was no great +edifice itself, was the only thing in +town which looked even remotely +like a governmental building. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bakunin was neat. Clean as a pin, +as the expression went. Ronny was +vaguely reminded of a historical Tri-Di +romance he'd once seen. It had +been laid in ancient times in a community +of the Amish in old Pennsylvania. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He approached one of the wooden +houses. The things would have been +priceless on Earth as an antique to be +erected as a museum in some crowded +park. For that matter it would +have been priceless for the wood it +contained. Evidently, the planet Kropotkin +still had considerable virgin +forest. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An old-timer smoking a pipe, sat +on the cottage's front step. He nodded +politely. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny stopped. He might as well +try to get a little of the feel of the +place. He said courteously, <span class="tei tei-q">“A pleasant +evening.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old-timer nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“As evenings +should be after a fruitful day's +toil. Sit down, comrade. You must be +from the United Planets. Have you +ever seen Earth?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny accepted the invitation and +felt a soothing calm descend upon +him almost immediately. An almost +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page056">[pg 056]</span><a name="Pg056" id="Pg056" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +disturbingly pleasant calm. He said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I was born on Earth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ai?”</span> the old man said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Tell me. +The books say that Kropotkin is an +Earth type planet within what they +call a few degrees. But is it? Is Kropotkin +truly like the mother planet?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny looked about him. He'd +seen some of this world as the shuttle +rocket had brought them down from +the passing liner. The forests, the +lakes, the rivers, and the great sections +untouched by man's hands. +Now he saw the areas between +homes, the neat fields, the signs of +human toil—the toil of hands, not +machines. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> he said, shaking his head. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm afraid not. This is how Earth +must once have been. But no longer.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The other nodded. <span class="tei tei-q">“Our total population +is but a few million,”</span> he said. +Then, <span class="tei tei-q">“I would like to see the mother +planet, but I suppose I never shall.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said diplomatically, <span class="tei tei-q">“I have +seen little of Kropotkin thus far but +I am not so sure but that I might not +be happy to stay here, rather than +ever return to Earth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old man knocked the ashes +from his pipe by striking it against +the heel of a work-gnarled hand. +He looked about him thoughtfully +and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, perhaps you're right. +I am an old man and life has been +good. I suppose I should be glad that +I'll unlikely live to see Kropotkin +change.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Change? You plan changes?”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old man looked at him and +there seemed to be a very faint bitterness, +politely suppressed. <span class="tei tei-q">“I wouldn't +say <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">we</span></em> planned them, comrade. Certainly +not we of the older generation. +But the trend toward change is already +to be seen by anyone who +wishes to look, and our institutions +won't long be able to stand. But, of +course, if you're from United Planets +you would know more of this than I.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm sorry. I don't know what you're +talking about.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You are new indeed on Kropotkin,”</span> +the old man said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Just a moment.”</span> +He went into his house and +emerged with a small power pack. He +indicated it to Ronny Bronston. +<span class="tei tei-q">“This is our destruction,”</span> he said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Section G agent shook his +head, bewildered. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old-timer sat down again. +<span class="tei tei-q">“My son,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“runs the farm +now. Six months ago, he traded one +of our colts for a small pump, powered +by one of these. It was little use +on my part to argue against the step. +The pump eliminates considerable +work at the well and in irrigation.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny still didn't understand. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“The power pack is dead now,”</span> the +old man said, <span class="tei tei-q">“and my son needs a +new one.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“They're extremely cheap,”</span> Ronny +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“An industrialized planet turns +them out in multi-million amounts at +practically no cost.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“We have little with which to +trade. A few handicrafts, at most.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“But, good heavens, +man, build yourselves a plant to +manufacture power packs. With a +population this small, a factory employing +no more than half a dozen +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page057">[pg 057]</span><a name="Pg057" id="Pg057" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +men could turn out all you need.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old man was shaking his head. +He held up the battery. <span class="tei tei-q">“This comes +from the planet Archimedes,”</span> he said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“one of the most highly industrialized +in the UP, so I understand. On Archimedes +do you know how many persons +it takes to manufacture this +power pack?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 60%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p46.png" width="700" height="471" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“A handful to operate the whole +factory, Archimedes is fully automated.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old man was still moving his +head negatively. <span class="tei tei-q">“No. It takes the total +working population of the planet. +How many different metals do you +think are contained in it, in all? I +can immediately see what must be +lead and copper.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said uncomfortably, <span class="tei tei-q">“Probably +at least a dozen, some in microscopic +amounts.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. So we need a highly +developed metallurgical industry before +we can even begin. Then a developed +transportation industry to +take metals to the factory. We need +power to run the factory, hydro-electric, +solar, or possibly atomic power. +We need a tool-making industry +to equip the factory, the transport +industry and the power industry. And +while the men are employed in these, +we need farmers to produce food for +them, educators to teach them the +sciences and techniques involved, and +an entertainment industry to amuse +them in their hours of rest. As their +lives become more complicated with +all this, we need a developed medical +industry to keep them in health.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old man hesitated for a moment, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page058">[pg 058]</span><a name="Pg058" id="Pg058" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +then said, <span class="tei tei-q">“And, above all, we +need a highly complicated government +to keep all this accumulation of +wealth in check and balance. No. +You see, my friend, it takes <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">social +labor</span></em> to produce products such as +this, and thus far we have avoided +that on Kropotkin. In fact, it was for +such avoidance that my ancestors +originally came to this planet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, scowling, <span class="tei tei-q">“This gets +ridiculous. You show me this basically +simple power pack and say it will +ruin your socio-economic system. On +the face of it, it's ridiculous.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The old man sighed and looked +out over the village unseeingly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's +not just that single item, of course. +The other day one of my neighbors +turned up with a light bulb with +built-in power for a year's time. It is +the envy of the unthinking persons +of the neighborhood most of whom +would give a great deal for such a +source of light. A nephew of mine +has somehow even acquired a powered +bicycle, I think you call them, +from somewhere or other. One by +one, item by item, these products of +advanced technology turn up—from +whence, we don't seem to be able to +find out.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Under his breath, Ronny muttered, +<span class="tei tei-q">“<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Paine!</span></span>”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your pardon,”</span> the old man +said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nothing,”</span> the Section G agent +said. He leaned forward and, a worried +frown working its way over his +face, began to question the other +more closely. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Afterwards, Ronny Bronston strode +slowly toward the UP headquarters. +There was only a small contingent of +United Planets personnel on this little +populated member planet but, as +always, there seemed to be an office +for Section G. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny stood outside it for a moment. +There were voices from within, +but he didn't knock. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In fact, he cast his eyes up and +down the short corridor. At the far +end was a desk with a girl in the +Interplanetary Cultural Exchange Department +working away in concentration. +She wasn't looking in his direction. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston put his ear to the +door. The building was primitive +enough, rustic enough in its construction, +to permit his hearing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog Lee Chang Chu was saying +seriously, <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, it was chaotic all right, +but no, I don't really believe it could +have been a Tommy Paine case. Actually +I'd suggest to you that you run +over to Catalina. When I was on Avalon +I heard rumors that Tommy +Paine's finger seemed to be stirring +around in the mess there. Yes, I'd +recommend that you take off for Catalina +immediately. If Paine is anywhere +in this vicinity at all, it would +be Catalina.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For a moment, Ronny Bronston +froze. Then in automatic reflex his +hand went inside his jacket to rest +over the butt of the Model H automatic +there. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No, that wasn't the answer. His +hand dropped away from the gun. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He listened, further. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Another voice was saying, <span class="tei tei-q">“We +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page059">[pg 059]</span><a name="Pg059" id="Pg059" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +thought we were on the trail for a +while on Hector, but it turned out it +wasn't Paine. Just a group of local +agitators fed up with the communist +regime there. There's going to be a +blood bath on Hector, before they're +through, but it doesn't seem to be +Paine's work this time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog's voice was musing. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, you +never know, it sounds like the sort of +muck he likes to play in.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The strange voice said argumentatively, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Well, Hector <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">needs</span></em> a few +fundamental changes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It could be,”</span> Tog said, <span class="tei tei-q">“but that's +their internal affairs, of course. Our +job in Section G is to prevent troubles +between the differing socio-economic +and religious features of member +planets. Whatever we think of +some of the things Paine does, our +task is to get him.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston pushed the door +open and went through. Tog Lee +Chang Chu was sitting at a desk, +nonchalant and petitely beautiful as +usual, comfortably seated in easy-chairs +were two young men by their +attire probably citizens of United +Planets and possibly even Earthlings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hello, Ronny,”</span> Tog said softly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Meet Frederic Lippman and Pedro +Nazaré, both Section G operatives. +This is my colleague, Ronald Bronston, +gentlemen. Fredric and Pedro +were just leaving, Ronny.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The two agents got up to shake +hands. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You can't be in that +much of a hurry. What's your assignment, +boys?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lippman, an earnest type, and by +his appearance not more than twenty-five +or so years of age, began to answer, +but Nazaré said hurriedly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Actually, +it's a confidential assignment. +We're working directly out of the +Octagon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lippman said, frowning, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's not +that confidential, Tog. Bronston's an +agent, too. What's your assignment, +Ronny?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said very slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm beginning +to suspect that it's the same +as yours and various pieces are beginning +to fall into place.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Lippman was taken aback. <span class="tei tei-q">“You +mean you're looking for Tommy +Paine?”</span> His eyes went to his associate. +<span class="tei tei-q">“How could that be, Tog? I didn't +know more than one of us were on +this job. Why, that means if Bronston +here finds him first, I won't get my +permanent appointment.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny looked at Tog Lee Chang +Chu who was sitting demurely, hands +in lap, and a resigned expression on +her face. He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Nor if you find +him first, will I. Look here, Tog, how +many men does Sid Jakes have out on +this assignment?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I wouldn't know,”</span> she said mildly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“A few dozen or so? +Or possibly a few hundred?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It seems unlikely there could be +that many,”</span> she said mildly. She +looked at the other two agents. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +think you two had better run along. +Take my suggestion I made earlier.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wait a minute,”</span> Ronny snapped. +<span class="tei tei-q">“You mean that they go to Catalina? +That's ridiculous.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog Lee Chang Chu looked at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page060">[pg 060]</span><a name="Pg060" id="Pg060" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Pedro Nazaré and he turned and +started for the door followed by Fredric +Lippman who was still scowling +his puzzlement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wait a minute!”</span> Ronny snapped. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I tell you it's ridiculous. And why +follow her suggestions? She's just my +assistant.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Pedro Nazaré said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Come on, Fred, +let's get going, we'll have to pack.”</span> +But Lippman wasn't having any. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“His assistant?”</span> he said to Tog Lee +Chang Chu. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog Lee Chang Chu's face changed +expression in sudden decision. She +opened her bag and brought forth a +Section G identification wallet and +flicked it open. The badge was gold. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I suggest you hurry,”</span> she said to the +two agents. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They left, and Tog turned back to +Ronny, her eyebrows raised questioningly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny sank down into one of the +chairs recently occupied by the other +two agents and tried to unravel +thoughts. He said finally, <span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose +my question should be, why do Ross +Metaxa and Sid Jakes send an agent +of supervisor rank to act as assistant +to a probationary agent? But that's +not what I'm asking yet. First, Lippman +just called his buddy Tog. How +come?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Tog took her seat again, rueful +resignation on her face. <span class="tei tei-q">“You should +be figuring it out on your own by +this time, Ronny.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at her belligerently. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I'm too stupid, eh?”</span> The anger was +growing within him. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tog,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“It's a nickname, +or possibly you might call it a title. +Tog. T-O-G. The Other Guy. My +name is Lee Chang Chu, and I'm of +supervisor grade presently working +at developing new Section G operatives. +Considering the continuing +rapid growth of UP, and the continuing +crises that come up in UP activities, +developing new operatives is one +of the department's most pressing +jobs. Each new agent, on his first assignment, +is always paired with an +experienced old-timer.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“I see,”</span> he said flatly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Your principal +job being to needle the fledging, +eh?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She lowered her eyes. <span class="tei tei-q">“I wouldn't +exactly word it that way,”</span> she said. +She was obviously unrepentant. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You must get a lot of +laughs out of it. If I say, it seems to +me democracy is a good thing, you +give me an argument about the superiority +of rule by an elite. If I say +anarchism is ridiculous, you dredge +up an opinion that it's man's highest +ethic. You must laugh yourself to +sleep at nights. You and Metaxa and +Jakes and every other agent in Section +G. Everybody is in on the Tog gag +but the sucker.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sometimes there are amusing elements +to the work,”</span> Lee Chang conceded, +demurely. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Just one more thing I'd like to +ask,”</span> Ronny rapped. <span class="tei tei-q">“This first assignment, +agents are given. Is it always +to look for Tommy Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked up at him, said nothing, +but her eyes were questioning. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't worry,”</span> he snapped. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've +already found out who Paine is.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page061">[pg 061]</span><a name="Pg061" id="Pg061" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ah?”</span> She was suddenly interested. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Then I'm glad I ordered that +other probationary agent to leave. +Evidently, he hasn't. Obviously, I didn't +want the two of you comparing notes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“No, that would never do,”</span> he said +bitterly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, this is the end of the +assignment so far as you and I are +concerned. I'm heading back for +Earth.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He had time on the way to think +it all over, and over and over again, +and a great deal of it simply didn't +make sense. He had enough information +to be disillusioned, sick at heart. +To have crumbled an idealistic edifice +that had taken a lifetime to build. +A lifetime? At least three. His father +and his grandfather before him +had had the dream. He'd been weaned +on the idealistic purposes of the United +Planets and man's fated growth +into the stars. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He was a third-generation dreamer +of participating in the glory. His +grandfather had been a citizen of +Earth and gave up a commercial position +to take a job that amounted to +little more than a janitor in an obscure +department of Interplanetary +Financial Clearing. He wanted to get +into the big job, into space, but never +made it. Ronny's father managed to +work up to the point where he was a +supervisor in Interplanetary Medical +Exchange, in the tabulating department. +He, too, had wanted into space, +and never made it. Ronny had loved +them both. In a way fulfilling his own +dreams had been a debt he owed +them, because at the same time he +was fulfilling theirs. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And now this. All that had been +gold, was suddenly gilted lead. The +dream had become contemptuous +nightmare. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Finally back in Greater Washington, +he went immediately from the +shuttleport to the Octagon. His Bureau +of Investigation badge was +enough to see him through the guide-guards +and all the way through to the +office of Irene Kasansky. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She looked up at him quickly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hi,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Ronny Bronston, isn't +it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right. I want to see Commissioner +Metaxa.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She scowled. <span class="tei tei-q">“I can't work you in +now. How about Sid Jakes?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Jakes is in charge of the +Tommy Paine routine, isn't he?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She shot a sharper look up at him. +<span class="tei tei-q">“That's right,”</span> she said warily. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right,”</span> Ronny said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'll see +Jakes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Her deft right hand slipped open +a drawer in her desk. <span class="tei tei-q">“You'd better +leave your gun here,”</span> she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've +known probationary agents to get excited, +in my time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked at her. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +And she looked back, her gaze +level. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston shrugged, slipped +the Model H from under his armpit +and tossed it into the drawer. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Irene Kasansky went back to her +work. <span class="tei tei-q">“You know the way,”</span> she said. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This time Ronny Bronston pushed +open the door to Sid Jakes' office without +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page062">[pg 062]</span><a name="Pg062" id="Pg062" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +knocking. The Section G supervisor +was poring over reports on his +desk. He looked up and grinned his +Sid Jakes' grin. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ronny!”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Welcome back. +You know, you're one of the quickest +men ever to return from a Tommy +Paine assignment. I was talking to +Lee Chang only a day or so ago. She +said you were on your way.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny grunted, his anger growing +within him. He lowered himself into +one of the room's heavy chairs, and +glared at the other. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes chuckled and leaned back +in his chair. <span class="tei tei-q">“Before we go any further, +just to check, who is Tommy +Paine?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“You are.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The supervisor's eyebrows went up. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You and Ross Metaxa +and Lee Chang Chu—and all the rest +of Section G. Section G is Tommy +Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good man!”</span> Sid Jakes chortled. +He flicked a switch on his order box. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Irene,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“how about clearing +me through to the commissioner? I +want to take Ronny in for his finals.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Irene snapped back something and +Sid Jakes switched off and turned to +Ronny happily. <span class="tei tei-q">“Let's go,”</span> he said. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ross is free for a time.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston said nothing. He +followed the other. The rage within +him was still mounting. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the months that had elapsed +since Ronny Bronston had seen Ross +Metaxa the latter had changed not at +all. His clothing was still sloppy, his +eyes bleary with lack of sleep or +abundance of alcohol—or both. His +expression was still sour and skeptical. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He looked up at their entry and +scowled, and made no effort to rise +and shake hands. He said to Ronny +sourly, <span class="tei tei-q">“O.K., sound off and get it +over with. I haven't too much time +this afternoon.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston was just beginning +to feel tentacles of cold doubt, +but he suppressed them. The boiling +anger was uppermost. He said flatly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“All my life I've been a dedicated +United Planets man. All my life I've +considered its efforts the most praiseworthy +and greatest endeavor man +has ever attempted.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Of course, old chap,”</span> Jakes told +him cheerfully. <span class="tei tei-q">“We know all that, or +you wouldn't ever have been chosen +as an agent for Section G.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny looked at him in disgust. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I've resigned that position, Jakes.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes grinned back at him. <span class="tei tei-q">“To the +contrary, you're now in the process +of receiving permanent appointment.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny snorted his disgust and +turned back to Metaxa. <span class="tei tei-q">“Section G is +a secret department of the Bureau of +Investigation devoted to subverting +Article One of the United Planets +Charter.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa nodded. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You don't deny it?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa shook his head. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Article One,”</span> Ronny snapped, <span class="tei tei-q">“is +the basic foundation of the Charter +which every member of UP and particularly +every citizen of United Planets, +such as ourselves, has sworn to +uphold. But the very reason for the +existence of this Section G is to interfere +with the internal affairs of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page063">[pg 063]</span><a name="Pg063" id="Pg063" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +member planets, to subvert their governments, +their economic systems, +their religions, their ideals, their very +way of life.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa yawned and reached into a +desk drawer for his bottle. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's +right,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Anybody like a +drink?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny ignored him. <span class="tei tei-q">“I'm surprised +I didn't catch on even sooner,”</span> he +said. <span class="tei tei-q">“On New Delos Mouley Hassan, +the local agent, knew the God-King +was going to be assassinated. He +brought in extra agents and even a detail +of Space Forces guards for the +emergency. He probably engineered +the assassination himself.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Nope,”</span> Jakes said. <span class="tei tei-q">“We seldom go +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">that</span></em> far. Local rebels did the actual +work, but, admittedly, we knew what +they were planning. In fact, I've got +a sneaking suspicion that Mouley +Hassan provided them with the bomb. +That lad's a bit too dedicated.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">why</span></em>,”</span> Ronny blurted. <span class="tei tei-q">“That's +deliberately interfering with internal +affairs. If the word got out, every +planet in UP would resign.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Probably no planet in the system +that needed a change so badly,”</span> Metaxa +growled. <span class="tei tei-q">“If they were ever going +to swing into real progress, that +hierarchy of priests had to go.”</span> He +snorted. <span class="tei tei-q">“An immortal God-King, +yet.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny pressed on. <span class="tei tei-q">“That was bad +enough, but how about this planet +Mother, where the colonists had attempted +to return to nature and live +in the manner man did in earliest +times.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Most backward planet in the UP,”</span> +Metaxa said sourly. <span class="tei tei-q">“They just had to +be roused.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“And Kropotkin!”</span> Ronny blurted. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Don't you understand, those people +were <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">happy</span></em> there. Their lives were +simple, uncomplicated, and they had +achieved a happiness that—”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa came to his feet. He +scowled at Ronny Bronston and +growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“Unfortunately, the human +race can't take the time out for happiness. +Come along, I want to show +you something.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +He swung around the corner of his +desk and made his way toward a +ceiling-high bookcase. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny stared after him, taken off +guard, but Sid Jakes was grinning his +amusement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ross Metaxa pushed a concealed +button and the bookcase slid away to +one side to reveal an elevator beyond. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Come along,”</span> Metaxa repeated +over his shoulder. He entered the +elevator, followed by Jakes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +There was nothing else to do. +Ronny Bronston followed them, his +face still flushed with the angered +argument. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The elevator dropped, how far, +Ronny had no idea. It stopped and +they emerged into a plain, sparsely +furnished vault. Against one wall +was a boxlike affair that reminded +Ronny of nothing so much as a deep-freeze. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For all practical purposes, that's +what it was. Ross Metaxa led him +over and they stared down into its +glass-covered interior. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny's eyes bugged. The box contained +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page064">[pg 064]</span><a name="Pg064" id="Pg064" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the partly charred body of an +animal approximately the size of a +rabbit. No, not an animal. It had obviously +once been clothed, and its +limbs were obviously those of a tool +using life form. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa and Jakes were staring +down at it solemnly, for once no inane +grin on the supervisor's face. +And that of Ross Metaxa was more +weary than ever. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said finally, <span class="tei tei-q">“What is it?”</span> +But he knew. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You tell us,”</span> Metaxa growled +sourly. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's an intelligent life form,”</span> +Ronny blurted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why has it been +kept secret?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Let's go on back upstairs,”</span> Metaxa +sighed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Back in his office he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Now I +go into my speech. Shut up for a +while.”</span> He poured himself a drink, +not offering one to the other two. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Ronny,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“man isn't alone +in the galaxy. There's other intelligent +life. Dangerously intelligent.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In spite of himself Ronny reacted +in amusement. <span class="tei tei-q">“That little creature +down there? The size of a small +monkey?”</span> As soon as he said it, he +realized the ridiculousness of his +statement. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa grunted. <span class="tei tei-q">“Obviously, size +means nothing. That little fellow +down there was picked up by one of +our Space Forces scouts over a century +ago. How long he'd been drifting +through space, we don't know. +Possibly only months, but possibly +hundreds of centuries. But however +long he's proof that man is not alone +in the galaxy. And we have no way +of knowing when the expanding human +race will come up against this +other intelligence—and whoever it +was fighting.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 40%; text-align: center"><img src="images/p57.png" width="218" height="700" alt="Illustration." /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But,”</span> Ronny protested, <span class="tei tei-q">“you're +assuming they're aggressive. Perhaps +coming in contact with these aliens +will be the best thing that ever happened +to man. Possibly that little +fellow down there is the most benevolent +creature ever evolved.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa looked at him strangely. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Let's hope so,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“However, +when found he was in what must +have been a one-man scout. He was +dead and his craft was blasted and +torn—obviously from some sort of +weapons' fire. His scout was obviously +a military craft, highly equipped with +what could only be weapons, most of +them so damaged our engineers haven't +been able to figure them out. To +the extent they have been able to reconstruct +them, they're scared silly. +No, there's no two ways about it, our +little rabbit sized intelligence down +in the vault was killed in an interplanetary +conflict. And sooner or +later, Ronny, man in his explosion +into the stars is going to run into +either or both of the opponents in +that conflict.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston slumped back into +his chair, his brain running out a +dozen leads at once. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa and Jakes remained quiet, +looking at him speculatively. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Then the purpose +of Section G is to push the +member planets of UP along the +fastest path of progress, to get them +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page065">[pg 065]</span><a name="Pg065" id="Pg065" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ready for the eventual, inevitable +meeting.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Not just Section G,”</span> Metaxa +growled, <span class="tei tei-q">“but all of the United Planets +organization, although most of +the rank and file don't even know our +basic purpose. Section G? We do the +dirty work, and are proud to do it, by +every method we can devise.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny leaned forward. <span class="tei tei-q">“But look,”</span> +he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why not simply inform all +member planets of this common danger? +They'd all unite in the effort to +meet the common potential foe. +Anything standing in the way would +be brushed aside.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa shook his head wearily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Would they? Is a common danger +enough for man to change his institutions, +particularly those pertaining +to property, power and religion? History +doesn't show it. Delve back into +early times and you'll recall, for an +example, that in man's early discovery +of nuclear weapons he almost destroyed +himself. Three or four different +socio-economic systems co-existed +at that time and all would have +preferred destruction rather than +changes in their social forms.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Jakes said, in an unwonted quiet +tone, <span class="tei tei-q">“No, until someone comes up +with a better answer it looks as +though Section G is going to have to +continue the job of advancing man's +institutions, in spite of himself.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The commissioner made it clearer. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's not as though we deal with all +our member planets. It isn't necessary. +But you see, Ronny, the best +colonists are usually made up of the, +well, crackpot element. Those who +are satisfied, stay at home. America, +for instance, was settled by the adventurers, +the malcontents, the non-conformists, +the religious cultists, +and even fugitives and criminals of +Europe. So it is in the stars. A group +of colonists go out with their dreams, +their schemes, their far-out ideas. In a +few centuries they've populated their +new planet, and often do very well +indeed. But often not and a nudge, a +push, from Section G can start them +up another rung or so of the ladder of +social evolution. Most of them don't +want the push. Few cultures, if any, +realize they are mortal; like Hitler's +Reich, they expect to last at least a +thousand years. They resist any +change—even change for the better.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny's defenses were crumbling, +but he threw one last punch. <span class="tei tei-q">“How +do you know the changes you make +are for the better?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa shrugged heavy shoulders. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It's sometimes difficult to decide, but +we aim for changes that will mean an +increased scientific progress, a more +advanced industrial technology, more +and better education, the opening of +opportunity for every member of +the culture to exert himself to the +full of his abilities. The last is particularly +important. Too many cultures, +even those that think of themselves +as particularly advanced, suppress +the individual by one means or +another.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny was still mentally reeling +with the magnitude of it all. <span class="tei tei-q">“But how +can you account for the fact that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page066">[pg 066]</span><a name="Pg066" id="Pg066" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +these alien intelligences haven't already +come in contact with us?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa shrugged again. <span class="tei tei-q">“The Solar +System, our sun, is way out in a +sparsely populated spiral arm of our +galaxy. Undoubtedly, these others +are further in toward the center. We +have no way of knowing how far +away they are, or how many sun +systems they dominate, or even how +many other empires of intelligent life +forms there are. All we know is that +there are other intelligences in the +galaxy, that they are near enough +like us to live on the same type planets. +The more opportunity man has +to develop before the initial contact +takes place, the stronger bargaining +position, or military position, as the +case may be, he'll be in.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sid Jakes summed up the Tommy +Paine business for Ronny's sake. <span class="tei tei-q">“We +need capable agents badly, but we +need dedicated and efficient ones. We +can't afford anything less. So when +we come upon potential Section G +operatives we send them out with a +trusted Tog to get a picture of these +United Planets of ours. It's the +quickest method of indoctrination +we've hit upon; the agent literally +teaches himself by observation and +participation. Usually, it takes four or +five stops, on this planet and that, before +the probationary agent begins +sympathizing with the efforts of this +elusive Tommy Paine. Especially +since every Section G agent he runs +into, including the Tog, of course, +fills him full of stories of Tommy +Paine's activities.</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“You were one of the quickest to +stumble on the true nature of our +Section G. After calling at only three +planets you saw that we ourselves +are Tommy Paine.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“But ... but what's the end?”</span> +Ronny said plaintively. <span class="tei tei-q">“You say our +job is advancing man, even in spite +of himself when it comes to that. +We start at the bottom of the evolutionary +ladder in a condition of savagery, +clan communism in government, +simple animism in religion, and +slowly we progress through barbarism +to civilization, through paganism to +the higher ethical codes, through +chattel slavery and then feudalism +and beyond. What is the final end, +the Ultima Thule?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Metaxa was shaking his head +again. He poured himself another +drink, offered the bottle this time to +the others. <span class="tei tei-q">“We don't know,”</span> he said +wearily, <span class="tei tei-q">“perhaps there is none. Perhaps +there is always another rung on +this evolutionary ladder.”</span> He punched +at his order box and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Irene, +have them do up a silver badge for +Ronny.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ronny Bronston took a deep +breath and reached for the brown +bottle. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well,”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose +I'm ready to ask for my first assignment.”</span> +He thought for a moment. +<span class="tei tei-q">“By the way, if there's any way to +swing it, I wouldn't mind working +with Supervisor Lee Chang Chu.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +THE END +</p> +</div> +</div> +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader1" id="rightpageheader1"></a><a name="pgtoc2" id="pgtoc2"></a><a name="pdf3" id="pdf3"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">October 25, 2009 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name"> + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + </span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader4" id="rightpageheader4"></a><a name="pgtoc5" id="pgtoc5"></a><a name="pdf6" id="pdf6"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 30334-h.html or + 30334-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/3/3/30334/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/3/0/3/3/30334/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + Created electronically. + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + <language id="fr"></language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2009-10-25">October 25, 2009</date> + <respStmt> + <name> + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + </name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .boxed { x-class: boxed } + .shaded { x-class: shaded } + .rules { x-class: rules; rules: all } + .indent { margin-left: 2 } + .bold { font-weight: bold } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + </pgStyleSheet> + + <pgCharMap formats="txt.iso-8859-1"> + <char id="U0x2014"> + <charName>mdash</charName> + <desc>EM DASH</desc> + <mapping>--</mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2003"> + <charName>emsp</charName> + <desc>EM SPACE</desc> + <mapping> </mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2026"> + <charName>hellip</charName> + <desc>HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS</desc> + <mapping>...</mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">Ultima Thule</p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">by</p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">Dallas McCord Reynolds</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">Illustrated by John Schoenherr.</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Analog Science Fact & Fiction</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">March 1961</p> + </div> + + </front> +<body> + +<p> +[Transcriber's Note: This text was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction March +1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed.] +</p> + +<pb n='009'/><anchor id='Pg009'/> + +<div> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/front.png' rend='width: 60%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +At least he'd got far +enough to wind up with +a personal interview. +It's one thing doing up +an application and seeing +it go onto an endless tape and be +fed into the maw of a machine and +then to receive, in a matter of moments, +a neatly printed rejection. It's +another thing to receive an appointment +to be interviewed by a placement +officer in the Commissariat of +Interplanetary Affairs, Department +of Personnel. Ronny Bronston was +under no illusions. Nine out of ten +men of his age annually made the +same application. Almost all were +annually rejected. Statistically speaking +practically nobody ever got an +interplanetary position. But he'd +made step one along the path of a +lifetime ambition. +</p> + +<p> +He stood at easy attention immediately +inside the door. At the desk at +the far side of the room the placement +officer was going through a +sheaf of papers. He looked up and +said, <q>Ronald Bronston? Sit down. +You'd like an interplanetary assignment, +eh? So would I.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny took the chair. For a moment +he tried to appear alert, earnest, +ambitious but not <emph>too</emph> ambitious, +fearless, devoted to the cause, and indispensable. +For a moment. Then he +gave it up and looked like Ronny +Bronston. +</p> + +<p> +The other looked up and took him +in. The personnel official saw a man +of averages. In the late twenties. Average +height, weight and breadth. +Pleasant of face in an average sort of +way, but not handsome. Less than +sharp in dress, hair inclined to be on +the undisciplined side. Brown of +hair, dark of eye. In a crowd, inconspicuous. +In short, Ronny Bronston. +</p> + +<p> +The personnel officer grunted. He +pushed a button, said something into +his order box. A card slid into the +slot and he took it out and stared +gloomily at it. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What're your politics?</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Politics?</q> Ronny Bronston said. +<q>I haven't any politics. My father and +grandfather before me have been citizens +of United Planets. There hasn't +been any politics in our family for +three generations.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Family?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>None.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other grunted and marked the +card. <q>Racial prejudices?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I beg your pardon?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you have any racial prejudices? +Any at all.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='010'/><anchor id='Pg010'/> + +<p> +<q>No.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The personnel officer said, <q>Most +people answer that way at first, these +days, but some don't at second. For +instance, suppose you had to have a +blood transfusion. Would you have +any objection to it being blood donated +by, say, a Negro, a Chinese, or, +say, a Jew?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny ticked it off on his fingers. +<q>One of my greatgrandfathers was a +French <foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>colon</foreign> who married a Moroccan +girl. The Moors are a blend of +Berber, Arab, Jew and Negro. Another +of my greatgrandfathers was a +Hawaiian. They're largely a blend +of Polynesians, Japanese, Chinese and +Caucasians especially Portuguese. +Another of my greatgrandfathers was +Irish, English and Scotch. He married +a girl who was half Latvian, half +Russian.</q> Ronny wound it up. <q>Believe +me, if I had a blood transfusion +from just anybody at all, the blood +would feel right at home.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The interviewer snorted, even as +he marked the card. <q>That accounts +for three greatgrandfathers,</q> he said +lightly. <q>You seem to have made a +study of your family tree. What was +the other one?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Rocky said expressionlessly, <q>A +Texan.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The secretary shrugged and looked +at the card again. <q>Religion?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Reformed Agnostic,</q> Ronny said. +This one was possibly where he ran +into a brick wall. Many of the planets +had strong religious beliefs of one +sort or another. Some of them had +state religions and you either belonged +or else. +</p> + +<pb n='011'/><anchor id='Pg011'/> + +<p> +<q>Is there any such church?</q> the +personnel officer frowned. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No. I'm a one-man member. I'm +of the opinion that if there are any +greater-powers-that-be They're keeping +the fact from us. And if that's the +way They want it, it's Their business. +If and when They want to contact +me—one of Their puppets dangling +from a string—then I suppose They'll +do it. Meanwhile, I'll wait.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other said interestedly, <q>You +think that if there is a Higher Power +and if It ever wants to get in touch +with you, It will?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Um-m-m. In Its own good time. +Sort of a <hi rend='italic'>don't call Me</hi>, thing, <hi rend='italic'>I'll call +you</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The personnel officer said, <q>There +have been a few revealed religions, +you know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So they said, so they said. None of +them have made much sense to me. If +a Super-Power wanted to contact +man, it seems unlikely to me that it'd +be all wrapped up in a lot of complicated +gobbledegook. It would all be +very clear indeed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The personnel officer sighed. He +marked the card, stuck it back into +the slot in his order box and it disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +He looked up at Ronny Bronston. +<q>All right, that's all.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny came to his feet. <q>Well, +what happened?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other grinned at him sourly. +<q>Darned if I know,</q> he said. <q>By the +time you get to the outer office, you'll +probably find out.</q> He scratched the +end of his nose and said, <q>I sometimes +wonder what I'm doing here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny thanked him, told him +good-by, and left. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +In the outer office a girl looked up +from a card she'd just pulled from +her own order box. <q>Ronald Bronston?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She handed the card to him. <q>You're +to go to the office of Ross Metaxa +in the Octagon, Commissariat of Interplanetary +Affairs, Department of +Justice, Bureau of Investigation, Section +G.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In a lifetime spent in first preparing +for United Planets employment +and then in working for the organization, +Ronny Bronston had never been +in the Octagon Building. He'd seen +photographs, Tri-Di broadcasts and +he'd heard several thousand jokes on +various levels from pun to obscenity +about getting around in the building, +but he'd never been there. For that +matter, he'd never been in Greater +Washington before, other than a long +ago tourist trip. Population Statistics, +his department, had its main offices +in New Copenhagen. +</p> + +<p> +His card was evidently all that he +needed for entry. +</p> + +<p> +At the sixth gate he dismissed his +car and let it shoot back into the +traffic mess. He went up to one of +the guard-guides and presented the +card. +</p> + +<p> +The guide inspected it. <q>Section G +of the Bureau of Investigation,</q> he +muttered. <q>Every day, something +new. I never heard of it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It's probably some outfit in charge +of cleaning the heads on space liners.</q> +<pb n='012'/><anchor id='Pg012'/> +Ronny said unhappily. He'd +never heard of it either. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, it's no problem,</q> the guard-guide +said. He summoned a three-wheel, +fed the co-ordinates into it +from Ronny's card, handed the card +back and flipped an easy salute. +<q>You'll soon know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The scooter slid into the Octagon's +hall traffic and proceeded up one corridor, +down another, twice taking to +ascending ramps. Ronny had read +somewhere the total miles of corridors +in the Octagon. He hadn't believed +the figures at the time. Now +he believed them. He must have traversed +several miles before they got +to the Department of Justice alone. +It was another quarter mile to the +Bureau of Investigation. +</p> + +<p> +The scooter eventually came to a +halt, waited long enough for Ronny +to dismount and then hurried back +into the traffic. +</p> + +<p> +He entered the office. A neatly uniformed +reception girl with a harassed +and cynical eye looked up from +her desk. <q>Ronald Bronston?</q> she +said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where've you been?</q> She had a +snappy cuteness. <q>The commissioner +has been awaiting you. Go through +that door and to your left.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny went through that door and +to the left. There was another door, +inconspicuously lettered <hi rend='italic'>Ross Metaxa, +Commissioner, Section G</hi>. Ronny +knocked and the door opened. +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa was going through a +wad of papers. He looked up; a man +in the middle years, sour of expression, +moist of eye as though he either +drank too much or slept too little. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sit down,</q> he said. <q>You're Ronald +Bronston, eh? What do they call +you, Ronny? It says here you've got a +sense of humor. That's one of the +first requirements in this lunatic department.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny sat down and tried to form +some opinions of the other by his appearance. +He was reminded of nothing +so much as the stereotype city +editor you saw in the historical romance +Tri-Ds. All that was needed +was for Metaxa to start banging on +buttons and yelling something about +tearing down the front page, whatever +that meant. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa said, <q>It also says you have +some queer hobbies. Judo, small +weapons target shooting, mountain +climbing—</q> He looked up from the +reports. <q>Why does anybody climb +mountains?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Nobody's ever figured +out.</q> That didn't seem to be enough, +especially since Ross Metaxa was +staring at him, so he added, <q>Possibly +we devotees keep doing it in hopes +that someday somebody'll find out.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa said sourly, <q>Not <emph>too</emph> +much humor, please. You don't act as +though getting this position means +much to you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said slowly, <q>I figured out +some time ago that every young man +on Earth yearns for a job that will +send him shuttling from one planet +to another. To achieve it they study, +they sweat, they make all out efforts +to meet and suck up to anybody they +think might help. Finally, when and +<pb n='013'/><anchor id='Pg013'/> +if they get an interview for one of +the few openings, they spruce up in +their best clothes, put on their best +party manners, present themselves as +the sincere, high I.Q., ambitious +young men that they are—and then +flunk their chance. I decided I might +as well be what I am.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa looked at him. <q>O.K.,</q> +he said finally. <q>We'll give you a try.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said blankly, <q>You mean +I've got the job?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'll be damned.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Probably,</q> Metaxa said. He +yawned. <q>Do you know what Section +G handles?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well no, but as for me, just so I +get off Earth and see some of the +galaxy.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Metaxa had been sitting with his +heels on his desk. Now he put them +down and reached a hand into a +drawer to emerge with a brown bottle +and two glasses. <q>Do you drink?</q> he +said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Even during working hours?</q> +Metaxa scowled. +</p> + +<p> +<q>When occasion calls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good,</q> Metaxa said. He poured +two drinks. <q>You'll get your fill of +seeing the galaxy,</q> he said. <q>Not that +there's much to see. Man can settle +only Earth-type planets and after +you've seen a couple of hundred +you've seen them all.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny sipped at his drink, then +blinked reproachfully down into the +glass. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa said, <q>Good, eh? A kind of +tequila they make on Deneb Eight. +Bunch of Mexicans settled there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What,</q> said Ronny hoarsely, <q>do +they make it out of?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lord only knows,</q> Metaxa said. +<q>To get back to Section G. We're +Interplanetary Security. In short, Department +Cloak and Dagger. Would +you be willing to die for the United +Planets, Bronston?</q> +</p> + +<p> +That curve had come too fast. +Ronny blinked again. <q>Only in emergency,</q> +he said. <q>Who'd want to kill +me?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa poured another drink. +<q>Many of the people you'll be working +with,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, <emph>why</emph>? What will I be doing?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You'll be representing United +Planets,</q> Metaxa explained. <q>Representing +United Planets in cases where +the local situation is such that the +folks you're working among will be +teed off at the organization.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, why are they members if +they don't like the UP?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's a good question,</q> Metaxa +said. He yawned. <q>I guess I'll have to +go into my speech.</q> He finished his +drink. <q>Now, shut up till I give you +some background. You're probably +full of a lot of nonsense you picked +up in school.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny shut up. He'd expected +more of an air of dedication in the +Octagon and in such ethereal departments +as that of Interplanetary Justice, +however, he was in now and not +adverse to picking up some sophistication +beyond the ken of the Earth-bound +employees of UP. +</p> + +<pb n='014'/><anchor id='Pg014'/> + +<p> +The other's voice took on a far +away, albeit bored tone. <q>It seems +that most of the times man gets a +really big idea, he goes off half +cocked. Just one example. Remember +when the ancient Hellenes exploded +into the Mediterranean? A score of +different City-States began sending +out colonies, which in turn sprouted +colonies of their own. Take Syracuse, +on Sicily. Hardly was she established +than, bingo, she sent off colonists to +Southern Italy, and they in turn to +Southern France, Corsica, the Balearics. +Greeks were exploding all over +the place, largely without adequate +plans, without rhyme or reason. Take +Alexander. Roamed off all the way to +India, founding cities and colonies of +Greeks all along the way.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The older man shifted in his chair. +<q rend='pre'>You wonder what I'm getting at, eh? +Well, much the same thing is happening +in man's explosion into space, +now that he has the ability to leave +the solar system behind. Dashing off +half cocked, in all directions, he's +flowing out over this section of the +galaxy without plan, without rhyme +or reason. I take that last back, he +has reasons all right—some of the +screwiest. Religious reasons, racial +reasons, idealistic reasons, political +reasons, altruistic reasons and mercenary +reasons.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Inadequate ships, manned by +small numbers of inadequate people, +setting out to find their own planets, +to establish themselves on one of the +numberless uninhabited worlds that +offer themselves to colonization and +exploitation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny cleared his throat. <q>Well, +isn't that a good thing, sir?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa looked at him and +grunted. <q>What difference does it +make if it's good or not? It's happening. +We're spreading our race out +over tens of hundreds of new worlds +in the most haphazard fashion. As a +result, we of United Planets now +have a chaotic mishmash on our +hands. How we manage to keep as +many planets in the organization as +we do, sometimes baffles me. I suppose +most of them are afraid to drop +out, conscious of the protection UP +gives against each other.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He picked up a report. <q>Here's +Monet, originally colonized by a +bunch of painters, writers, musicians +and such. They had dreams of starting +a new race</q>—Metaxa snorted—<q>with +everybody artists. They were all +so impractical that they even managed +to crash their ship on landing. +For three hundred years they were +uncontacted. What did they have in +the way of government by that time? +A military theocracy, something like +the Aztecs of Pre-Conquest Mexico. +A matriarchy, at that. And what's +their religion based on? That of ancient +Phoenicia including plenty of +human sacrifice to good old Moloch. +What can United Planets do about +it, now that they've become a member? +Work away very delicately, trying +to get them to at least eliminate +the child sacrifice phase of their culture. +Will they do it? Hell no, not +if they can help it. The Head Priestess +and her clique are afraid that if +they don't have the threat of sacrifice +<pb n='015'/><anchor id='Pg015'/> +to hold over the people, they'll be +overthrown.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was surprised. <q>I'd never +heard of a member planet like that. +Monet?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa sighed. <q>No, of course not. +You've got a lot to learn, Ronny, my +lad. First of all, what're Articles One +and Two of the United Planets Charter?</q> +</p> + +<p> +That was easy. Ronny recited. +<q>Article One: <hi rend='italic'>The United Planets +organization shall take no steps to +interfere with the internal political, +socio-economic, or religious institutions +of its member planets.</hi> Article +Two: <hi rend='italic'>No member planets of United +Planets shall interfere with the internal +political, socioeconomic or religious +institutions of any other member +planet.</hi></q> He looked at the department +head. <q>But what's that got to +do with the fact that I was unfamiliar +with even the existence of Monet?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Suppose one of the advanced +planets, or even Earth itself,</q> Metaxa +growled, <q>openly discussed in magazines, +on newscasts, or wherever, the +religious system of Monet. A howl +would go up among the liberals, the +progressives, the do-gooders. And the +howl would be heard on the other +advanced planets. Eventually, the citizen +in the street on Monet would +hear about it and be affected. And +before you knew it, a howl would go +up from Monet's government. Why? +Because the other planets would be +interfering with her internal affairs, +simply by discussing them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So what you mean is,</q> Ronny said, +<q>part of our job is to keep information +about Monet's government and religion +from being discussed at all on +other member planets.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right,</q> Metaxa nodded. +<q>And that's just one of our dirty little +jobs. One of many. Section G, believe +me, gets them all. Which brings +us to your first assignment.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Ronny inched forward in his chair. +<q>It takes me into space?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It takes you into space all right,</q> +Metaxa snorted. <q>At least it will after +a few months of indoctrination. I'm +sending you out after a legend, Ronny. +You're fresh, possibly you'll get +some ideas older men in the game +haven't thought of.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A legend?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm sending you to look for Tommy +Paine. Some members of the +department don't think he exists. I +do.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tommy Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A pseudonym that somebody +hung on him way back before even +my memory in this Section. Did you +ever hear of Thomas Paine in American +history?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He wrote a pamphlet during the +Revolutionary War, didn't he?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>Common Sense,</q></q> Metaxa nodded. +<q>But he was more than that. He +was born in England but went to +America as a young man and his +writings probably did as much as +anything to put over the revolt +against the British. But that wasn't +enough. When that revolution was +successful he went back to England +and tried to start one there. The government +almost caught him, but he +<pb n='016'/><anchor id='Pg016'/> +escaped and got to France where he +participated in the French Revolution.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He seemed to get around,</q> Ronny +Bronston said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And so does this namesake of his. +We've been trying to catch up with +him for some twenty years. How long +before that he was active, we have no +way of knowing. It was some time +before we became aware of the fact +that half the revolts, rebellions, revolutions +and such that occur in the +United Planets have his dirty finger +stirring around in them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But you said some department +members don't believe in his existence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa grunted. <q>They're working +on the theory that no one man could +do all that Tommy Paine has laid to +him. Possibly it's true that he sometimes +gets the blame for accomplishments +not his. Or, for that matter, +possibly he's more than one person. I +don't know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> Ronny said hesitantly, +<q>what's an example of his activity?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa picked up another report +from the confusion of his desk. +<q>Here's one only a month old. Dictator +on the planet Megas. Kidnapped +and forced to resign. There's still confusion +but it looks as though a new +type of government will be formed +now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But how do they know it wasn't +just some dissatisfied citizens of Megas?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It seems as though the kidnap +vehicle was an old fashioned Earth-type +helicopter. There were no such +on Megas. So Section G suspects it's +a possible Tommy Paine case. We +could be wrong, of course. That's +why I say the man's in the way of +being a legend. Perhaps the others +are right and he doesn't even exist. I +think he does, and if so, it's our job +to get him and put him out of circulation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said slowly, <q>But why +would that come under our jurisdiction? +It seems to me that it would +be up to the police of whatever planet +he was on.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa looked thoughtfully +at his brown bottle, shook his head +and returned it to its drawer. He +looked at a desk watch. <q rend='pre'>Don't read +into the United Planets organization +more than there is. It's a fragile institution +with practically no independent +powers to wield. Every +member planet is jealous of its prerogatives, +which is understandable. It's +no mistake that Articles One and Two +are the basic foundation of the Charter. +No member planet wants to be +interfered with by any other or by +United Planets as an organization. +They want to be left alone.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Within our ranks we have planets +with every religion known to man +throughout the ages. Everything ranging +from primitive animism to the +most advanced philosophic ethic. We +have every political system ever +dreamed of, and every socio-economic +system. It can all be blamed on the +crack-pot manner in which we're colonizing. +Any minority, no matter how +small—religious, political, racial, or +whatever—if it can collect the funds +<pb n='017'/><anchor id='Pg017'/> +to buy or rent a spacecraft, can dash +off on its own, find a new Earth-type +planet and set up in business.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fine. One of the prime jobs of +Section G is to carry out, to enforce, +Articles One and Two of the Charter. +A planet with Buddhism as its state +religion, doesn't want some die-hard +Baptist missionary stirring up controversy. +A planet with a feudalistic socio-economic +systems doesn't want +some hot-shot interplanetary businessman +coming in with some big deal +that would eventually cause the feudalistic +nobility to be tossed onto the +ash heap. A planet with a dictatorship +doesn't want subversives from +some democracy trying to undermine +their institutions—and vice versa.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And its our job to enforce all this, +eh?</q> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right,</q> Metaxa told him +sourly. <q>It's not always the nicest job +in the system. However, if you believe +in United Planets, an organization +attempting to co-ordinate in +such manner as it can, the efforts of +its member planets, for the betterment +of all, then you must accept +Section G and Interplanetary Security.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston thought about it. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa added, <q>That's why one of +the requirements of this job is that +you yourself be a citizen of United +Planets, rather than of any individual +planet, have no religious affiliations, +no political beliefs, and no racial prejudices. +You've got to be able to stand +aloof.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yeah,</q> Ronny said thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa looked at his watch +again and sighed wearily. <q>I'll turn +you over to one of my assistants,</q> he +said. <q>I'll see you again, though, before +you leave.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Before I leave?</q> Ronny said, coming +to his feet. <q>But where do I start +looking for this Tommy Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How the hell would I know?</q> Ross +Metaxa growled. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +In the outer office, Ronny said to +the receptionist, <q>Commissioner Metaxa +said for me to get in touch with +Sid Jakes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She said, <q>I'm Irene Kasansky. Are +you with us?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>I beg your pardon?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She said impatiently, <q>Are you going +to be with the Section? If you +are, I've got to clear you with your old +job. You were in statistics over in +New Copenhagen, weren't you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Somehow it seemed far away now, +the job he'd held for more than five +years. <q>Oh, yes,</q> he said. <q>Yes, Commissioner +Metaxa has given me an appointment.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him. <q>Probably to +look for Tommy Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He was taken aback. <q>That's right. +How did you know?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>There was talk. This Section is +pretty well integrated.</q> She grimaced, +but on her it looked good. <q>One +big happy family. High interdepartmental +morale. That sort of jetsam.</q> +She flicked some switches. <q>You'll find +Supervisor Jakes through that door, +one to your left, two to your right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He could have asked one <emph>what</emph> to +his left and two <emph>what</emph> to his right, but +evidently Irene Kasansky thought he +<pb n='018'/><anchor id='Pg018'/> +had enough information to get him +to his destination. She'd gone back to +her work. +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p18.png' rend='width: 60%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +It was one turn to his left and two +turns to his right. The door was lettered +simply <hi rend='italic'>Sidney Jakes</hi>. He knocked +and a voice shouted happily, <q>It's +open. It's always open.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Supervisor Jakes was as informal +as his superior. His attire was on the +happy-go-lucky side, more suited for +sports wear than a fairly high ranking +job in the ultra-staid Octagon. +</p> + +<p> +He couldn't have been much older +than Ronny Bronston but he had a +nervous vitality about him that would +have worn out the other in a few +hours. He jumped up and shook +hands. <q>You must be Bronston. Call +me Sid.</q> He waved a hand at a typed +report he'd been reading. <q>Now I've +seen them all. They've just applied +for entry to United Planets. Republic. +What a name, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What?</q> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sit down, sit down.</q> He rushed +Ronny to a chair, saw him seated, returned +to the desk and flicked an +order box switch. <q>Irene,</q> he said, <q>do +up a badge for Ronny, will you? +You've got his code, haven't you? +Good. Send it over. Bronze, of course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes turned back to Ronny +and grinned at him. He motioned to +the report again. <q>What a name for a +planet. Republic. Bunch of screw-balls, +again. Out in the vicinity of +Sirius. Based their system on Plato's +<hi rend='italic'>Republic</hi>. Have to go the whole way. +Don't even speak Basic. Certainly not. +They speak Ancient Greek. That's +going to be a neat trick, finding interpreters. +How'd you like the Old +Man?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, dazed at the conversational +barrage, <q>Old Man? Oh, you +mean Commissioner Metaxa.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure, sure,</q> Sid grinned, perching +<pb n='019'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> +himself on the edge of the desk. <q>Did +he give you that drink of tequila during +working hours routine? He'd like +to poison every new agent we get. +What a character.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The grin was infectious. Ronny +said carefully, <q>Well, I did think his +method of hiring a new man was a +little—cavalier.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Cavalier, yet,</q> Sid Jakes chortled. +<q>Look, don't get the Old Man wrong. +He knows what he's doing. He always +knows what he's doing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But he took me on after only two +or three minutes conversation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jakes cocked his head to one side. +<q>Oh? You think so? When did you +first apply for interplanetary assignment, +Ronny?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don't know, about three years +ago.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jakes nodded. <q>Well, depend on it, +you've been under observation for +that length of time. At any one period, +Section G is investigating possibly +a thousand potential agents. We +need men but qualifications are high.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He hopped down from his position, +sped around to the other side of the +desk and lowered himself into his +chair. <q>Don't get the wrong idea, +though. You're not in. You're on probation. +Whatever the assignment the +Old Man gave you, you've got to +carry it out successfully before you're +full fledged.</q> He flicked the order-box +switch and said, <q>Irene, where the +devil's Ronny's badge?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston heard the office +girl's voice answer snappishly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>All right, all right,</q> Jakes said. <q>I +love you, too. Send it in when it +comes.</q> He turned to Ronny. <q>What +<emph>is</emph> your assignment?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He wants me to go looking for +some firebrand nicknamed Tommy +Paine. I'm supposed to arrest him. +The commissioner said you'd give me +details.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Sid Jakes' face went serious. He +puckered up his lips. <q>Wow, that'll +be a neat trick to pull off,</q> he said. +He flicked the order-box switch again. +Irene's voice snapped something before +he could say anything and Sid +Jakes grinned and said, <q>O.K., O.K., +darling, but if this is the way you're +going to be I won't marry you. Then +what will the children say? Besides, +that's not what I called about. Have +ballistics do up a model H gun for +Ronny, will you? Be sure it's adjusted +to his code.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He flicked off the order box and +turned back to Ronny. <q>I understand +you're familiar with hand guns. It's +in this report on you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny nodded. He was just beginning +to adjust to this free-wheeling +character. <q>What will I need a gun +for?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jakes laughed. <q>Heavens to Betsy, +you babe in the woods. Do you realize +this Tommy Paine character has supposedly +stirred up a couple of score +wars, revolutions and revolts? Not to +speak of having laid in his lap two or +three dozen assassinations. He's a +quick lad with a gun. A regular Nihilist.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nihilist?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jakes chuckled. <q>When you've been +in this Section for a while, you'll be +<pb n='020'/><anchor id='Pg020'/> +familiar with every screwball outfit +man has ever dreamed up. The Nihilists +were a European group, mostly +Russian, back in the Nineteenth +Century. They believed that by bumping +off a few Grand Dukes and a +Czar or so they could force the ruling +class to grant reforms. Sometimes +they were pretty ingenious. Blew up +trains, that sort of thing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look here,</q> Ronny said, <q>what +motivates this Paine fellow? What's +he get out of all this trouble he stirs +up?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Search me. Nobody seems to +know. Some think he's a mental case. +For one thing, he's not consistent.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How do you mean?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, he'll go to one planet and +break his back trying to overthrow, +say, feudalism. Then, possibly after +being successful, he goes to another +planet and devotes his energies to +establishing the same socio-economic +system.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny assimilated that. <q>You're +one of those who believes he exists?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, he exists all right, all right,</q> +Sid Jakes said happily. <q>Matter of fact, +I almost ran into him a few years +ago.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny leaned forward. <q>I guess I +ought to know about it. The more information +I have, the better.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure, sure,</q> Jakes said. <q>This deal +of mine was on one of the Aldebaran +planets. A bunch of nature boys had +settled there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nature boys?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Um-m-m. Back to nature. The +trouble with the human race is that +it's got too far away from nature. So +a whole flock of them landed on this +planet. They call it Mother, of all +things. They landed and set up a +primitive society. Absolute stone age. +No metals. Lived by the chase and by +picking berries, wild fruit, that sort of +thing. Not even any agriculture. +Wore skins. Bows and arrows were +the nearest thing they allowed themselves +in the way of mechanical devices.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good grief,</q> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It was a laugh,</q> Jakes told him. +<q>I was assigned there as Section G +representative with the UP organization. +Picture it. We had to wear +skins for clothes. We had to confine +ourselves to two or three long houses. +Something like the American Iroquois +lived in before Columbus. Their +society on Mother was based on +primitive communism. The clan, the +phratry, the tribe. Their religion was +mostly a matter of knocking into +everybody's head that any progress +was taboo. Oh, it was great.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, were they happy?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What's happiness? I suppose they +were as happy as anybody ever averages. +Frankly, I didn't mind the assignment. +Lots of fishing, lots of +hunting.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Well, where does +Tommy Paine come in?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He snuck up on us. Started way +back in the boondocks away from any +of the larger primitive settlements. +Went around putting himself over as +a holy man. Cured people of various +things from gangrene to eye diseases. +Given antibiotics and such, you can +imagine how successful he was.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='021'/><anchor id='Pg021'/> + +<p> +<q>Well, what harm did he do?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I didn't say he did any harm. But +in that manner he made himself awfully +popular. Then he'd pull some +trick like showing them how to smelt +iron, and distribute some corn and +wheat seed around and plant the idea +of agriculture. The local witch doctors +would try to give him a hard +time, but the people figured he was a +holy man.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, what happened finally?</q> +Ronny wasn't following too well. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Communications being what they +were, before he'd been discovered by +the central organization—they had a +kind of Council of Tribes which met +once a year—he'd planted so many +ideas that they couldn't be stopped. +The young people'd never go back to +flint knives, once introduced to iron. +We went looking for friend Tommy +Paine, but he got wind of it and took +off. We even found where he'd hidden +his little space cruiser. Oh, it was +Paine, all right, all right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But what harm did he do? I don't +understand,</q> Ronny scowled. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He threw the whole shebang on +its ear. Last I heard, the planet had +broken up into three main camps. +They were whaling away at each other +like the Assyrians and Egyptians. +Iron weapons, chariots, domesticated +horses. Agriculture was sweeping the +planet. Population was exploding. +Men were making slaves out of each +other, to put them to work. Oh, it was +a mess from the viewpoint of the +original nature boys.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A red light flickered on his desk +and Sid Jakes opened a delivery +drawer and dipped his hand into it. +It emerged with a flat wallet. He +tossed it to Ronny Bronston. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Here you are. Your badge.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny opened the wallet and examined +it. He'd never seen one before, +but for that matter he'd never +heard of Section G before that morning. +It was a simple enough bronze +badge. It said on it, merely, <hi rend='italic'>Ronald +Bronston, Section G, Bureau of Investigation, +United Planets</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes explained. <q>You'll get co-operation +with that through the Justice +Department anywhere you go. +We'll brief you further on procedure +during indoctrination. You in turn, of +course, are to co-operate with any +other agent of Section G. You're under +orders of anyone with</q>—his hand +snaked into a pocket and emerged +with a wallet similar to Ronny's—<q>a +silver badge, carried by a First +Grade Agent, or a gold one of Supervisor +rank.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny noted that his badge wasn't +really bronze. It had a certain sheen, a +brightness. +</p> + +<p> +Jakes said, <q>Here, look at this.</q> He +tossed his own badge to the new +man. Ronny looked down at it in surprise. +The gold had gone dull. +</p> + +<p> +Jakes laughed. <q>Now give me +yours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny got up and walked over to +him and handed it over. As soon as the +other man's hand touched it, the +bronze lost its sheen. +</p> + +<p> +Jakes handed it back. <q>See, it's +tuned to you alone,</q> he said. <q>And +mine is tuned to my code. Nobody +can swipe a Section G badge and +<pb n='022'/><anchor id='Pg022'/> +impersonate an agent. If anybody ever +shows you a badge that doesn't have +its sheen, you know he's a fake. Neat +trick, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very neat,</q> Ronny admitted. He +returned the other's gold badge. +<q>Look, to get back to this Tommy +Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But the red light flickered again +and Jakes brought forth from the delivery +drawer a hand gun complete +with shoulder harness. <q>Nasty weapon,</q> +he said. <q>But we'd better go on +down to the armory and show you its +workings.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He stood up. <q>Oh, yes, don't let me +forget to give you a communicator. +A real gizmo. About as big as a +woman's vanity case. Puts you in immediate +contact with the nearest Section +G office, no matter how near or +far away it is. Or, if you wish, in contact +with our offices here in the Octagon. +Very neat trick.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He led Ronny from his office +and down the corridors beyond to an +elevator. He said happily, <q>This is a +crazy outfit, this Section G. You'll +probably love it. Everybody does.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Ronny learned to love Section G—in +moderation. +</p> + +<p> +He was initially taken aback by +the existence of the organization at +all. He'd known, of course, of the Department +of Justice and even of the +Bureau of Investigation, but Section +G was hush-hush and not even United +Planets publications ever mentioned +it. +</p> + +<p> +The problems involved in remaining +hush-hush weren't as great as all +that. The very magnitude of the UP +which involved more than two thousand +member planets, allowed of departments +and bureaus hidden away +in the endless stretches of red tape. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, although Ronny Bronston +had spent the better part of his life, +thus far, in studying for a place in +the organization, and then working in +the Population Statistics Department +for some years, he was only now beginning +to get the over-all picture of +the workings of the mushrooming, +chaotic United Planets organization. +</p> + +<p> +It was Earth's largest industry by +far. In fact, for all practical purposes +it was her only major industry. Tourism, +yes, but even that, in a way, was +related to the United Planets organization. +Millions of visitors whose ancestors +had once emigrated from the +mother planet, streamed back in racial +nostalgia. Streamed back to see +the continents and oceans, the Arctic +and the Antarctic, the Amazon River +and Mount Everest, the Sahara and +New York City, the ruins of Rome +and Athens, the Vatican, the Louvre +and the Hermitage. +</p> + +<p> +But the populace of Earth, in its +hundreds of millions were largely +citizens of United Planets and worked +in the organization and with its auxiliaries +such as the Space Forces. +</p> + +<p> +Section G? To his surprise, Ronny +found that Ross Metaxa's small section +of the Bureau of Investigation +seemed almost as great a secret within +the Bureau as it was to the man in +the street. At one period, Ronny wondered +if it were possible that this +was a department which had been +<pb n='023'/><anchor id='Pg023'/> +lost in the wilderness of boondoggling +that goes on in any great bureaucracy. +Had Section G been set up a century +or so ago and then forgotten by those +who had originally thought there was +a need for it? In the same way that it +is usually more difficult to get a statute +off the lawbooks than it was originally +to pass it, in the same manner eliminating +an office, with its employees +can prove more difficult than originally +establishing it. +</p> + +<p> +But that wasn't it. In spite of the +informality, the unconventional brashness +of its personnel on all levels, +and the seeming chaos in which its +tasks were done, Section G was no +make-work project set up to provide +juicy jobs for the relatives of high +ranking officials. To the contrary, it +didn't take long in the Section before +anybody with open eyes could see that +Ross Metaxa was privy to the decisions +made by the upper echelons of +UP. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston came to the conclusion +that the appointment he'd received +was putting him in a higher +bracket of the UP hierarchy than he'd +at first imagined. +</p> + +<p> +His indoctrination course was a +strain such as he'd never known in +school years. Ross Metaxa was evidently +of the opinion that a man +could assimilate concentrated information +at a rate several times faster +than any professional educator ever +dreamed possible. No threats were +made, but Ronny realized that he +could be dropped even more quickly +than he'd seemed to have been taken +on. There were no classes, to either +push or retard the rate of study. He +worked with a series of tutors, and +pushed himself. The tutors were almost +invariably Section G agents, +temporarily in Greater Washington +between assignments, or for briefing +on this phase or that of their work. +</p> + +<p> +Even as he studied, Ronny Bronston +kept the eventual assignment, at +which he was to prove himself, in +mind. He made a point of inquiring +of each agent he met, about Tommy +Paine. +</p> + +<p> +The name was known to all, but no +two reacted in the same manner. Several +of them even brushed the whole +matter aside as pure legend. <emph>Nobody</emph> +could accomplish all the trouble that +Tommy Paine had supposedly stirred +up. +</p> + +<p> +To one of these, Ronny said plaintively, +<q>See here, the Old Man believes +in him, Sid Jakes believes in +him. My final appointment depends +on arresting him. How can I ever secure +this job, if I'm chasing a myth?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other shrugged. <q>Don't ask +me. I've got my own problems. O.K., +now, let's run over this question of +Napoleonic law. There are at least +two hundred planets that base their +legal system on it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But the majority of his fellow employees +in Section G had strong +enough opinions on the interplanetary +firebrand. Three or four even +claimed to have seen him fleetingly, +although no two descriptions jibed. +That, of course, could be explained. +The man could resort to plastic surgery +and other disguise. +</p> + +<p> +Theories there were in plenty, +<pb n='024'/><anchor id='Pg024'/> +some of them going back long years, +and some of them pure fable. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +<q>Look,</q> Ronny said in disgust one +day after a particularly unbelievable +siege with two agents recently returned +from a trouble spot in a planetary +system that involved three aggressive +worlds which revolved about +the same sun. <q>Look, it's impossible +for one man to accomplish all this. +He's blamed for half the <foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>coups +d'états</foreign>, revolts and upheavals that +have taken place for the past quarter +century. It's obvious nonsense. Why, +a revolutionist usually spends the +greater part of his life toppling a government. +Then, once it's toppled, he +spends the rest of his life trying to +set up a new government—and he's +usually unsuccessful.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of the others was shaking his +head negatively. <q>You don't understand +this Tommy Paine's system, +Bronston.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You sure don't,</q> the other agent, a +Nigerian, grinned widely. <q>I've been +on planets where he'd operated.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny leaned forward. The three +of them were having a beer in a part +of the city once called Baltimore. +<q>You have?</q> he said. <q>Tell me about +it, eh? The more background I get +on this guy, the better.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sure. And this'll give you an idea +of how he operates, how he can get +so much trouble done. Well, I was on +this planet Goshen, understand? It +had kind of a strange history. A bunch +of colonists went out there, oh, four +or five centuries ago. Pretty healthy +expedition, as such outfits go. Bright +young people, lots of equipment, lots +of know-how and books. Well, through +sheer bad luck everything went wrong +from the beginning. Everything. Before +they got set up at all they had an +explosion that killed off all their communications +technicians. They lost +contact with the outside. O.K. Within +a couple of centuries they'd gotten +into a state of chattel slavery. Pretty +well organized, but static. Kind of an +Athenian Democracy on top, a hierarchy, +but nineteen people out of +twenty were slaves, and I mean real +slaves, like animals. They were at this +stage when a scout ship from the UP +Space Forces discovered them and, of +course, they joined up.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where does Tommy Paine come +in?</q> Ronny said. He signaled to a +waiter for more beer. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He comes in a few years later. I +was the Section G agent on Goshen, +understand? No planet was keener +about Articles One and Two of the +UP Charter. The hierarchy understood +well enough that if their people +ever came to know about more +advanced socio-economic systems it'd +be the end of Goshen's Golden Age. +So they allowed practically no intercourse. +No contact whatsoever between +UP personnel and anyone outside +the upper class, understand? All +right. That's where Tommy Paine +came in. It couldn't have taken him +more than a couple of months at +most.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston was fascinated. +<q>What'd he do?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He introduced the steam engine, +and then left.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='025'/><anchor id='Pg025'/> + +<p> +Ronny was looking at him blankly. +<q>Steam engine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That and the fly shuttle and the +spinning jenny,</q> the Nigerian said. +<q>That Goshen hierarchy never knew +what hit them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was still blank. The waiter +came up with the steins of beer, and +Ronny took one and drained half of +it without taking his eyes from the +storyteller. +</p> + +<p> +The other agent took it up. <q>Don't +you see? Their system was based on +chattel slavery, hand labor. Given +machinery and it collapses. Chattel +slavery isn't practical in a mechanized +society. Too expensive a labor +force, for one thing. Besides, you +need an educated man and one with +some initiative—qualities that few +slaves possess—to run an industrial +society.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny finished his beer. <q>Smart +cooky, isn't he?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He's smart all right. But I've got +a still better example of his fouling +up a whole planetary socio-economic +system in a matter of weeks. A friend +of mine was working on a planet +with a highly-developed feudalism. +Barons, lords, dukes, counts and no-accounts, +all stashed safely away in +castles and fortresses up on the top +of hills. The serfs down below did all +the work in the fields, provided servants, +artisans and foot soldiers for the +continual fighting that the aristocracy +carried on. Very similar to Europe +back in the Dark Ages.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So?</q> Ronny said. <q>I'd think that'd +be a deal that would take centuries +to change.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Section G agent laughed. +<q>Tommy Paine stayed just long +enough to introduce gunpowder. +That was the end of those impregnable +castles up on the hills.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What gets me,</q> Ronny said slowly, +<q>is his motivation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other two both grunted agreement +to that. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Toward the end of his indoctrination +studies, Ronny appeared one +morning at the Octagon Section G +offices and before Irene Kasansky. +Watching her fingers fly, listening to +her voice rapping and snapping, O.K.-ing +and rejecting, he came to the +conclusion that automation could go +just so far in office work and then you +were thrown back on the hands of +the efficient secretary. Irene was a +one-woman office staff. +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him. <q>Hello, +Ronny. Thought you'd be off on your +assignment by now. Got any clues on +Tommy Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> he said. <q>That's why I'm +here. I wanted to see the commissioner.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>About what?</q> She flicked a +switch. When a light flickered on one +of her order boxes, she said into it, +<q>No,</q> emphatically, and turned back +to him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He said he wanted to see me again +before I took off.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She fiddled some more, finally said, +<q>All right, Ronny. Tell him he's got +time for five minutes with you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Five minutes!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then he's got an appointment +with the Commissioner of Interplanetary +<pb n='026'/><anchor id='Pg026'/> +Culture,</q> she said. <q>You'd better +hurry along.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston retraced the route +of his first visit here. How long ago? +It already seemed ages since his probationary +appointment. Your life +changed fast when you were in Section +G. +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa's brown bottle, or its +twin, was sitting on his desk and he +was staring at it glumly. He looked +up and scowled. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ronald Bronston,</q> Ronny said. +<q>Irene Kasansky told me to say I +could have five minutes with you, +then you have an appointment with +the Commissioner of Interplanetary +Culture.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I remember you,</q> Metaxa said. +<q>Have a drink. Interplanetary Culture, +ha! The Xanadu Folk Dance +Troupe. They dance nude. They've +been touring the whole UP. Roaring +success everywhere, obviously. Now +they're assigned to Virtue, a planet +settled by a bunch of Fundamentalists. +They want the troupe to wear +Mother Hubbards. The Xanadu outfit +is in a tizzy. They've been insulted. +They claim they're the most +modest members of UP, that nudity +has nothing to do with modesty. The +government of Virtue said that's fine +but they wear Mother Hubbards or +they don't dance. Xanadu says it'll +withdraw from United Planets.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston said painfully, +<q>Why not let them?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa poured himself a Denebian +tequila, offered his subordinate +a drink again with a motion of +the bottle. Ronny shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa said, <q>If we didn't take +steps to soothe these things over, there +wouldn't be any United Planets. In +any given century every member in +the organization threatens to resign at +least once. Even Earth. And then +what'd happen? You'd have interplanetary +war before you knew it. +What'd you want, Ronny?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm about set to take up my search +for this Tommy Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah, yes, Tommy Paine. If you +catch him, there are a dozen planets +where he'd be eligible for the death +sentence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny cleared his throat. <q>There +must be. What I wanted was the file +on him, sir.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>File?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sir. I've got to the point +where I want to cram up on everything +we have on him. So far, all I've +got is verbal information from individual +agents and from Supervisor Jakes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't be silly, Ronny. There isn't +any file on Tommy Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny just looked at the other. +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa said impatiently, +<q>The very knowledge of the existence +of the man is top secret. Isn't that +obvious? Suppose some reporter got +the story and printed it. If our member +planets knew there was such a +man and that we haven't been able to +scotch him, why they'd drop out of +UP so fast the computers couldn't keep +up with it. There's not one planet +in ten that feels secure enough to lay +itself open to subversion. Why some +of our planets are so far down the +ladder of social evolution they live under +<pb n='027'/><anchor id='Pg027'/> +primitive tribal society; their +leaders, their wise men and witch-doctors, +whatever you call them, are +scared someone will come along and +establish chattel slavery. Those planets +that have a system based on slavery +are scared to death of developing feudalism, +and those that have feudalism +are afraid of <hi rend='italic'>creeping capitalism</hi>. +Those with an anarchistic basis—and +we have several—are afraid of being +subverted to statism, and those who +have a highly developed government +are afraid of anarchism. The socio-economic +systems based on private +ownership of property hate the very +idea of socialism or communism, and +vice versa, and those planets with +state capitalism hate them both.</q> +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p27.png' rend='width: 30%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +He glared at Ronny. <q>What do you +think the purpose of this Section is, +Bronston? Our job is to keep our +member planets from being afraid of +each other. If they found that Tommy +Paine and his group, if he's got a +group, were buzzing through the system +subverting everything they can +foul up, they'd drop out of UP and +set up quarantines that a space mite +couldn't get through. No sir, there is +no file on Tommy Paine and there +never will be. And if any news of him +spreads to the outside, this Section +will emphatically deny he exists. I +hope that's clear.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, yes sir,</q> Ronny said. The +commissioner had been all but roaring +toward the end. +</p> + +<p> +The order box clicked on Ross +Metaxa's desk and he said loudly, +<q>What?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't yell at me,</q> Irene snapped +<pb n='028'/><anchor id='Pg028'/> +back. <q>Ronny's five minutes are up. +You've got an appointment. I'm getting +tired of this job. It's a mad-house. +I'm going to quit and get a +job with Interplanetary Finance.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, yeah.</q> Ross snarled back. +<q>That's what you think. I've taken +measures. Top security. I've warned +off every Commissioner in UP. You +can't get away from me until you +reach retirement age. Although I +don't know why I care. I hate nasty +tempered women.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Huh!</q> she snorted and clicked off. +</p> + +<p> +<q>There's a woman for you,</q> Ross +Metaxa growled at Ronny. <q>It's too +bad she's indispensable. I'd love to +fire her. Look, you go in and see Sid +Jakes. Seems to me he said something +about Tommy Paine this morning. +Maybe it's a lead.</q> He came to his +feet. <q>So long and good luck, Ronny. +I feel optimistic about you. I think +you'll get this Paine troublemaker.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Which was more than Ronny +Bronston thought. +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes already had a visitor in +his office, which didn't prevent him +from yelling, <q>It's open,</q> when Ronny +Bronston knocked. +</p> + +<p> +He bounced from his chair, came +around the desk and shook hands enthusiastically. +<q>Ronny!</q> he said, his +tone implying they were favorite +brothers for long years parted. <q>You're +just in time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny took in the office's other +occupant appreciatively. She was a +small girl, almost tiny. He estimated +her to be at least half Chinese, or +maybe Indo-Chinese, the rest probably +European or North American. +</p> + +<p> +She evidently favored her Asiatic +blood, her dress was traditional Chinese, +slit almost to the thigh Shanghai +style. +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes said, <q>Tog Lee Chang +Chu—Ronny Bronston. You'll be +working together. Bloodhounding old +Tommy Paine. A neat trick if you +can pull it off. Well, are you all set +to go?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny mumbled something to the +girl in the way of amenity, then +looked back at the supervisor. <q>Working +together?</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. Lucky you, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog Lee Chang Chu said demurely, +<q>Possibly Mr. Bronston objects to +having a female assistant.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes snorted, and hurried +around his desk to resume his seat. +<q>Does he look crazy? Who'd object to +having a cutey like you around day in +and day out? Call him Ronny. Might +as well get used to it. Two of you'll be +closer than man and wife.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Assistant?</q> Ronny said, bewildered. +<q>What do I need an assistant +for?</q> He turned his eyes to the girl. +<q>No reflection on you, Miss ... ah, +Tog.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes laughed easily. <q>Section +G operatives always work in pairs, +Ronny. Especially new agents. The +advantages will come home to you as +you go along. Look on Tog Lee Chang +Chu as a secretary, a man Friday. +This isn't her first assignment, of +course. You'll find her invaluable.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The supervisor plucked a card from +an order box. <q>Now here's the dope. +Can you leave within four hours? +There's a UP Space Forces cruiser +<pb n='029'/><anchor id='Pg029'/> +going to Merlini, they can drop you +off at New Delos. Fastest way you +could possibly get there. The cruiser +takes off from Neuve Albuquerque +in, let's see, three hours and forty-five +minutes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>New Delos?</q> Ronny said, taking +his eyes from the girl and trying to +catch up with the grasshopper-like +conversation of his superior. +</p> + +<p> +<q>New Delos it is,</q> Jakes said happily. +<q>With luck, you might catch him +before he can get off the planet.</q> He +chuckled at the other's expression. +<q>Look alive, Ronny! The quarry is +flushed and on the run. Tommy +Paine's just assassinated the Immortal +God-King of New Delos. A neat +trick, eh?</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The following hours were chaotic. +There was no indication of how long +a period he'd be gone. For all he +knew, it might be years. For that matter, +he might never return to Earth. +This Ronny Bronston had realized +before he ever applied for an interplanetary +appointment. Mankind was +exploding through this spiral arm of +the galaxy. There was a racial enthusiasm +about it all. Man's destiny lay +out in the stars, only a laggard stayed +home of his own accord. It was the +ambition of every youth to join the +snowballing avalanche of man into +the neighboring stars. +</p> + +<p> +It took absolute severity by Earth +authorities to prevent the depopulation +of the planet. But someone had +to stay to administer the ever more +complicated racial destiny. Earth became +a clearing house for a thousand +cultures, attempting, with only moderate +success, to co-ordinate her widely +spreading children. She couldn't +afford to let her best seed depart. Few +there were, any more, allowed to emigrate +from Earth. New colonies drew +their immigrants from older ones. +</p> + +<p> +Lucky was the Earthling able to +find service in interplanetary affairs, +in any of the thousands of tasks that +involved journey between member +planets of UP. Possibly one hundredth +of the population at one time +or another, and for varying lengths of +time, managed it. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston was lucky and +knew it. The thing now was to pull +off this assignment and cinch the appointment +for good. +</p> + +<p> +He packed in a swirl of confusion. +He phoned a relative who lived in +the part of town once known as Richmond, +explained the situation and +asked that the other store his things +and dispose of the apartment he'd +been occupying. +</p> + +<p> +Luckily, the roof of his apartment +building was a copter-cab pickup +point and he was able to hustle over +to the shuttleport in a matter of a few +minutes. +</p> + +<p> +He banged into the reservations +office, hurried up to one of the windows +and said into the screen, <q>I've +got to get to Neuve Albuquerque +immediately.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The expressionless voice said, <q>The +next rocket leaves at sixteen hours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sixteen hours! I've got to be at +the spaceport by that time!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The voice said dispassionately, <q>We +are sorry.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='030'/><anchor id='Pg030'/> + +<p> +The bottom fell out of everything. +Ronny said, desperately, <q>Look, if I +miss my ship in Neuve Albuquerque, +what is the next spaceliner leaving +from there for New Delos?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A moment, citizen.</q> There was an +agonized wait, and then the voice +said, <q>There is a liner leaving for New +Delos on the 14th of next month. It +arrives in New Delos on the 31st, +Basic Earth calendar.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The 31st! Tommy Paine could be +halfway across the galaxy by that +time. +</p> + +<p> +A gentle voice next to him said, +<q>Could I help, Ronny?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He looked around at her. <q>Evidently, +nobody can,</q> he said disgustedly. +<q>There's no way of getting to +Neuve Albuquerque in time to get +that cruiser to New Delos.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog Lee Chang Chu fished in her +bag and came up with a wallet similar +to the one in which Ronny carried +his Section G badge. She held it +up to the screen. <q>Bureau of Investigation, +Section G,</q> she said calmly. +<q>It will be necessary that Agent Bronston +and myself be in Neuve Albuquerque +within the hour.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The metallic voice said, <q>Of course. +Proceed to your right and through +Corridor K to Exit Four. Your rocket +will be there. Identify yourself to +Lieutenant Economou who will be at +the desk at Exit Four.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog turned to Ronny Bronston. +<q>Shall we go?</q> she said demurely. +</p> + +<p> +He cleared his throat, feeling foolish. +<q>Thanks, Tog,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not at all, Ronny. Why, this is my +job.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Was there the faintest of sarcasm +in her voice? It hadn't been more +than a couple of hours ago that he +had been hinting rather heavily to +Sid Jakes that he needed no assistance. +</p> + +<p> +She even knew the layout of the +West Greater Washington shuttleport. +Her small body swiveled through +the hurrying passengers, her small +feet a-twinkle, as she led him to and +down Corridor K and then to the +desk at Exit Four. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny anticipated her here. He +flashed his own badge at the chair-borne +Space Forces lieutenant there. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lieutenant Economou?</q> he said. +<q>Ronald Bronston, of the Bureau of +Investigation, Section G. We've got +to get to Neuve Albuquerque soonest.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The lieutenant, only mildly impressed, +said, <q>We can have you in +the air in ten minutes, citizen. Just a +moment and I'll guide you myself.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +In the rocket, Ronny had time to +appraise her at greater length. She +was a delicately pretty thing, although +her expression was inclined to the +over-serious. There was only a touch +of the Mongolian fold at the corner +of her eyes. On her it looked unusually +good. Her complexion was that +which only the blend of Chinese and +Caucasian can give. Her figure, thanks +to her European blood, was fuller than +Eastern Asia usually boasts; tiny, but +full. +</p> + +<p> +Let's admit it, he decided. My assistant +is the cutest trick this side of a +Tri-Di movie queen, and we're going +<pb n='031'/><anchor id='Pg031'/> +to be thrown in the closest of juxtaposition +for an indefinite time. This +comes under the head of work? +</p> + +<p> +He said, <q>Look here, Tog, you were +with Sid Jakes longer than I was. +What's the full story?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She folded her slim hands in her +lap, looking like a schoolgirl about to +recite. <q>Do you know anything about +the socio-economic system on New +Delos?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, no,</q> he admitted. +</p> + +<p> +She said severely, <q>I'd think that +they would have given you more background +before an assignment of this +type.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said impatiently, <q>In the +past three months I've been filled in +on the economic systems, the religious +beliefs, the political forms, of a thousand +planets. I just happened to miss +New Delos.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her mouth expressed disapproval +by rucking down on the sides, which +was all very attractive but also irritating. +She said, <q>There are two thousand, +four hundred and thirty-six +member planets in the UP, I'd think +an agent of Section G would be up on +the basic situation on each.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He had her there. He said snidely, +<q>Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the +number is two thousand, four hundred +and thirty-four.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then,</q> she nodded agreeably, +<q>membership has changed since this +morning when Menalaus and Aldebaran +Three were admitted. Have +two planets dropped out?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look,</q> he said, <q>let's stop bickering. +What's the word on New Delos?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Did you ever read Frazer's <q>Golden +Bough</q>?</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You should. At any rate, New +Delos is a theocracy. A priesthood +elite rules it. A God-King, who is +immortal, holds absolute authority. +The strongest of superstition plus an +efficient inquisition, keeps the people +under control.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sounds terrible,</q> Ronny growled. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why? Possibly the government is +extremely efficient and under it the +planet progressing at a rate in advance +of UP averages.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He stared at her in surprise. +</p> + +<p> +She said, <q>Would you rather be +ruled by the personal, arbitrary whims +of supremely wise men, or by laws +formulated by a mob?</q> +</p> + +<p> +It stopped him momentarily. In all +his adult years, he couldn't remember +ever meeting an intelligent, educated +person who had been opposed to the +democratic theory. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Wait a minute, now,</q> he said. +<q>Who decides that they're supremely +wise men who are doing this arbitrary +ruling? Let any group come to power, +by whatever means, and they'll +soon tell you they're an elite. But +let's get back to New Delos, from +what you've said so far, the people are +held in a condition of slavery.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What's wrong with slavery?</q> Tog +said mildly. +</p> + +<p> +He all but glared at her. <q>Are you +kidding?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I seldom jest,</q> Tog said primly. +<q>Under the proper conditions, slavery +can be the most suitable system +for a people.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='032'/><anchor id='Pg032'/> + +<p> +<q>Under <emph>what</emph> conditions!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Have you forgotten your Earth +history to the point where Egypt, +Greece and Rome mean nothing to +you? Man made some of his outstanding +progress under slavery. And +do you contend that man's lot is necessarily +miserable given slavery? As far +back as Aesop we know of slaves who +have reached the heights in their society. +Slaves sometimes could and did +become the virtual rulers in ancient +countries.</q> She shrugged prettily. +<q>The prejudices which you hold today, +on Earth, do not necessarily apply +to all time, nor to all places.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He said, impatiently, <q>Look, Tog, +we can go into this further, later. Let's +get back to New Delos. What happened?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>The very foundation of +their theocracy is the belief on the +part of the populace that the God-King +is immortal. No man conspires +against his Deity. Supervisor Jakes +informed me that it is understood by +UP Intelligence, that about once every +twenty years the priesthood secretly +puts in a new God-King. Plastic +surgery would guarantee facial resemblance, +and, of course, the rank +and file citizen would probably never +be allowed close enough to discover +that their God-King seemed different +every couple of decades. At any rate, +it's been working for some time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And there's been no revolt against +this religious aristocracy?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shook her head. <q>Evidently not. +It takes a brave man to revolt against +both his king and his God at the same +time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But what happened now?</q> Ronny +pursued. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Evidently, right in the midst of a +particularly important religious ceremony, +with practically the whole +planet watching on TV, the God-King +was killed with a bomb. No +doubt about it, definitely killed. There +are going to be a lot of people on +New Delos wondering how it can be +that an immortal God-King can die.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And Sid thinks it's Tommy +Paine's work?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shifted dainty shoulders in a +shrug. <q>It's the sort of thing he does. +I suppose we'll learn when we get +there.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Even on the fast Space Forces cruiser, +the trip was going to take a week, +and there was precious little Ronny +Bronston could do until arrival. He +spent most of his time reading up on +New Delos and the several other planets +in the UP organization which had +fairly similar regimes. More than a +few theocracies had come and gone +during the history of man's development +into the stars. +</p> + +<p> +He also spent considerable time +playing Battle Chess or talking with +Tog and with the ship's officers. +</p> + +<p> +These latter were a dedicated +group, high in morale, enthusiastic +about their work which evidently involved +the combined duties of a +Navy, a Coast Guard, and a Coast and +Geodetic Survey system, if we use the +ocean going services of an earlier age +for analogy. +</p> + +<p> +They all had the dream. The enthusiasm +of men participating in a +<pb n='033'/><anchor id='Pg033'/> +race's expansion to glory. There was +the feeling, even stronger here in +space than back on Earth, of man's +destiny being fulfilled, that humanity +had finally emerged from its infancy, +that the fledgling had finally found its +wings and got off the ground. +</p> + +<p> +After one of his studying binges, +Ronny Bronston had spent an hour +or so once with the captain of the +craft, while that officer stood an easy +watch on the ship's bridge. There +was little enough to do in space, +practically nothing, but there was always +an officer on watch. +</p> + +<p> +They leaned back in the acceleration +chairs before the ship's controls +and Ronny listened to the other's +space lore. Stories of far planets, as +yet untouched. Stories of planets that +had seemingly been suitable for colonization, +but had proved disastrous +for man, for this reason or that. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>And never in all this +time have we run into a life form +that has proved intelligent?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Captain Woiski said, <q>No. Not that +I know of. There was an animal on +Shangri-La of about the mental level +of the chimpanzee. So far as I know, +that's the nearest to it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shangri-La?</q> Ronny said. <q>That's +a new one.</q> +</p> + +<p> +There was an affectionate gleam in +the captain's eye. <q>Yes,</q> he said. <q>If +and when I retire, I think that'd be +the planet of my choice, if I could +get permission to leave Earth, of +course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny scowled in attempted memory. +<q>Now that you mention it, I +think I did see it listed the other +day among planets with a theocratic +government.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain grunted protest. <q>If +you're comparing it to this New Delos +you're going to, you're wrong. There +can be theocracy and theocracy, I +suppose. Actually, I imagine Shangri-La +has the most, well <emph>gentle</emph> government +in the system.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was interested. His recent +studies hadn't led him to much respect +for a priesthood in political +power. <q>What's the particular feature +that's seemed to have gained your regard?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Moderation,</q> Woiski chuckled. +<q>They carry it almost to the point of +immoderation. But not quite. Briefly, +it works something like this. They +have a limited number of monks—I +suppose you'd call them—who spend +their time at whatever moves them. +At the arts, at scientific research, at +religious contemplation—any religion +will do—as students of anything and +everything, and at the governing of +Shangri-La. They make a point of enjoying +the luxuries in moderation and +aren't a severe drain on the rank and +file citizens of the planet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>I have a growing distrust +of hierarchies. Who decides who +is to become a monk and who remain +a member of the rank and file?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain said, <q>A series of the +best tests they can devise to determine +a person's intelligence and aptitudes. +From earliest youth, the whole +populace is checked and rechecked. +At the age of thirty, when it is considered +that a person has become +<pb n='034'/><anchor id='Pg034'/> +adult and has finished his basic education, +a limited number are offered +monkhood. Not all want it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny thought about it. <q>Why not? +What are the shortcomings?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain shrugged. <q>Responsibility, +I suppose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The monks aren't allowed sex, +booze, that sort of thing, I imagine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good heavens, why not? In moderation, +of course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And they live on a higher scale?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, no, not at all. Don't misunderstand. +The planet is a prosperous one. +Exceedingly prosperous. There is +everything needed for comfortable existence +for everyone. Shangri-La is +one planet where the pursuit of happiness +is pursuable by all.</q> Captain +Woiski chuckled again. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>It sounds good +enough, although I'm leery of benevolent +dictatorships. The trouble with +them is that it's up to the dictators to +decide what's benevolent. And almost +always, nepotism rears its head, +favoritism of one sort or another. +How long will it be before one of +your moderate monks decides he'll +moderately tinker with the tests, or +whatever, just to be sure his favorite +nephew makes the grade? A high +I.Q. is no guarantee of integrity.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain didn't disagree. <q>That's +always possible, I suppose. One guard +against it, in this case, is the matter of +motive. The <emph>privilege</emph> of being a monk +isn't as great as all that. Materially, +you aren't particularly better off than +any one else. You have more leisure, +that's true, but actually most of them +are so caught up in their studies or +research that they put in more hours +of endeavor than does the farmer or +industrial worker on Shangri-La.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> Ronny said, <q>let's just hope +that Tommy Paine never hears of this +place.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who?</q> the captain said. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston reversed his engines. +<q>Oh, nobody important. A guy +I know of.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Captain Woiski scowled. <q>Seems to +me I've heard the name.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At first Ronny leaned forward with +quick interest. Perhaps the cruiser's +skipper had a lead. But, no, he sank +back into his chair. That name was +strictly a Section G pseudonym. No +one used it outside the department, +and he'd already said too much by +using the term at all. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said idly, <q>Probably two different +people. I think I'll go on back +and see how Tog is doing.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Tog was at her communicator +when he entered the tiny ship's +lounge. Ronny could see in the brilliant +little screen of the compact device, +the grinning face of Sid Jakes. +Tog looked up at Ronny and smiled, +then clicked the device off. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What's new?</q> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p> +She moved graceful shoulders. <q>I +just called Supervisor Jakes. Evidently +there's complete confusion on New +Delos. Mobs are storming the temples. +In the capital the priests tried to +present a new God-King and he was +laughed out of town.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny snorted cynically. <q>Sounds +good to me. The more I read about +New Delos and its God-King and his +<pb n='035'/><anchor id='Pg035'/> +priesthood, the more I think the best +thing that ever happened to the planet +was this showing them up.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog looked at him, the sides of +her mouth tucking down as usual +when she was going to contradict +something he said. <q>It sounds bad to +me,</q> she said. <q>Tommy Paine's work +is done. He'll be off to some other +place and we won't get there in time +to snare him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny considered that. It was +probably true. <q>I wonder,</q> he said +slowly, <q>if it's possible for us to get a +list of all ships that have blasted off +since the assassination, all ships and +their destination from New Delos.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The idea grew in him. <q>Look! It's +possible that a dictatorial government +such as theirs would immediately +quarantine every spaceport on the +planet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>There's only one spaceport +on New Delos. The priesthood +didn't encourage trade or even communication +with the outside. Didn't +want its people contaminated.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Holy smokes!</q> Ronny blurted. <q>It's +possible that Tommy Paine's on that +planet and can't get off. Look, Tog, +see if you can raise the Section G +representative on New Delos and—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said demurely, <q>I already have +taken that step, Ronny, knowing that +you'd want me to. Agent Mouley +Hassan has promised to get the name +and destination of every passenger +that leaves New Delos.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny sat down at a table and +dialed himself a mug of stout. +<q>Drink?</q> he said to Tog. <q>Possibly +we've got something to celebrate.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shook her head disapprovingly. +<q>I don't use depressants.</q> +</p> + +<p> +There was nothing more to be discussed +about New Delos, they simply +would have to wait until their arrival. +Ronny switched subjects. <q>Ever +hear of the planet Shangri-La?</q> he +asked her. He took a sip of his brew. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course,</q> she said. <q>A rather +small planet, Earth type within four +degrees. Noted for its near perfect +climate and its scenic beauty.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Captain was talking about it,</q> +Ronny said. <q>Sounds like a regular +paradise.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog made a negative sound. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, what's wrong with Shangri-La?</q> +Ronny said impatiently. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Static,</q> she said briefly. +</p> + +<p> +He looked at her. <q>It sounds to me +as though it's developed a near perfect +socio-economic system. What do +you mean, static?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No push, no drive,</q> Tog said definitely. +<q>Everyone—what is the old +term?—everyone has it made. The +place is stagnating. I wouldn't be +surprised to see Tommy Paine show +up there sooner or later.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Look, since we've +known each other, have I ever said +anything you agree with?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog raised her delicate eyebrows. +<q>Why, Ronny. You know perfectly +well we both agreed that the eggs +for breakfast were quite inedible.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny came to his feet again. Considering +her size, she certainly was an +irritating baggage. <q>I think I'll go to +my room and see if I can get any inspirations +on tracking down our +quarry.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='036'/><anchor id='Pg036'/> + +<p> +<q>Good night, Ronny,</q> she said demurely. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +They ran into a minor difficulty +upon arrival at New Delos. The captain +called both Ronny Bronston and +Tog Lee Chang Chu to the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +He nodded in the direction of the +communications screen. A bald headed, +robed character—obviously a +priest—scowled at them. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Woiski said, <q>The Sub-Bishop +informs me that the provisional +government has ruled that any +spacecraft landing on New Delos cannot +take off again without permission +and that every individual who lands, +even United Planets personnel, will +need an exit visa before being allowed +to depart.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Then you can't +land?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain said reasonably, <q>My +destination is Merlini. I've gone out +of my way slightly to drop you off +here. But I can't afford to take the +chance of having my ship tied up for +what might be an indefinite period. +Evidently, there's considerably civil +disorder down there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +From the screen the priest snapped, +<q>That is an inaccurate manner of describing +the situation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sorry,</q> the captain said dryly. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston said desperately, +<q>But, captain, Miss Tog and I simply +have to land.</q> He reached for his +badge. <q>High priority, Bureau of Investigation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain shrugged his hefty +shoulders. <q>Sorry, I have no instructions +that allow me to risk tying up +my ship. Here's a possibility. Can you +pilot a landing craft? I could spare +you one, then you and your assistant +would be the only ones involved. +You could turn it over to whatever +Space Forces base we have here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said miserably, <q>No. I'm +not a space pilot.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am,</q> Tog said softly. <q>The idea +sounds excellent.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We shall expect you,</q> the Sub-Bishop +said. The screen went blank. +</p> + +<p> +Tog Lee Chang Chu piloted a +landing craft with the same verve that +she seemed to be able to handle any +other responsibility. As he sat in the +seat next to her, Ronny Bronston +took in her practiced flicking of the +controls from the side of his eyes. He +wondered vaguely at the efficiency of +such Section G officials as Metaxa +and Jakes that they would assign an +unknown quality such as himself to +a task as important as running down +Tommy Paine, and then as an assistant +provide him with an experienced +operative such as Tog. The bureaucratic +mind can be a dilly, he decided. +Was the fact that she was a +rather delicately constructed girl a +factor? He felt the weight of the +Model-H gun nestled under his left +armpit. Perhaps in the clutch Section +G preferred men as agents. +</p> + +<p> +They swooped into a landing that +brought them as close to the control +tower as was practical. In a matter of +moments there was a guard of twenty +or more sloppily uniformed men +about their small craft. +</p> + +<p> +Tog made a move. <q>Welcoming +committee,</q> she said. +</p> + +<pb n='037'/><anchor id='Pg037'/> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p37.png' rend='width: 60%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +They climbed out the circular port, +and flashed their United Planets Bureau +of Investigation badges to the +youngish looking soldier who seemed +in command. He was indecisive. +</p> + +<p> +<q>United Planets?</q> he said. <q>All I +know is I'm supposed to arrest anybody +landing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny snapped, <q>We're to be taken +immediately to United Planets headquarters.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, I don't know about that. I +don't take orders from foreigners.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of his men was nervously fingering +the trigger of his submachine +gun. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny's mouth went dry. He had +the feeling of being high, high on a +rock face, inadequately belayed from +above. +</p> + +<p> +Tog said smoothly, <q>But, major, +I'm sure whoever issued your orders +had no expectation of a special delegation +from the United Planets coming +to congratulate your new authorities +on their success. Of course, it's +unknown to arrest a delegation from +United Planets.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It is?</q> he frowned at her. <q>I mean, +you are?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> Tog said sweetly. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny took the hint. <q>Where can +we find a vehicle, major, to get us to +the capital and to United Planets +headquarters? Evidently we arrived +before we were expected. There +should have been a big welcoming +committee here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh,</q> the obviously recently promoted +lad said hesitantly. <q>Well, I +suppose we can make arrangements. +This way please.</q> He grinned at Tog +as they walked toward the administration +building. <q>Do all girls dress +like you on Earth?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, no,</q> she said demurely. +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's too bad,</q> he said gallantly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why, major!</q> Tog said, keeping +her eyes on the tarmac. +</p> + +<p> +At the administration building +there was little of order, but eventually +they managed to arrange for their +transportation. Luckily, they were +<pb n='038'/><anchor id='Pg038'/> +supplied with a chauffeur driven helio-car. +</p> + +<p> +Luckily, because without the chauffeur +to help them run the gauntlet +they would have been held up by parades, +demonstrations and monstrous +street meetings a dozen times before +they ever reached their destination. +Twice, Ronny stopped short of drawing +his gun only by a fraction when +half drunken demonstrators stopped +them. +</p> + +<p> +The driver, a wispy, sad looking +type, shook his head. <q>There's no +going back now,</q> he told them over +his shoulder. <q>No going back. Last +week I was all with the rest, I never +did believe David the One was really +Immortal. But you was just used to +the idea, see? It'd always been that +way, with the priests running everything +and we was used to it. Now I +wish we was still that way. At least +you knew how you stood, see? Now, +what's going to happen?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's an interesting question,</q> +Tog said politely. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Possibly you'll have +the chance to build a better world, +now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The driver shot a contemptuous +look over his shoulder. <q>Better world? +What do I want with a better world? +I just don't want to be bothered. I've +been getting my three squares a day, +got a nice little flat for my family. +How do I know it's not going to be a +worse world?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's always a possibility,</q> Tog +told him. <q>Do most people seem to +feel the same?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Practically everybody I know +does,</q> he said glumly. <q>But the fat's in +the fire now. The priests are trying to +hold on but their government is falling +apart all over the place.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> Ronny said, <q>at least you +can figure just about anything in the +way of a new government will be +better than one based on superstition +and inquisition. It couldn't get worse.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Things can always get worse,</q> the +other contradicted him sadly. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +They left the cab before an impressively +tall, many windowed building +in city center. As they mounted +the steps, Ronny frowned at her. +<q>You seemed to be encouraging that +man in his pessimism. So far as I can +see, the best thing that ever happened +to this planet was toppling that +phony priesthood.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Perhaps,</q> she said agreeably. +<q>However, the man's mind was an +ossified one. A surprisingly large percentage +of people have them, especially +when it comes to institutions +such as religion and government. We +weren't going to be able to teach him +anything, but it was possible to learn +from him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny grunted his disgust. <q>What +could we possibly learn from him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said mildly, <q>We could learn +what people of the street were thinking. +It might give us some ideas about +what direction the new government +will take.</q> +</p> + +<p> +They approached the portals of the +building and were halted by an armed +Space Forces guard of half a dozen +men. Their sergeant saluted, taking in +their obvious other-planet clothing. +</p> + +<pb n='039'/><anchor id='Pg039'/> + +<p> +<q>Identifications, please,</q> he said +briskly. +</p> + +<p> +They showed their badges and +were passed on through. Ronny said +to him, <q>Much trouble, sergeant?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other shrugged. <q>No. Just precautions, +sir. We've been here only +three or four weeks. Civil disturbance. +We're used to it. Were over on Montezuma +two basic months ago. Now +there was <emph>real</emph> trouble. Had to shoot +our way out.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog called, <q>Coming Ronny? I have +this elevator waiting.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He followed her, scowling. An +idea was trying to work its way +through. Somehow he missed getting +it. +</p> + +<p> +Headquarters of the Department of +Justice were on the eighth floor. A +receptionist clerk led them through +three or four doors to the single office +which housed Section G. +</p> + +<p> +A red eyed, exhausted agent looked +up from the sole desk and snarled +a question at them. Ronny didn't get +it, but Tog said mildly, <q>Probationary +Agent Ronald Bronston and Tog Lee +Chang Chu. On special assignment.</q> +She flicked open her badge so that +the other could see it. +</p> + +<p> +His manner changed. <q>Sorry,</q> he +said, getting up to shake hands. <q>I'm +Mouley Hassan, in charge of Section +G on New Delos. We've just had a crisis +here, as you can imagine. The +worst of it's now over.</q> He added +sourly, <q>I hope. All my assistants +have already taken off for Avalon.</q> +He was a short statured, dark complected +man, his features betraying +his Semitic background. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny shook hands with him and +said, <q>Sorry to bother you at a time +like this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +They found chairs and Mouley +Hassan flicked a key on his order box +and said to them, <q>How about a +drink? They make a wonderful +sparkling wine on this planet. Trust +any theocracy to have top potables.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny accepted the offer, Tog refused +it politely. She sat demurely, +her hands in her lap. +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan ran a weary hand +through already mussed hair. <q>What's +this special assignment you're on?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Commissioner Metaxa +has sent me looking for Tommy +Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tommy Paine!</q> the other blurted. +<q>At a time like this, when I haven't +had three nights' sleep in the last +three basic weeks, you come around +looking for Tommy Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was taken aback. <q>Sid Jakes +seemed to think this might be one +of Paine's jobs.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said mildly, <q>What better +place to look for Tommy Paine, than +in a situation like this, Agent Hassan?</q> +Her eyebrows went up. <q>Or +don't you think the quest for Paine +is an important one?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other subsided somewhat. <q>I +suppose you're right,</q> he said. <q>I'm +deathly tired. Do whatever you want. +But don't expect much from me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, just a trifle tartly, Ronny +thought, <q>We'll have to call on you, +as usual, Agent Hassan. There's probably +no single job in Section G more +important than the pursuit of Tommy +Paine.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='040'/><anchor id='Pg040'/> + +<p> +<q>All right, all right,</q> Mouley Hassan +admitted. <q>I'll co-operate. How +long have you been away from +Earth?</q> he said to Ronny. +</p> + +<p> +<q>About one basic week.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh,</q> he grunted. <q>This is your +first stop, eh? Well, I don't envy you +your job.</q> He brought a cool bottle +from a delivery drawer in the desk +along with two glasses. <q>Here's the +wine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny leaned forward to accept +the glass. <q>This situation here,</q> he +said, <q>do you think it can be laid to +Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan shrugged wearily. +<q>I don't know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny sipped the drink, looking at +the tired agent over the glass rim. +<q>From what we understand, check has +been kept on all persons leaving the +planet since the bombing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Check is right. There's only one +ship that took off and it carried nobody +except my assistants. If you ask +me, I still needed them, but some +brass hat back on Earth decided they +were more necessary over on Avalon.</q> +He was disgusted. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny put the glass down. <q>You +mean only one ship's left this planet +since the God-King was killed?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. It was like pulling +teeth to get the visas.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How many men aboard?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan looked at him +speculatively. <q>Four-man crew and +six Section G operatives.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said brightly, <q>Why, that +means, then, that either Tommy +Paine is still on this planet, or he's +one of the passengers or crew members +of that ship.</q> She added, <q>That +is, of course, unless he had a private +craft, hidden away somewhere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny slumped back into his chair +as some of the ramifications came +home to him. <q>If it was Tommy +Paine at all,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan nodded. <q>That's +always a point.</q> He finished his glass +and looked pleadingly at Tog. <q>Look, +I have work. If I can finish some of +it, I might have time for some sleep. +Couldn't we postpone the search for +Tommy Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said nothing to him. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny came to his feet. <q>We'll get +along. A couple of ideas occur to me. +I'll check with you later.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fine,</q> the agent said. He shook +hands with them again. He said, +somehow more to Tog than to Ronny, +<q>I know how important your job +is. It's just that I've been pushed to +the point where I can't operate efficiently.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She smiled her understanding, +gave him her small, delicate hand. +</p> + +<p> +In the elevator, Ronny said to her, +<q>Why should this sort of thing particularly +affect Section G?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>It's times like this that +planets drop out of the UP. Or, possibly, +get into the hands of some +jingoistic military group and start off +halfcocked to provoke a war with +some other planet, or to missionarize +or propagandize it.</q> She thought +about it a moment. <q>A new revolution, +in government or religion, +seems almost invariably to want to +spread the light. An absolute compulsion +to bring to others the new truths +<pb n='041'/><anchor id='Pg041'/> +that they've found.</q> She added, her +voice holding a trace of mockery, +<q>Usually the new truths are rather +hoary ones, and there are few interested +in hearing them.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +They spent their first day in getting +accommodations in a centrally located +hotel, in making arrangements, +through the Department of Justice, +for the local means of exchange—it +turned out to be coinage, based on +gold—and getting the feel of their +surroundings. +</p> + +<p> +Evidently Delos, the capital city of +the planet New Delos, was but slowly +emerging from the chaos that had +taken over on the assassination. A +provisional government, composed of +representatives of half a dozen different +organizations which had +sprung up like mushrooms following +the collapse of the regime, had assumed +power. Elections had been +promised and were to be brought off +when arrangements could be made. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, the actual government +was still largely in the hands of the +lower echelons of the priesthood. A +nervous priesthood it was, seemingly +desirous of getting out from under +while the going was good, afraid of +being held responsible for former excesses. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston, high hopes still +in his head, looked up the Sub-Bishop +who had given them landing orders +while they were still aboard the +Space Forces cruiser. Tog was off +making arrangements for various details +involved in their being in Delos +in its time of crisis. +</p> + +<p> +A dozen times, on his way over to +keep his appointment with the official, +Ronny had to step into doorways, or +in other wise make himself inconspicuous. +Gangs of demonstrators +roamed the street, some of them +drunken, looking for trouble, and +scornful of police or the military. +Twice, when it looked as though he +might be roughed up, Ronny drew +his gun and held it in open sight, +ready for use, but not threateningly. +The demonstrators made off. +</p> + +<p> +His throat was dry by the time he +reached his destination. The life of a +Section G agent, on interplanetary +assignment, had its drawbacks. +</p> + +<p> +The Sub-Bishop had formerly been +in charge of Interplanetary Communications +which involved commerce +as well as intercourse with United +Planets. It must have been an ultra-responsible +position only a month +ago. Now his offices were all but deserted. +</p> + +<p> +He looked at Ronny's badge, only +vaguely interested. <q>Section G of the +Bureau of Investigation,</q> he said. <q>I +don't believe I am aware of your responsibilities. +However,</q> he nodded +with sour courtesy, <q>please be seated. +You must forgive my lack of ability +to offer refreshment. Isn't there an +old tradition about rats deserting a +sinking ship? I am afraid my former +assistants had rodentlike instincts.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Section G deals with +Interplanetary Security, sir—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am addressed as Holiness,</q> the +other said. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny looked at him. <q>Sorry,</q> he +said. <q>I am a citizen of the United +<pb n='042'/><anchor id='Pg042'/> +Planets, not any one planet, even +Earth. UP citizens have complete religious +freedom. In my case I am unaffiliated +with any church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Sub-Bishop let it pass. He +said sourly, <q>I am afraid that even +here on New Delos, I am seldom +honoured by my title any more. Go on, +you say you deal with Interplanetary +Security.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's correct. In cases like this +we're interested in checking to see +if there is any possibility that citizens +of planets other than New Delos +are involved in your internal affairs.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other's eyes were suddenly +slits. He said, heavily, <q>You suspect +that David the One was assassinated +by an alien?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny had to tread carefully here. +<q>I make no such suggestion. I am +merely here to check on the possibility. +If such was the case, my duty +would be to arrest the man, or men.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>If we got hold of him, you'd have +small chance of asserting your authority,</q> +the priest growled. <q>What +did you want to know?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I understand that no interplanetary +craft have left New Delos since +the assassination.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>None except a United Planets +ship which was carefully inspected.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said tightly, <q>But what facilities +do you have to check on secret +spaceports, possibly located in some +remote desert or mountain area?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The New Delian laughed sourly. +<q>There is no other planet in all the +United Planets with our degree of +security. We even imported the most +recent developments in artificial satellites +equipped with the most delicate +of detection devices. I assure you, it +is utterly impossible for a spacecraft +to land or take off from New Delos +without our knowledge.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston's eyes lit with excitement. +<q>These security measures of +yours. To what extent do you keep +under observation all aliens on the +planet?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priest's chuckle had a nasty +quality. <q>You are quite ignorant of +our institutions, evidently. Every person +on New Delos, in every way of +life, was under constant survey from +the cradle to the grave. Aliens were +highly discouraged. When they appeared +on New Delos at all, they +were restricted in their movements +to this, our capital city.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny let air whistle from his +lungs. <q>Then,</q> he said triumphantly, +<q>if any alien had anything to do with +this, he is still on the planet. Can you +get me a list of all aliens?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other laughed again, still sourly. +<q>But there are none. None except +you employees of United Planets. +I'm afraid you're on a wild-goose +chase.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny stared at him blankly. <q>But +commercial representatives, cultural +exchange—</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priest said flatly, <q>No. None +at all. All commerce was handled +through UP. We encouraged no cultural +exchanges. We wished to keep +our people uncorrupted. United +Planets alone had the right to land +on our one spaceport.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Section G agent came to his +feet. This was much simpler than he +<pb n='043'/><anchor id='Pg043'/> +could ever have hoped for. He +thanked the other, but avoided the +necessity of shaking hands, and left. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +He found a helio-cab and dialed it +to the UP building, finding strange +the necessity of slipping coins into +the vehicle's slots until the correct +amount for his destination had been +deposited. Coinage was no longer in +use on Earth. +</p> + +<p> +At the UP building he retraced his +steps of the day before to the single +office of Section G. +</p> + +<p> +To his surprise, not only Mouley +Hassan was there, but Tog as well. +Hassan had evidently had at least a +few hours of sleep. He was in better +shape. +</p> + +<p> +They exchanged the usual amenities +and took their chairs again. +</p> + +<p> +Hassan said, <q>We were just gossiping. +It's been years since I've been in +Greater Washington. Lee Chang tells +me that Sid Jakes is now a Supervisor. +I worked with him for a while, +when I first joined Section G. How +about a glass of wine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Look. If Tommy +Paine was connected with this, and +it's almost positive he was, we've got +him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The others looked at him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You've evidently been busy,</q> Tog +said mildly. +</p> + +<p> +He turned to her. <q>He's trapped, +Tog! He can't get off the planet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan rubbed a hand +through his hair. <q>It'd be hard, all +right. They've got the people under +rein here such as you've never seen +before. Or they did until this blew up.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny sketched the situation to +Tog, winding up with, <q>The only +thing that makes sense is that it's a +Tommy Paine job. The local citizens +would never have been able to get +their hands on such a bomb, or been +able to have made the arrangements +for its delivery. They're under too +much surveillance.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said thoughtfully, <q>but how +did he escape all this surveillance?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't you understand? He's +working here, in this building, as an +employee of UP. There is no other +alternative.</q> +</p> + +<p> +They stared at him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I think perhaps you're right,</q> Tog +said finally. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny turned to Mouley Hassan. +<q>Can you get a list of all UP employees?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course.</q> He flicked his order +box, barked a command into it. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>It's going to be a matter +of eliminating the impossible. +For instance, what is the earliest +known case of Tommy Paine's activity?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog thought back. <q>So far as we +know definitely, about twenty-two +years ago.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fine,</q> Ronny said, increasingly +excited. <q>That will eliminate all persons +less than, say, forty years of age. +We can assume he was at least twenty +when he began.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Hassan said, <q>Can we eliminate all +women employees?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>I'd think so. The few +times he's been seen, all reports are +of a man. And that case on the planet +Mother where he put himself over as +<pb n='044'/><anchor id='Pg044'/> +a Holy Man. He could hardly have +been a woman in disguise in a Stone +Age culture such as that.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Hassan said, <q>And this Tommy +Paine has been flitting around this +part of the galaxy for years, so anyone +who has been here steadily for a period +of even a couple of years or so, +can't be suspect.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan thrust his hand +into a delivery drawer and brought +forth a handful of punched cards, +possibly fifty in all. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Surely there's more people than +that working in this building,</q> Ronny +protested. +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan said, <q>No. I've +eliminated already everyone who is a +citizen of New Delos. Obviously, +Tommy Paine is an alien. We have +only forty-eight Earthlings and other +United Planets citizens working +here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He carried the cards to a small collator +and worked for a moment on +its controls, as Tog and Ronny +watched him with mounting tension. +<q>Let's see,</q> he muttered. <q>We eliminate +all women, all those less than +forty, all who haven't done a great +deal of travel, those who have been +here for several years.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The end of it was that they eliminated +everyone employed in the UP +building. +</p> + +<p> +The cards were stacked back on +Mouley Hassan's desk again, and the +three of them sat around and looked +glumly at them. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>He's tinkered with +the files. He counterfeited fake papers +for himself, or something. Possibly +he's pulled his own card and it +isn't in this stack you have.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan said, <q>We'll double-check +all those possibilities, but +you're wrong. Possibly a few hundred +years ago, but not today. Forgery and +counterfeiting are things of the past. +And, believe me, the Bureau of Investigation +and especially Section G, +may look on the slipshod side, but +they aren't. We're not going to find +anything wrong with those cards. +Tommy Paine simply is not working +for UP on New Delos.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then,</q> Ronny said, <q>there's only +one alternative. He's on this UP ship +going to, what was the name of its +destination?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Avalon,</q> Mouley Hassan said, his +face thoughtful. +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>Do you have any ideas +on the men aboard?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan said, <q>There were +four crew men, and six of our agents.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>Unless one of them has +faked papers, the six agents are eliminated. +That leaves the crew members. +Do you know anything about +them?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Hassan shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Let's communicate +with Avalon. Tell our representatives +there to be sure that none of the occupants +of that ship leaves Avalon +until we get there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan said, <q>Good idea.</q> +He turned to his screen and said into +it, <q>Section G, Bureau of Investigation, +on the Planet Avalon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In moment the screen lit up. An +elderly agent, as Section G agents +seemed to go, looked up at them. +</p> + +<pb n='045'/><anchor id='Pg045'/> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan held his silver badge +so the other could see it and on the +Avalon agent's nod said, <q>I'm Hassan +from New Delos. We've just had a +crisis here and there seems to be +a chance that it's a Tommy Paine job. +Agent Bronston here is on an assignment +tracking him down. I'll turn it +over to Bronston.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Avalon agent nodded again, +and looked at Ronny. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said urgently, <q>We haven't +the time to give you details, but every +indication is that Paine is on a UP +spacecraft with Avalon as its destination. +There are only ten men aboard, +and six of them are Section G operatives.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other pursed his lips. <q>I see. +You think you have the old fox cornered, +eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Possibly,</q> Ronny said. <q>There are +various ifs. Miss Tog and I can double +check here. Then as soon as we can +clear exit visas, we'll make immediate +way for Avalon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Avalon Section G agent said, +<q>I haven't the authority to control the +movements of other agents, they have +as high rank as I have,</q> he added, +expressionlessly, <q>and probably higher +than yours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>But the four-man +crew?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other said, <q>These men are +coming to Avalon to work on a job +that will take at least six months. +We'll make a routine check, and I'll +try and make sure the whole ten will +still be on Avalon when and if you +arrive.</q> +</p> + +<p> +They had to be satisfied with that. +They checked all ways from the +middle, nor did it take long. There +was no doubt. If this was a Tommy +Paine job, and it almost surely was, +then there was only one way in which +he could have escaped from the planet +and that was by the single spacecraft +that had left, destination Avalon. +He was not on the planet, that +was definite Ronny felt. A stranger +on New Delos was as conspicuous as +a walrus in a goldfish bowl. There +simply were no such. +</p> + +<p> +They spent most of their time +checking and rechecking United +Planets personnel, but there was no +question there either. +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan and others of UP +personnel helped cut the red tape involved +in getting exit visas from New +Delos. It wasn't as complicated as it +might have been a week or two before. +No one seemed to be so confident +of his authority in the new provisional +government that he dared +veto a United Planets request. +</p> + +<p> +Mouley Hassan was able to arrange +for a small space yacht, slower +than a military craft, but capable of +getting them to Avalon in a few +days time. A one-man crew was sufficient, +Ronny, and especially Tog, +could spell him on the watches. +</p> + +<p> +Time aboard was spent largely in +studying up on Avalon, going over +and over again anything known about +the elusive Tommy Paine, and playing +Battle Chess and bickering with +Tog Lee Chang Chu. +</p> + +<p> +If it hadn't been for this ability to +argue against just about anything +Ronny managed to say, he could have +<pb n='046'/><anchor id='Pg046'/> +been attracted to her to the detriment +of the job. She was a good traveler, +few people are; she was an ultra-efficient +assistant; she was a joy to +look at; and she never intruded. But, +Great Guns, the woman could bicker. +</p> + +<p> +The two of them were studying in +the ship's luxurious lounge when +Ronny looked up and said, <q>Do you +have any idea why those six agents +were sent to Avalon?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +He indicated the booklet he was +reading. <q>From what I can see here, +it sounds like one of the most advanced +planets in the UP. They've +made some of the most useful advances +in industrial techniques of the +past century.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, I don't know,</q> Tog mused. <q>I +haven't much regard for Industrial +Feudalism myself. It starts off with +a bang, but tends to go sterile.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Industrial feudalism,</q> he said indignantly. +<q>What do you mean? The +government is a constitutional monarchy +with the king merely a powerless +symbol. The standard of living is +high. Elections are honest and democratic. +They've got a three-party system....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Which is largely phony,</q> Tog interrupted. +<q>You've got to do some +reading between the lines, especially +when the books you're reading are +turned out by the industrial feudalistic +publishing companies in Avalon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What's this industrial feudalism, +you keep talking about? Avalon has a +system of free enterprise.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A gobbledygook term,</q> Tog said, +irritatingly. <q>Industrial feudalism is a +socio-economic system that develops +when industrial wealth is concentrated +<pb n='047'/><anchor id='Pg047'/> +into the hands of a comparatively +few families. It finally gets to the +point of a closed circle all but impossible +to break into. These industrial +feudalistic families become so +powerful that only in rare instances +can anyone lift himself into their society. +They dominate every field, including +the so-called labor unions, +which amount to one of the biggest +businesses of all. With their unlimited +resources they even own every +means of dispensing information.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You mean,</q> Ronny argued, <q>that +on Avalon you can't start up a newspaper +of your own and say whatever +you wish?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Certainly you can, theoretically. +If you have the resources. Unfortunately, +such enterprises become increasingly +expensive to start. Or you +could start a radio, TV or Tri-Di station—if +you had the resources. However, +even if you overcame all your +handicaps and your newspaper or +broadcasting station became a success, +the industrial feudalistic families +in control of Avalon's publishing +and broadcasting fields have the endless +resources to buy you out, or +squeeze you out, by one nasty means +or another.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny snorted. <q>Well, the people +must be satisfied or they'd vote some +fundamental changes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog nodded. <q>They're satisfied, and +no wonder. Since childhood every +means of forming their opinions have +been in the hands of industrial feudalistic +families—including the schools.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You mean the schools are private?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, they don't have to be. The +government is completely dominated +by the fifty or so families which for +all practical purposes own Avalon. +That includes the schools. Some of +the higher institutions of learning are +private, but they, too, are largely dependent +upon grants from the families.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Ronny was irritated by her know-all +air. He tapped the book he'd been +reading with a finger. <q>They don't +control the government. Avalon's got +a three-party system. Any time the +people don't like the government, +they can vote in an alternative.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's an optical illusion. There +are three parties, but each is dominated +by the fifty families, and election +laws are such that for all practical +purposes it's impossible to start +another party. Theoretically it's possible, +actually it isn't. The voters can +vary back and forth between the three +political parties but it doesn't make +any difference which one they elect. +They all stand for the same thing—a +continuation of the status quo.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you claim it isn't democracy +at all?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog sighed. <q>That's a much abused +word. Actually, pure democracy is +seldom seen. They pretty well had it +in primitive society where government +was based on the family. You +voted for one of your relatives in +your clan to represent you in the +tribal councils. Every one in the tribe +was equal so far as apportionments of +the necessities of life were concerned. +No one, even the tribal chiefs, ate +<pb n='048'/><anchor id='Pg048'/> +better than anyone else, no one had +a better home.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, snappishly, <q>And if +man had remained at that level, we'd +never have gotten anywhere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right,</q> she said. <q>For progress, +man needed a leisure class. +Somebody with the time to study, to +experiment, to work things out.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He said, <q>We're getting away from +the point. You said in spite of appearances +they don't have democracy +on Avalon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They have a pretense of it. But +only free men can practice democracy. +So long as your food, clothing +and shelter are controlled by someone +else, you aren't free. Wait until I +think of an example.</q> She put her +right forefinger to her chin, thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p> +Holy smokes, she was a cute trick. +If only she wasn't so confounded irritating. +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>Do you remember the +State of California in Earth history?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I think so. On the west coast of +North America.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. Well, back in the +Twentieth Century, Christian calendar, +they had an economic depression. +During it a crackpot organization +called Thirty Dollars Every +Thursday managed to get itself on +the ballot. Times were bad enough +but had this particular bunch got into +power it would have become chaotic. +At first no thinking person took them +seriously, however a majority of people +in California at that time had +little to lose and in the final week +or so of the election campaign the +polls showed that Thirty Dollars Every +Thursday was going to win. So, a +few days before voting many of the +larger industries and businesses in +the State ran full page ads in the +newspapers. They said substantially +the same thing. <hi rend='italic'>If Thirty Dollars +Every Thursday wins this election, +our concern will close its doors. Do +not bother to come back to work +Monday.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was scowling at her. +<q>What's your point?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shrugged delicate shoulders. +<q>The crackpots were defeated, of +course, which was actually good for +California. But my point is that the +voters of California were not actually +free since their livelihoods were controlled +by others. This is an extreme +case, of course, but the fact always +applies.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A thought suddenly hit Ronny +Bronston. <q>Look,</q> he said. <q>Tommy +Paine. Do you think he's merely escaping +from New Delos, or is it possible +that Avalon is his next destination? +Is he going to try and overthrow +the government there?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She was shaking her head, but +frowning. <q>I don't think so. Things +are quite stable on Avalon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Stable?</q> he scowled at her. <q>From +what you've been saying, they're +pretty bad.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She continued to shake her head. +<q>Don't misunderstand, Ronny. On an +assignment like this, it's easy to get +the impression that all the United +Planets are in a state of socio-political +confusion, but it isn't so. A small +minority of planets are ripe for the +<pb n='049'/><anchor id='Pg049'/> +sort of trouble Tommy Paine stirs +up. Most are working away, developing, +making progress, slowly evolving. +Avalon is one of these. The way +things are there, Tommy Paine couldn't +make a dent on changing things, +even if he wanted to, and there's no +particular reason to believe he does.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny growled. <q>From what I can +learn of the guy he's anxious to stir +up trouble wherever he goes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don't know. If there's any pattern +at all in his activities, it seems to be +that he picks spots where things are +ripe to boil over on their own. He +acts as a catalyst. In a place like Avalon +he wouldn't get to first base. +Possibly fifty years from now, things +will have developed on Avalon to +the point where there is dissatisfaction. +By that time,</q> she said dryly, +<q>we'll assume Tommy Paine will no +longer be a problem to the Commissariat +of Interplanetary Affairs for +one reason or the other.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny took up his book again. He +growled, <q>I can't figure out his motivation. +If I could just put my finger +on that.</q> +</p> + +<p> +For once she agreed with him. +<q>I've got an idea, Ronny, that once +you have that, you'll have Tommy +Paine.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +They drew blank on Avalon. +</p> + +<p> +Or, at least, it was drawn for them +before they ever arrived. +</p> + +<p> +The Section G agent permanently +assigned to that planet had already +checked and double checked the possibilities. +None of the four-man crew +of the UP spacecraft had been on +New Delos at the time of the assassination +of the God-King. They, and +their craft, had been light-years away +on another job. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston couldn't believe +it. He simply couldn't believe it. +</p> + +<p> +The older agent, his name was +Jheru Bulchand, was definite. He +went over it with Ronny and Tog +in a bar adjoining UP headquarters. +He had dossiers on each of the ten +men, detailed dossiers. On the face of +it, none of them could be Paine. +</p> + +<p> +<q>But one of them has to be,</q> Ronny +pleaded. He explained their method +of eliminating the forty-eight employees +of UP on New Delos. +</p> + +<p> +Bulchand shrugged. <q>You've got +holes in that method of elimination. +You're assuming Tommy Paine is an +individual, and you have no reason +to. My own theory is that it's an organization.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said unhappily, <q>Then you're +of the opinion that there is a +Tommy Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The older agent was puffing comfortably +on an old style briar pipe. He +nodded definitely. <q>I believe Tommy +Paine exists as an organization. Possibly +once, originally, it was a single +person, but now it's a group. How +large, I wouldn't know. Probably not +too large or by this time somebody +would have betrayed it, or somebody +would have cracked and we would +have caught them. Catch one and +you've got the whole organization +what with our modern means of interrogation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>I've heard the opinion +before.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='050'/><anchor id='Pg050'/> + +<p> +Jheru Bulchand pointed at Ronny +with his pipe stem. <q>If its an organization, +then none of that eliminating +you did is valid. Your assassin could +have been one of the women. He +could have been one of the men you +eliminated as too young—someone +recently admitted to the Tommy +Paine organization.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny checked the last of his theories. +<q>Why did Section G send six of +its agents here?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nothing to do with Tommy +Paine,</q> Bulchand said. <q>It's a different +sort of crisis.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Just for my own satisfaction, what +kind of crisis?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Bulchand sketched it quickly. +<q>There are two Earth type planets in +this solar system. Avalon was the +first to be colonized and developed +rapidly. After a couple of centuries, +Avalonians went over and settled on +Catalina. They eventually set up a +government of their own. Now Avalon +has a surplus of industrial products. +Her economic system is such +that she produces more than she can +sell back to her own people. There's +a glut.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said demurely, <q>So, of course, +they want to dump it in Catalina.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Bulchand nodded. <q>In fact, they're +willing to give it away. They've offered +to build railroads, turn over +ships and aircraft, donate whole factories +to Catalina's slowly developing +economy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>Well, how does that +call for Section G agents?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Catalina has evoked Article Two +of the UP Charter. No member planet +of UP is to interfere with the internal +political, socio-economic or religious +affairs of another member +planet. Avalon claims the Charter +doesn't apply since Catalina belongs +to the same solar system and since +she's a former colony. We're trying to +smooth the whole thing over, before +Avalon dreams up some excuse for +military action.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny stared at him. <q>I get the +feeling every other sentence is being +left out of your explanation. It just +doesn't make sense. In the first place, +why is Avalon as anxious as all that +to give away what sounds like a fantastic +amount of goods?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I told you, they have a glut. They've +overproduced and, as a result, +they've got a king-size depression on +their hands, or will have unless they +find markets.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, why not trade with some of +the planets that want her products?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said as though reasoning with +a youngster, <q>Planets outside her own +solar system are too far away for it +to be practical even if she had commodities +they didn't. She needs a +nearby planet more backward than +herself, a planet like Catalina.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, that brings us to the more +fantastic question. Why in the world +doesn't Catalina accept? It sounds +to me like pure philanthropy on the +part of Avalon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Bulchand was wagging his pipe +stem in a negative gesture. <q>Bronston, +governments are never motivated +by idealistic reasons. Individuals +might be, and even small groups, but +governments never. Governments, +<pb n='051'/><anchor id='Pg051'/> +including that of Avalon, exist for the +benefit of the class or classes that control +them. The only things that motivate +them are the interests of that +class.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, this sounds like an exception,</q> +Ronny said argumentatively. +<q>How can Catalina lose if the Avalonians +grant them railroads, factories +and all the rest of it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog said, <q>Don't you see, Ronny? +It gives Avalon a foothold in the +Catalina economy. When the locomotives +wear out on the railroad, new +engines, new parts, must be purchased. +They won't be available on +Catalina because there will be no +railroad industry because none will +have ever grown up. Catalina manufacturers +couldn't compete with that +initial free gift. They'll be dependent +on Avalon for future equipment. In +the factories, when machines wear +out, they will be replaceable only +with the products of Avalon's industry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Bulchand said, <q>There's an analogy +in the early history of the United +States. When its fledgling steel industry +began, they set up a high tariff +to protect it against British competition. +The British were amazed and +indignant, pointing out that they +could sell American steel products at +one third the local prices, if only +allowed to do so. The United States +said no thanks, it didn't want to be +tied, industrially, to Great Britain's +apron strings. And in a couple of +decades American steel production +passed England's. In a couple of more +decades American steel production +was many times that of England's +and she was taking British markets +away from her all over the globe.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At any rate,</q> Ronny said, <q>it's not +a Tommy Paine matter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Just for luck, though, Ronny and +Tog double checked all over again on +Bulchand's efforts. They interviewed +all six of the Section G agents. Each +of them carried a silver badge that +gleamed only for the individual who +possessed it. All of which eliminated +the possibility that Paine had assumed +the identity of a Section G +operative. So that was out. +</p> + +<p> +They checked the four crew members, +but there was no doubt there, +either. The craft had been far away +at the time of the assassination on +New Delos. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day, Ronny Bronston, +disgusted, knocked on the door of +Tog's hotel room. The door screen lit +up and Tog, looking out at him said, +<q>Oh, come on in, Ronny, I was just +talking to Earth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He entered. +</p> + +<p> +Tog had set up her Section G communicator +on a desk top and Sid +Jakes' grinning face was in the tiny, +brilliant screen. Ronny approached +close enough for the other to take +him in. +</p> + +<p> +Jakes said happily, <q>Hi, Ronny, no +luck, eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny shook his head, trying not +to let his face portray his feelings of +defeat. This after all was a probationary +assignment, and the supervisor +had the power to send Ronny +Bronston back to the drudgery of his +office job at Population Statistics. +</p> + +<pb n='052'/><anchor id='Pg052'/> + +<p> +<q>Still working on it. I suppose it's +a matter of returning to New Delos +and grinding away at the forty-eight +employees of the UP there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes pursed his lips. <q>I don't +know. Possibly this whole thing was a +false alarm. At any rate, there seems +to be a hotter case on the fire. If our +local agents have it straight, Paine is +about to pull one of his coups on +Kropotkin. This is a top-top-secret, +of course, one of the few times we've +ever detected him before the act.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was suddenly alert, his fatigue +of disgust of but a moment ago, +completely forgotten. <q>Where?</q> he +said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Kropotkin,</q> Jakes said. <q>One of +the most backward planets in UP and +seemingly a setup for Paine's sort of +trouble making. The authorities, if +you can use the term applied to +Kropotkin, are already complaining, +threatening to invoke Article One of +the Charter, or to resign from UP.</q> +Jake looked at Tog again. <q>Do you +know Kropotkin, Lee Chang?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shook her head. <q>I've heard of +it, rather vaguely. Named after some +old anarchist, I believe.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's the place. One of the few +anarchist societies in UP. You don't +hear much from them.</q> He turned to +Ronny again. <q>I think that's your bet. +Hop to it, boy. We're going to catch +this Tommy Paine guy, or organization, +or whatever, soon or United +Planets is going to know it. We can't +keep the lid on indefinitely. If word +gets around of his activities, then +we'll lose member planets like Christmas +trees shedding needles after +New Year's.</q> He grinned widely. +<q>That's sounds like a neat trick, eh?</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston had got to the +point where he avoided controversial +subjects with Tog even when provoked +and she had a sneaky little way +of provoking arguments. They had +only one really knock down and drag-out +verbal battle on the way to Kropotkin. +</p> + +<p> +It had started innocently enough +after dinner on the space liner on +which they had taken passage for the +first part of the trip. To kill time they +were playing Battle Chess with its +larger board and added contingents +of pawns and castles. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said idly, <q>You know, in +spite of the fact that I'm a third generation +United Planets citizen and +employee, I'm just beginning to realize +how far out some of our member +planets are. I had no idea before.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She frowned in concentration, before +moving. She was advancing her +men in echelon attack, taking losses +in exchange for territory and trying +to pen him up in such small space +that he couldn't maneuver. +</p> + +<p> +She said, <q>How do you mean?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny lifted and dropped a shoulder. +<q>Well, New Delos and its theocracy, +for instance, and Shangri-La +and Mother and some of the other +planets with extremes in government +of socio-economic system. I hadn't +the vaguest idea about such places.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She made a deprecating sound. +<q>You should see Amazonia, or, for +that matter, the Orwellian State.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Amazonia</hi>,</q> he said, <q>does that +<pb n='053'/><anchor id='Pg053'/> +mean what it sounds like it does?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She made her move and settled +back in satisfaction. Her pawns were +in such position that his bishops were +both unusable. He'd tried to play a +phalanx game in the early stages of +her attack, but she'd broken through, +rolling up his left flank after sacrificing +a castle and a knight. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Certainly does,</q> she said. <q>A fairly +recently colonized planet. A few +thousand feminists no men at all—moved +onto it a few centuries ago. +And it's still an out and out matriarchy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny cleared his throat delicately. +<q>Without men ... ah, how did +they continue several centuries?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog suppressed her amusement. +<q>Artificial insemination, at first, so I +understand. They brought their, ah, +supply with them. But then there +were boys among the first generation +on the new planet and even the +Amazonians weren't up to cold bloodedly +butchering their children. So they +merely enslaved them. Nice girls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny stared at her. <q>You mean +all men are automatically slaves on +this planet?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny made an improperly +thought out move, trying to bring up +a castle to reinforce his collapsing +flank. He said, <q>UP allows <emph>anybody</emph> +to join evidently,</q> and there was disgust +in his voice. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why not?</q> she said mildly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, there should be <emph>some</emph> standards.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog moved quickly, dominating +with a knight several squares he couldn't +afford to lose. She looked up at +him, her dark eyes sparking. <q>The +point of UP is to include all the planets. +That way at least conflict can be +avoided and some exchange of science, +industrial techniques and cultural +gains take place. And you must +remember that while in power practically +no socio-economic system will +admit to the fact that it could possibly +change for the better. But actually +there is nothing less stable. Socio-economic +systems are almost always +in a condition of flux. Planets such as +Amazonia might for a time seem so +brutal in their methods as to exclude +their right to civilized intercourse +with the rest. However, one of these +days there'll be a change—or one of +these centuries. They all change, +sooner or later.</q> She added softly, +<q>Even Han.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Han?</q> Ronny said. +</p> + +<p> +Her voice was quiet. <q>Where I was +born, Ronny. Colonized from China +in the very early days. In fact, I spent +my childhood in a commune.</q> She +said musingly, <q>The party bureaucrats +thought their system an impregnable, +unchangeable one. Your move.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was fascinated. <q>And what +happened?</q> He was in full retreat +now, and with nowhere to go, his +pieces pinned up for the slaughter. +He moved a pawn to try and open +up his queen. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why don't you concede?</q> she said. +<q>Tommy Paine happened.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Paine!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Uh-huh. It's a long story. I'll tell +you about it some time.</q> She pressed +closer with her own queen. +</p> + +<pb n='054'/><anchor id='Pg054'/> + +<p> +He stared disgustedly at the board. +<q>Well, that's what I mean,</q> he muttered. +<q>I had no idea there were so +many varieties of crackpot politico-economic +systems among the UP +membership.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They're not necessarily crackpot,</q> +she protested mildly. <q>Just at different +stages of development.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not crackpot!</q> he said. <q>Here we +are heading for a planet named Kropotkin +which evidently practices anarchy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Your move,</q> she said. <q>What's +wrong with anarchism?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He glowered at her, in outraged +disgust. Was it absolutely impossible +for him to say anything without her +disagreement? +</p> + +<p> +Tog said mildly, <q>The anarchistic +ethic is one of the highest man has +ever developed.</q> She added, after +a moment of pretty consideration. +<q>Unfortunately, admittedly, it hasn't +been practical to put to practice. It +will be interesting to see how they +have done on Kropotkin.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Anarchist ethic, yes,</q> Ronny +snapped. <q>I'm no student of the movement +but the way I understand it, +there isn't any.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog smiled sweetly. <q>The belief +upon which they base their teachings +is that no man is capable of judging +another.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny cast his eyes ceilingward. +<q>O.K., I give up!</q> +</p> + +<p> +She began rapidly resetting the +pieces. <q>Another game?</q> she said +brightly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hey! I didn't mean the game! I +was just about to counterattack.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ha!</q> she said. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The Section G agent on Kropotkin +was named Hideka Yamamoto, but +he was on a field tour and wouldn't +be back for several days. However, +there wasn't especially any great hurry +so far as Ronny Bronston and Tog +Lee Chang Chu knew. They got themselves +organized in the rather rustic +equivalent of a hotel, which was located +fairly near UP headquarters, +and took up the usual problems of +arranging for local exchange, meals, +means of transportation and such +necessities. +</p> + +<p> +It was a greater problem than +usual. In fact, hadn't it been for the +presence of the UP organization, +which had already gone through all +this the hard way, some of the difficulties +would have been all but insurmountable. +</p> + +<p> +For instance, there was no local +exchange. There was no medium of +exchange at all. Evidently simple +barter was the rule. +</p> + +<p> +In the hotel—if it could be called +a hotel—lobby, Ronny Bronston +looked at Tog. <q>Anarchism!</q> he said. +<q>Oh, great. The highest ethic of all. +And what's the means of transportation +on this wonderful planet? The +horse. And how are we going to get a +couple of horses with no means of +exchange?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She tinkled laughter. +</p> + +<p> +<q>All right,</q> he said. <q>You're the +Man Friday. You find out the details +and handle them. I'm going out to +take a look around the town—if you +can call this a town.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='055'/><anchor id='Pg055'/> + +<p> +<q>It's the capital of Kropotkin,</q> Tog +said placatingly, though with a mocking +background in her tone. <q>Name +of Bakunin. And very pleasant, too, +from what little I've seen. Not a bit +of smog, industrial fumes, street dirt, +street noises—</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How could there be?</q> he injected +disgustedly. <q>There isn't any industry, +there aren't any cars, and for all +practical purposes, no streets. The +houses are a quarter of a mile or so +apart.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She laughed at him again. <q>City +boy,</q> she said. <q>Go on out there and +enjoy nature a little. It'll do you +good. Anybody who has cooped himself +up in that one big city, Earth, +all his life ought to enjoy seeing +what the great outdoors looks like.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He looked at her and grinned. She +was cute as a pixie, and there were +no two ways about that. He wondered +for a moment what kind of a wife +she'd make. And then shuddered inwardly. +Life would be one big contradiction +of anything he'd managed to +get out of his trap. +</p> + +<p> +He strolled idly along what was +little more than a country path and +it came to him that there were probably +few worlds in the whole UP +where he'd have been prone to do this +within the first few hours he'd been +on the planet. He would have been +afraid, elsewhere, of anything from +footpads to police, from unknown +vehicles to unknown traffic laws. +There was something bewildering +about being an Earthling and being +set down suddenly in New Delos or +on Avalon. +</p> + +<p> +Here, somehow, he already had a +feeling of peace. +</p> + +<p> +Evidently, although Bakunin was +supposedly a city, its populace tilled +their fields and provided themselves +with their own food. He could see no +signs of stores or warehouses. And +the UP building, which was no great +edifice itself, was the only thing in +town which looked even remotely +like a governmental building. +</p> + +<p> +Bakunin was neat. Clean as a pin, +as the expression went. Ronny was +vaguely reminded of a historical Tri-Di +romance he'd once seen. It had +been laid in ancient times in a community +of the Amish in old Pennsylvania. +</p> + +<p> +He approached one of the wooden +houses. The things would have been +priceless on Earth as an antique to be +erected as a museum in some crowded +park. For that matter it would +have been priceless for the wood it +contained. Evidently, the planet Kropotkin +still had considerable virgin +forest. +</p> + +<p> +An old-timer smoking a pipe, sat +on the cottage's front step. He nodded +politely. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny stopped. He might as well +try to get a little of the feel of the +place. He said courteously, <q>A pleasant +evening.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old-timer nodded. <q>As evenings +should be after a fruitful day's +toil. Sit down, comrade. You must be +from the United Planets. Have you +ever seen Earth?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny accepted the invitation and +felt a soothing calm descend upon +him almost immediately. An almost +<pb n='056'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> +disturbingly pleasant calm. He said, +<q>I was born on Earth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ai?</q> the old man said. <q>Tell me. +The books say that Kropotkin is an +Earth type planet within what they +call a few degrees. But is it? Is Kropotkin +truly like the mother planet?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny looked about him. He'd +seen some of this world as the shuttle +rocket had brought them down from +the passing liner. The forests, the +lakes, the rivers, and the great sections +untouched by man's hands. +Now he saw the areas between +homes, the neat fields, the signs of +human toil—the toil of hands, not +machines. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> he said, shaking his head. +<q>I'm afraid not. This is how Earth +must once have been. But no longer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other nodded. <q>Our total population +is but a few million,</q> he said. +Then, <q>I would like to see the mother +planet, but I suppose I never shall.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said diplomatically, <q>I have +seen little of Kropotkin thus far but +I am not so sure but that I might not +be happy to stay here, rather than +ever return to Earth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old man knocked the ashes +from his pipe by striking it against +the heel of a work-gnarled hand. +He looked about him thoughtfully +and said, <q>Yes, perhaps you're right. +I am an old man and life has been +good. I suppose I should be glad that +I'll unlikely live to see Kropotkin +change.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Change? You plan changes?</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The old man looked at him and +there seemed to be a very faint bitterness, +politely suppressed. <q>I wouldn't +say <emph>we</emph> planned them, comrade. Certainly +not we of the older generation. +But the trend toward change is already +to be seen by anyone who +wishes to look, and our institutions +won't long be able to stand. But, of +course, if you're from United Planets +you would know more of this than I.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I'm sorry. I don't know what you're +talking about.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are new indeed on Kropotkin,</q> +the old man said. <q>Just a moment.</q> +He went into his house and +emerged with a small power pack. He +indicated it to Ronny Bronston. +<q>This is our destruction,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +The Section G agent shook his +head, bewildered. +</p> + +<p> +The old-timer sat down again. +<q>My son,</q> he said, <q>runs the farm +now. Six months ago, he traded one +of our colts for a small pump, powered +by one of these. It was little use +on my part to argue against the step. +The pump eliminates considerable +work at the well and in irrigation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny still didn't understand. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The power pack is dead now,</q> the +old man said, <q>and my son needs a +new one.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They're extremely cheap,</q> Ronny +said. <q>An industrialized planet turns +them out in multi-million amounts at +practically no cost.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We have little with which to +trade. A few handicrafts, at most.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>But, good heavens, +man, build yourselves a plant to +manufacture power packs. With a +population this small, a factory employing +no more than half a dozen +<pb n='057'/><anchor id='Pg057'/> +men could turn out all you need.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old man was shaking his head. +He held up the battery. <q>This comes +from the planet Archimedes,</q> he said, +<q>one of the most highly industrialized +in the UP, so I understand. On Archimedes +do you know how many persons +it takes to manufacture this +power pack?</q> +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p46.png' rend='width: 60%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A handful to operate the whole +factory, Archimedes is fully automated.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old man was still moving his +head negatively. <q>No. It takes the total +working population of the planet. +How many different metals do you +think are contained in it, in all? I +can immediately see what must be +lead and copper.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said uncomfortably, <q>Probably +at least a dozen, some in microscopic +amounts.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. So we need a highly +developed metallurgical industry before +we can even begin. Then a developed +transportation industry to +take metals to the factory. We need +power to run the factory, hydro-electric, +solar, or possibly atomic power. +We need a tool-making industry +to equip the factory, the transport +industry and the power industry. And +while the men are employed in these, +we need farmers to produce food for +them, educators to teach them the +sciences and techniques involved, and +an entertainment industry to amuse +them in their hours of rest. As their +lives become more complicated with +all this, we need a developed medical +industry to keep them in health.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old man hesitated for a moment, +<pb n='058'/><anchor id='Pg058'/> +then said, <q>And, above all, we +need a highly complicated government +to keep all this accumulation of +wealth in check and balance. No. +You see, my friend, it takes <emph>social +labor</emph> to produce products such as +this, and thus far we have avoided +that on Kropotkin. In fact, it was for +such avoidance that my ancestors +originally came to this planet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, scowling, <q>This gets +ridiculous. You show me this basically +simple power pack and say it will +ruin your socio-economic system. On +the face of it, it's ridiculous.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old man sighed and looked +out over the village unseeingly. <q>It's +not just that single item, of course. +The other day one of my neighbors +turned up with a light bulb with +built-in power for a year's time. It is +the envy of the unthinking persons +of the neighborhood most of whom +would give a great deal for such a +source of light. A nephew of mine +has somehow even acquired a powered +bicycle, I think you call them, +from somewhere or other. One by +one, item by item, these products of +advanced technology turn up—from +whence, we don't seem to be able to +find out.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Under his breath, Ronny muttered, +<q><hi rend='italic'>Paine!</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I beg your pardon,</q> the old man +said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nothing,</q> the Section G agent +said. He leaned forward and, a worried +frown working its way over his +face, began to question the other +more closely. +</p> + +<p> +Afterwards, Ronny Bronston strode +slowly toward the UP headquarters. +There was only a small contingent of +United Planets personnel on this little +populated member planet but, as +always, there seemed to be an office +for Section G. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny stood outside it for a moment. +There were voices from within, +but he didn't knock. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, he cast his eyes up and +down the short corridor. At the far +end was a desk with a girl in the +Interplanetary Cultural Exchange Department +working away in concentration. +She wasn't looking in his direction. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston put his ear to the +door. The building was primitive +enough, rustic enough in its construction, +to permit his hearing. +</p> + +<p> +Tog Lee Chang Chu was saying +seriously, <q>Oh, it was chaotic all right, +but no, I don't really believe it could +have been a Tommy Paine case. Actually +I'd suggest to you that you run +over to Catalina. When I was on Avalon +I heard rumors that Tommy +Paine's finger seemed to be stirring +around in the mess there. Yes, I'd +recommend that you take off for Catalina +immediately. If Paine is anywhere +in this vicinity at all, it would +be Catalina.</q> +</p> + +<p> +For a moment, Ronny Bronston +froze. Then in automatic reflex his +hand went inside his jacket to rest +over the butt of the Model H automatic +there. +</p> + +<p> +No, that wasn't the answer. His +hand dropped away from the gun. +</p> + +<p> +He listened, further. +</p> + +<p> +Another voice was saying, <q>We +<pb n='059'/><anchor id='Pg059'/> +thought we were on the trail for a +while on Hector, but it turned out it +wasn't Paine. Just a group of local +agitators fed up with the communist +regime there. There's going to be a +blood bath on Hector, before they're +through, but it doesn't seem to be +Paine's work this time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog's voice was musing. <q>Well, you +never know, it sounds like the sort of +muck he likes to play in.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The strange voice said argumentatively, +<q>Well, Hector <emph>needs</emph> a few +fundamental changes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It could be,</q> Tog said, <q>but that's +their internal affairs, of course. Our +job in Section G is to prevent troubles +between the differing socio-economic +and religious features of member +planets. Whatever we think of +some of the things Paine does, our +task is to get him.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston pushed the door +open and went through. Tog Lee +Chang Chu was sitting at a desk, +nonchalant and petitely beautiful as +usual, comfortably seated in easy-chairs +were two young men by their +attire probably citizens of United +Planets and possibly even Earthlings. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hello, Ronny,</q> Tog said softly. +<q>Meet Frederic Lippman and Pedro +Nazaré, both Section G operatives. +This is my colleague, Ronald Bronston, +gentlemen. Fredric and Pedro +were just leaving, Ronny.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The two agents got up to shake +hands. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>You can't be in that +much of a hurry. What's your assignment, +boys?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Lippman, an earnest type, and by +his appearance not more than twenty-five +or so years of age, began to answer, +but Nazaré said hurriedly, <q>Actually, +it's a confidential assignment. +We're working directly out of the +Octagon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Lippman said, frowning, <q>It's not +that confidential, Tog. Bronston's an +agent, too. What's your assignment, +Ronny?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said very slowly, <q>I'm beginning +to suspect that it's the same +as yours and various pieces are beginning +to fall into place.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Lippman was taken aback. <q>You +mean you're looking for Tommy +Paine?</q> His eyes went to his associate. +<q>How could that be, Tog? I didn't +know more than one of us were on +this job. Why, that means if Bronston +here finds him first, I won't get my +permanent appointment.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny looked at Tog Lee Chang +Chu who was sitting demurely, hands +in lap, and a resigned expression on +her face. He said, <q>Nor if you find +him first, will I. Look here, Tog, how +many men does Sid Jakes have out on +this assignment?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I wouldn't know,</q> she said mildly. +</p> + +<p> +He snapped, <q>A few dozen or so? +Or possibly a few hundred?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It seems unlikely there could be +that many,</q> she said mildly. She +looked at the other two agents. <q>I +think you two had better run along. +Take my suggestion I made earlier.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Wait a minute,</q> Ronny snapped. +<q>You mean that they go to Catalina? +That's ridiculous.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog Lee Chang Chu looked at +<pb n='060'/><anchor id='Pg060'/> +Pedro Nazaré and he turned and +started for the door followed by Fredric +Lippman who was still scowling +his puzzlement. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Wait a minute!</q> Ronny snapped. +<q>I tell you it's ridiculous. And why +follow her suggestions? She's just my +assistant.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Pedro Nazaré said, <q>Come on, Fred, +let's get going, we'll have to pack.</q> +But Lippman wasn't having any. +</p> + +<p> +<q>His assistant?</q> he said to Tog Lee +Chang Chu. +</p> + +<p> +Tog Lee Chang Chu's face changed +expression in sudden decision. She +opened her bag and brought forth a +Section G identification wallet and +flicked it open. The badge was gold. +<q>I suggest you hurry,</q> she said to the +two agents. +</p> + +<p> +They left, and Tog turned back to +Ronny, her eyebrows raised questioningly. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny sank down into one of the +chairs recently occupied by the other +two agents and tried to unravel +thoughts. He said finally, <q>I suppose +my question should be, why do Ross +Metaxa and Sid Jakes send an agent +of supervisor rank to act as assistant +to a probationary agent? But that's +not what I'm asking yet. First, Lippman +just called his buddy Tog. How +come?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Tog took her seat again, rueful +resignation on her face. <q>You should +be figuring it out on your own by +this time, Ronny.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He looked at her belligerently. +<q>I'm too stupid, eh?</q> The anger was +growing within him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tog,</q> she said. <q>It's a nickname, +or possibly you might call it a title. +Tog. T-O-G. The Other Guy. My +name is Lee Chang Chu, and I'm of +supervisor grade presently working +at developing new Section G operatives. +Considering the continuing +rapid growth of UP, and the continuing +crises that come up in UP activities, +developing new operatives is one +of the department's most pressing +jobs. Each new agent, on his first assignment, +is always paired with an +experienced old-timer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I see,</q> he said flatly. <q>Your principal +job being to needle the fledging, +eh?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She lowered her eyes. <q>I wouldn't +exactly word it that way,</q> she said. +She was obviously unrepentant. +</p> + +<p> +He said, <q>You must get a lot of +laughs out of it. If I say, it seems to +me democracy is a good thing, you +give me an argument about the superiority +of rule by an elite. If I say +anarchism is ridiculous, you dredge +up an opinion that it's man's highest +ethic. You must laugh yourself to +sleep at nights. You and Metaxa and +Jakes and every other agent in Section +G. Everybody is in on the Tog gag +but the sucker.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sometimes there are amusing elements +to the work,</q> Lee Chang conceded, +demurely. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Just one more thing I'd like to +ask,</q> Ronny rapped. <q>This first assignment, +agents are given. Is it always +to look for Tommy Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him, said nothing, +but her eyes were questioning. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don't worry,</q> he snapped. <q>I've +already found out who Paine is.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='061'/><anchor id='Pg061'/> + +<p> +<q>Ah?</q> She was suddenly interested. +<q>Then I'm glad I ordered that +other probationary agent to leave. +Evidently, he hasn't. Obviously, I didn't +want the two of you comparing notes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, that would never do,</q> he said +bitterly. <q>Well, this is the end of the +assignment so far as you and I are +concerned. I'm heading back for +Earth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course,</q> she said. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +He had time on the way to think +it all over, and over and over again, +and a great deal of it simply didn't +make sense. He had enough information +to be disillusioned, sick at heart. +To have crumbled an idealistic edifice +that had taken a lifetime to build. +A lifetime? At least three. His father +and his grandfather before him +had had the dream. He'd been weaned +on the idealistic purposes of the United +Planets and man's fated growth +into the stars. +</p> + +<p> +He was a third-generation dreamer +of participating in the glory. His +grandfather had been a citizen of +Earth and gave up a commercial position +to take a job that amounted to +little more than a janitor in an obscure +department of Interplanetary +Financial Clearing. He wanted to get +into the big job, into space, but never +made it. Ronny's father managed to +work up to the point where he was a +supervisor in Interplanetary Medical +Exchange, in the tabulating department. +He, too, had wanted into space, +and never made it. Ronny had loved +them both. In a way fulfilling his own +dreams had been a debt he owed +them, because at the same time he +was fulfilling theirs. +</p> + +<p> +And now this. All that had been +gold, was suddenly gilted lead. The +dream had become contemptuous +nightmare. +</p> + +<p> +Finally back in Greater Washington, +he went immediately from the +shuttleport to the Octagon. His Bureau +of Investigation badge was +enough to see him through the guide-guards +and all the way through to the +office of Irene Kasansky. +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him quickly. +<q>Hi,</q> she said. <q>Ronny Bronston, isn't +it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That's right. I want to see Commissioner +Metaxa.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She scowled. <q>I can't work you in +now. How about Sid Jakes?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He said, <q>Jakes is in charge of the +Tommy Paine routine, isn't he?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She shot a sharper look up at him. +<q>That's right,</q> she said warily. +</p> + +<p> +<q>All right,</q> Ronny said. <q>I'll see +Jakes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her deft right hand slipped open +a drawer in her desk. <q>You'd better +leave your gun here,</q> she said. <q>I've +known probationary agents to get excited, +in my time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He looked at her. +</p> + +<p> +And she looked back, her gaze +level. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston shrugged, slipped +the Model H from under his armpit +and tossed it into the drawer. +</p> + +<p> +Irene Kasansky went back to her +work. <q>You know the way,</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +This time Ronny Bronston pushed +open the door to Sid Jakes' office without +<pb n='062'/><anchor id='Pg062'/> +knocking. The Section G supervisor +was poring over reports on his +desk. He looked up and grinned his +Sid Jakes' grin. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ronny!</q> he said. <q>Welcome back. +You know, you're one of the quickest +men ever to return from a Tommy +Paine assignment. I was talking to +Lee Chang only a day or so ago. She +said you were on your way.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny grunted, his anger growing +within him. He lowered himself into +one of the room's heavy chairs, and +glared at the other. +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes chuckled and leaned back +in his chair. <q>Before we go any further, +just to check, who is Tommy +Paine?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny snapped, <q>You are.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The supervisor's eyebrows went up. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said, <q>You and Ross Metaxa +and Lee Chang Chu—and all the rest +of Section G. Section G is Tommy +Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good man!</q> Sid Jakes chortled. +He flicked a switch on his order box. +<q>Irene,</q> he said, <q>how about clearing +me through to the commissioner? I +want to take Ronny in for his finals.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Irene snapped back something and +Sid Jakes switched off and turned to +Ronny happily. <q>Let's go,</q> he said. +<q>Ross is free for a time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston said nothing. He +followed the other. The rage within +him was still mounting. +</p> + +<p> +In the months that had elapsed +since Ronny Bronston had seen Ross +Metaxa the latter had changed not at +all. His clothing was still sloppy, his +eyes bleary with lack of sleep or +abundance of alcohol—or both. His +expression was still sour and skeptical. +</p> + +<p> +He looked up at their entry and +scowled, and made no effort to rise +and shake hands. He said to Ronny +sourly, <q>O.K., sound off and get it +over with. I haven't too much time +this afternoon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston was just beginning +to feel tentacles of cold doubt, +but he suppressed them. The boiling +anger was uppermost. He said flatly, +<q>All my life I've been a dedicated +United Planets man. All my life I've +considered its efforts the most praiseworthy +and greatest endeavor man +has ever attempted.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course, old chap,</q> Jakes told +him cheerfully. <q>We know all that, or +you wouldn't ever have been chosen +as an agent for Section G.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny looked at him in disgust. +<q>I've resigned that position, Jakes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jakes grinned back at him. <q>To the +contrary, you're now in the process +of receiving permanent appointment.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny snorted his disgust and +turned back to Metaxa. <q>Section G is +a secret department of the Bureau of +Investigation devoted to subverting +Article One of the United Planets +Charter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa nodded. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You don't deny it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Article One,</q> Ronny snapped, <q>is +the basic foundation of the Charter +which every member of UP and particularly +every citizen of United Planets, +such as ourselves, has sworn to +uphold. But the very reason for the +existence of this Section G is to interfere +with the internal affairs of +<pb n='063'/><anchor id='Pg063'/> +member planets, to subvert their governments, +their economic systems, +their religions, their ideals, their very +way of life.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa yawned and reached into a +desk drawer for his bottle. <q>That's +right,</q> he said. <q>Anybody like a +drink?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny ignored him. <q>I'm surprised +I didn't catch on even sooner,</q> he +said. <q>On New Delos Mouley Hassan, +the local agent, knew the God-King +was going to be assassinated. He +brought in extra agents and even a detail +of Space Forces guards for the +emergency. He probably engineered +the assassination himself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nope,</q> Jakes said. <q>We seldom go +<emph>that</emph> far. Local rebels did the actual +work, but, admittedly, we knew what +they were planning. In fact, I've got +a sneaking suspicion that Mouley +Hassan provided them with the bomb. +That lad's a bit too dedicated.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But <emph>why</emph>,</q> Ronny blurted. <q>That's +deliberately interfering with internal +affairs. If the word got out, every +planet in UP would resign.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Probably no planet in the system +that needed a change so badly,</q> Metaxa +growled. <q>If they were ever going +to swing into real progress, that +hierarchy of priests had to go.</q> He +snorted. <q>An immortal God-King, +yet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny pressed on. <q>That was bad +enough, but how about this planet +Mother, where the colonists had attempted +to return to nature and live +in the manner man did in earliest +times.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Most backward planet in the UP,</q> +Metaxa said sourly. <q>They just had to +be roused.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And Kropotkin!</q> Ronny blurted. +<q>Don't you understand, those people +were <emph>happy</emph> there. Their lives were +simple, uncomplicated, and they had +achieved a happiness that—</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa came to his feet. He +scowled at Ronny Bronston and +growled, <q>Unfortunately, the human +race can't take the time out for happiness. +Come along, I want to show +you something.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He swung around the corner of his +desk and made his way toward a +ceiling-high bookcase. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny stared after him, taken off +guard, but Sid Jakes was grinning his +amusement. +</p> + +<p> +Ross Metaxa pushed a concealed +button and the bookcase slid away to +one side to reveal an elevator beyond. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come along,</q> Metaxa repeated +over his shoulder. He entered the +elevator, followed by Jakes. +</p> + +<p> +There was nothing else to do. +Ronny Bronston followed them, his +face still flushed with the angered +argument. +</p> + +<p> +The elevator dropped, how far, +Ronny had no idea. It stopped and +they emerged into a plain, sparsely +furnished vault. Against one wall +was a boxlike affair that reminded +Ronny of nothing so much as a deep-freeze. +</p> + +<p> +For all practical purposes, that's +what it was. Ross Metaxa led him +over and they stared down into its +glass-covered interior. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny's eyes bugged. The box contained +<pb n='064'/><anchor id='Pg064'/> +the partly charred body of an +animal approximately the size of a +rabbit. No, not an animal. It had obviously +once been clothed, and its +limbs were obviously those of a tool +using life form. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa and Jakes were staring +down at it solemnly, for once no inane +grin on the supervisor's face. +And that of Ross Metaxa was more +weary than ever. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said finally, <q>What is it?</q> +But he knew. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You tell us,</q> Metaxa growled +sourly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It's an intelligent life form,</q> +Ronny blurted. <q>Why has it been +kept secret?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let's go on back upstairs,</q> Metaxa +sighed. +</p> + +<p> +Back in his office he said, <q>Now I +go into my speech. Shut up for a +while.</q> He poured himself a drink, +not offering one to the other two. +<q>Ronny,</q> he said, <q>man isn't alone +in the galaxy. There's other intelligent +life. Dangerously intelligent.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In spite of himself Ronny reacted +in amusement. <q>That little creature +down there? The size of a small +monkey?</q> As soon as he said it, he +realized the ridiculousness of his +statement. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa grunted. <q>Obviously, size +means nothing. That little fellow +down there was picked up by one of +our Space Forces scouts over a century +ago. How long he'd been drifting +through space, we don't know. +Possibly only months, but possibly +hundreds of centuries. But however +long he's proof that man is not alone +in the galaxy. And we have no way +of knowing when the expanding human +race will come up against this +other intelligence—and whoever it +was fighting.</q> +</p> + +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/p57.png' rend='width: 40%'> + <figDesc>Illustration.</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But,</q> Ronny protested, <q>you're +assuming they're aggressive. Perhaps +coming in contact with these aliens +will be the best thing that ever happened +to man. Possibly that little +fellow down there is the most benevolent +creature ever evolved.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa looked at him strangely. +<q>Let's hope so,</q> he said. <q>However, +when found he was in what must +have been a one-man scout. He was +dead and his craft was blasted and +torn—obviously from some sort of +weapons' fire. His scout was obviously +a military craft, highly equipped with +what could only be weapons, most of +them so damaged our engineers haven't +been able to figure them out. To +the extent they have been able to reconstruct +them, they're scared silly. +No, there's no two ways about it, our +little rabbit sized intelligence down +in the vault was killed in an interplanetary +conflict. And sooner or +later, Ronny, man in his explosion +into the stars is going to run into +either or both of the opponents in +that conflict.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston slumped back into +his chair, his brain running out a +dozen leads at once. +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa and Jakes remained quiet, +looking at him speculatively. +</p> + +<p> +Ronny said slowly, <q>Then the purpose +of Section G is to push the +member planets of UP along the +fastest path of progress, to get them +<pb n='065'/><anchor id='Pg065'/> +ready for the eventual, inevitable +meeting.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not just Section G,</q> Metaxa +growled, <q>but all of the United Planets +organization, although most of +the rank and file don't even know our +basic purpose. Section G? We do the +dirty work, and are proud to do it, by +every method we can devise.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny leaned forward. <q>But look,</q> +he said. <q>Why not simply inform all +member planets of this common danger? +They'd all unite in the effort to +meet the common potential foe. +Anything standing in the way would +be brushed aside.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa shook his head wearily. +<q>Would they? Is a common danger +enough for man to change his institutions, +particularly those pertaining +to property, power and religion? History +doesn't show it. Delve back into +early times and you'll recall, for an +example, that in man's early discovery +of nuclear weapons he almost destroyed +himself. Three or four different +socio-economic systems co-existed +at that time and all would have +preferred destruction rather than +changes in their social forms.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jakes said, in an unwonted quiet +tone, <q>No, until someone comes up +with a better answer it looks as +though Section G is going to have to +continue the job of advancing man's +institutions, in spite of himself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The commissioner made it clearer. +<q>It's not as though we deal with all +our member planets. It isn't necessary. +But you see, Ronny, the best +colonists are usually made up of the, +well, crackpot element. Those who +are satisfied, stay at home. America, +for instance, was settled by the adventurers, +the malcontents, the non-conformists, +the religious cultists, +and even fugitives and criminals of +Europe. So it is in the stars. A group +of colonists go out with their dreams, +their schemes, their far-out ideas. In a +few centuries they've populated their +new planet, and often do very well +indeed. But often not and a nudge, a +push, from Section G can start them +up another rung or so of the ladder of +social evolution. Most of them don't +want the push. Few cultures, if any, +realize they are mortal; like Hitler's +Reich, they expect to last at least a +thousand years. They resist any +change—even change for the better.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Ronny's defenses were crumbling, +but he threw one last punch. <q>How +do you know the changes you make +are for the better?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa shrugged heavy shoulders. +<q>It's sometimes difficult to decide, but +we aim for changes that will mean an +increased scientific progress, a more +advanced industrial technology, more +and better education, the opening of +opportunity for every member of +the culture to exert himself to the +full of his abilities. The last is particularly +important. Too many cultures, +even those that think of themselves +as particularly advanced, suppress +the individual by one means or +another.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny was still mentally reeling +with the magnitude of it all. <q>But how +can you account for the fact that +<pb n='066'/><anchor id='Pg066'/> +these alien intelligences haven't already +come in contact with us?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa shrugged again. <q>The Solar +System, our sun, is way out in a +sparsely populated spiral arm of our +galaxy. Undoubtedly, these others +are further in toward the center. We +have no way of knowing how far +away they are, or how many sun +systems they dominate, or even how +many other empires of intelligent life +forms there are. All we know is that +there are other intelligences in the +galaxy, that they are near enough +like us to live on the same type planets. +The more opportunity man has +to develop before the initial contact +takes place, the stronger bargaining +position, or military position, as the +case may be, he'll be in.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sid Jakes summed up the Tommy +Paine business for Ronny's sake. <q rend='pre'>We +need capable agents badly, but we +need dedicated and efficient ones. We +can't afford anything less. So when +we come upon potential Section G +operatives we send them out with a +trusted Tog to get a picture of these +United Planets of ours. It's the +quickest method of indoctrination +we've hit upon; the agent literally +teaches himself by observation and +participation. Usually, it takes four or +five stops, on this planet and that, before +the probationary agent begins +sympathizing with the efforts of this +elusive Tommy Paine. Especially +since every Section G agent he runs +into, including the Tog, of course, +fills him full of stories of Tommy +Paine's activities.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You were one of the quickest to +stumble on the true nature of our +Section G. After calling at only three +planets you saw that we ourselves +are Tommy Paine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But ... but what's the end?</q> +Ronny said plaintively. <q>You say our +job is advancing man, even in spite +of himself when it comes to that. +We start at the bottom of the evolutionary +ladder in a condition of savagery, +clan communism in government, +simple animism in religion, and +slowly we progress through barbarism +to civilization, through paganism to +the higher ethical codes, through +chattel slavery and then feudalism +and beyond. What is the final end, +the Ultima Thule?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Metaxa was shaking his head +again. He poured himself another +drink, offered the bottle this time to +the others. <q>We don't know,</q> he said +wearily, <q>perhaps there is none. Perhaps +there is always another rung on +this evolutionary ladder.</q> He punched +at his order box and said, <q>Irene, +have them do up a silver badge for +Ronny.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ronny Bronston took a deep +breath and reached for the brown +bottle. <q>Well,</q> he said. <q>I suppose +I'm ready to ask for my first assignment.</q> +He thought for a moment. +<q>By the way, if there's any way to +swing it, I wouldn't mind working +with Supervisor Lee Chang Chu.</q> +</p> + +<p> +THE END +</p> +</div> +</body> +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> + </div> +</back> +</text> +</TEI.2> diff --git a/30334-tei/images/front.png b/30334-tei/images/front.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fd9523 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-tei/images/front.png diff --git a/30334-tei/images/p18.png b/30334-tei/images/p18.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fa6d71 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-tei/images/p18.png diff --git a/30334-tei/images/p27.png b/30334-tei/images/p27.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7debfc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-tei/images/p27.png diff --git a/30334-tei/images/p37.png b/30334-tei/images/p37.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fd841c --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-tei/images/p37.png diff --git a/30334-tei/images/p46.png b/30334-tei/images/p46.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..099b5c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-tei/images/p46.png diff --git a/30334-tei/images/p57.png b/30334-tei/images/p57.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d46257a --- /dev/null +++ b/30334-tei/images/p57.png diff --git a/30334.txt b/30334.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9179aa9 --- /dev/null +++ b/30334.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3876 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ultima Thule by Dallas McCord Reynolds + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: Ultima Thule + +Author: Dallas McCord Reynolds + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [Ebook #30334] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** + + + + + + Ultima Thule + + by + + Dallas McCord Reynolds + + Illustrated by John Schoenherr. + + Analog Science Fact & Fiction + + March 1961 + + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: This text was produced from Analog Science Fact & +Fiction March 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that +the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + + + + + [Illustration.] + +At least he'd got far enough to wind up with a personal interview. It's +one thing doing up an application and seeing it go onto an endless tape +and be fed into the maw of a machine and then to receive, in a matter of +moments, a neatly printed rejection. It's another thing to receive an +appointment to be interviewed by a placement officer in the Commissariat +of Interplanetary Affairs, Department of Personnel. Ronny Bronston was +under no illusions. Nine out of ten men of his age annually made the same +application. Almost all were annually rejected. Statistically speaking +practically nobody ever got an interplanetary position. But he'd made step +one along the path of a lifetime ambition. + +He stood at easy attention immediately inside the door. At the desk at the +far side of the room the placement officer was going through a sheaf of +papers. He looked up and said, "Ronald Bronston? Sit down. You'd like an +interplanetary assignment, eh? So would I." + +Ronny took the chair. For a moment he tried to appear alert, earnest, +ambitious but not _too_ ambitious, fearless, devoted to the cause, and +indispensable. For a moment. Then he gave it up and looked like Ronny +Bronston. + +The other looked up and took him in. The personnel official saw a man of +averages. In the late twenties. Average height, weight and breadth. +Pleasant of face in an average sort of way, but not handsome. Less than +sharp in dress, hair inclined to be on the undisciplined side. Brown of +hair, dark of eye. In a crowd, inconspicuous. In short, Ronny Bronston. + +The personnel officer grunted. He pushed a button, said something into his +order box. A card slid into the slot and he took it out and stared +gloomily at it. + +"What're your politics?" he said. + +"Politics?" Ronny Bronston said. "I haven't any politics. My father and +grandfather before me have been citizens of United Planets. There hasn't +been any politics in our family for three generations." + +"Family?" + +"None." + +The other grunted and marked the card. "Racial prejudices?" + +"I beg your pardon?" + +"Do you have any racial prejudices? Any at all." + +"No." + +The personnel officer said, "Most people answer that way at first, these +days, but some don't at second. For instance, suppose you had to have a +blood transfusion. Would you have any objection to it being blood donated +by, say, a Negro, a Chinese, or, say, a Jew?" + +Ronny ticked it off on his fingers. "One of my greatgrandfathers was a +French _colon_ who married a Moroccan girl. The Moors are a blend of +Berber, Arab, Jew and Negro. Another of my greatgrandfathers was a +Hawaiian. They're largely a blend of Polynesians, Japanese, Chinese and +Caucasians especially Portuguese. Another of my greatgrandfathers was +Irish, English and Scotch. He married a girl who was half Latvian, half +Russian." Ronny wound it up. "Believe me, if I had a blood transfusion +from just anybody at all, the blood would feel right at home." + +The interviewer snorted, even as he marked the card. "That accounts for +three greatgrandfathers," he said lightly. "You seem to have made a study +of your family tree. What was the other one?" + +Rocky said expressionlessly, "A Texan." + +The secretary shrugged and looked at the card again. "Religion?" + +"Reformed Agnostic," Ronny said. This one was possibly where he ran into a +brick wall. Many of the planets had strong religious beliefs of one sort +or another. Some of them had state religions and you either belonged or +else. + +"Is there any such church?" the personnel officer frowned. + +"No. I'm a one-man member. I'm of the opinion that if there are any +greater-powers-that-be They're keeping the fact from us. And if that's the +way They want it, it's Their business. If and when They want to contact +me--one of Their puppets dangling from a string--then I suppose They'll do +it. Meanwhile, I'll wait." + +The other said interestedly, "You think that if there is a Higher Power +and if It ever wants to get in touch with you, It will?" + +"Um-m-m. In Its own good time. Sort of a _don't call Me_, thing, _I'll +call you_." + +The personnel officer said, "There have been a few revealed religions, you +know." + +"So they said, so they said. None of them have made much sense to me. If a +Super-Power wanted to contact man, it seems unlikely to me that it'd be +all wrapped up in a lot of complicated gobbledegook. It would all be very +clear indeed." + +The personnel officer sighed. He marked the card, stuck it back into the +slot in his order box and it disappeared. + +He looked up at Ronny Bronston. "All right, that's all." + +Ronny came to his feet. "Well, what happened?" + +The other grinned at him sourly. "Darned if I know," he said. "By the time +you get to the outer office, you'll probably find out." He scratched the +end of his nose and said, "I sometimes wonder what I'm doing here." + +Ronny thanked him, told him good-by, and left. + + ------------------------------------- + +In the outer office a girl looked up from a card she'd just pulled from +her own order box. "Ronald Bronston?" + +"That's right." + +She handed the card to him. "You're to go to the office of Ross Metaxa in +the Octagon, Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs, Department of +Justice, Bureau of Investigation, Section G." + +In a lifetime spent in first preparing for United Planets employment and +then in working for the organization, Ronny Bronston had never been in the +Octagon Building. He'd seen photographs, Tri-Di broadcasts and he'd heard +several thousand jokes on various levels from pun to obscenity about +getting around in the building, but he'd never been there. For that +matter, he'd never been in Greater Washington before, other than a long +ago tourist trip. Population Statistics, his department, had its main +offices in New Copenhagen. + +His card was evidently all that he needed for entry. + +At the sixth gate he dismissed his car and let it shoot back into the +traffic mess. He went up to one of the guard-guides and presented the +card. + +The guide inspected it. "Section G of the Bureau of Investigation," he +muttered. "Every day, something new. I never heard of it." + +"It's probably some outfit in charge of cleaning the heads on space +liners." Ronny said unhappily. He'd never heard of it either. + +"Well, it's no problem," the guard-guide said. He summoned a three-wheel, +fed the co-ordinates into it from Ronny's card, handed the card back and +flipped an easy salute. "You'll soon know." + +The scooter slid into the Octagon's hall traffic and proceeded up one +corridor, down another, twice taking to ascending ramps. Ronny had read +somewhere the total miles of corridors in the Octagon. He hadn't believed +the figures at the time. Now he believed them. He must have traversed +several miles before they got to the Department of Justice alone. It was +another quarter mile to the Bureau of Investigation. + +The scooter eventually came to a halt, waited long enough for Ronny to +dismount and then hurried back into the traffic. + +He entered the office. A neatly uniformed reception girl with a harassed +and cynical eye looked up from her desk. "Ronald Bronston?" she said. + +"That's right." + +"Where've you been?" She had a snappy cuteness. "The commissioner has been +awaiting you. Go through that door and to your left." + +Ronny went through that door and to the left. There was another door, +inconspicuously lettered _Ross Metaxa, Commissioner, Section G_. Ronny +knocked and the door opened. + +Ross Metaxa was going through a wad of papers. He looked up; a man in the +middle years, sour of expression, moist of eye as though he either drank +too much or slept too little. + +"Sit down," he said. "You're Ronald Bronston, eh? What do they call you, +Ronny? It says here you've got a sense of humor. That's one of the first +requirements in this lunatic department." + +Ronny sat down and tried to form some opinions of the other by his +appearance. He was reminded of nothing so much as the stereotype city +editor you saw in the historical romance Tri-Ds. All that was needed was +for Metaxa to start banging on buttons and yelling something about tearing +down the front page, whatever that meant. + +Metaxa said, "It also says you have some queer hobbies. Judo, small +weapons target shooting, mountain climbing--" He looked up from the +reports. "Why does anybody climb mountains?" + +Ronny said, "Nobody's ever figured out." That didn't seem to be enough, +especially since Ross Metaxa was staring at him, so he added, "Possibly we +devotees keep doing it in hopes that someday somebody'll find out." + +Ross Metaxa said sourly, "Not _too_ much humor, please. You don't act as +though getting this position means much to you." + +Ronny said slowly, "I figured out some time ago that every young man on +Earth yearns for a job that will send him shuttling from one planet to +another. To achieve it they study, they sweat, they make all out efforts +to meet and suck up to anybody they think might help. Finally, when and if +they get an interview for one of the few openings, they spruce up in their +best clothes, put on their best party manners, present themselves as the +sincere, high I.Q., ambitious young men that they are--and then flunk their +chance. I decided I might as well be what I am." + +Ross Metaxa looked at him. "O.K.," he said finally. "We'll give you a +try." + +Ronny said blankly, "You mean I've got the job?" + +"That's right." + +"I'll be damned." + +"Probably," Metaxa said. He yawned. "Do you know what Section G handles?" + +"Well no, but as for me, just so I get off Earth and see some of the +galaxy." + + ------------------------------------- + +Metaxa had been sitting with his heels on his desk. Now he put them down +and reached a hand into a drawer to emerge with a brown bottle and two +glasses. "Do you drink?" he said. + +"Of course." + +"Even during working hours?" Metaxa scowled. + +"When occasion calls." + +"Good," Metaxa said. He poured two drinks. "You'll get your fill of seeing +the galaxy," he said. "Not that there's much to see. Man can settle only +Earth-type planets and after you've seen a couple of hundred you've seen +them all." + +Ronny sipped at his drink, then blinked reproachfully down into the glass. + +Metaxa said, "Good, eh? A kind of tequila they make on Deneb Eight. Bunch +of Mexicans settled there." + +"What," said Ronny hoarsely, "do they make it out of?" + +"Lord only knows," Metaxa said. "To get back to Section G. We're +Interplanetary Security. In short, Department Cloak and Dagger. Would you +be willing to die for the United Planets, Bronston?" + +That curve had come too fast. Ronny blinked again. "Only in emergency," he +said. "Who'd want to kill me?" + +Metaxa poured another drink. "Many of the people you'll be working with," +he said. + +"Well, _why_? What will I be doing?" + +"You'll be representing United Planets," Metaxa explained. "Representing +United Planets in cases where the local situation is such that the folks +you're working among will be teed off at the organization." + +"Well, why are they members if they don't like the UP?" + +"That's a good question," Metaxa said. He yawned. "I guess I'll have to go +into my speech." He finished his drink. "Now, shut up till I give you some +background. You're probably full of a lot of nonsense you picked up in +school." + +Ronny shut up. He'd expected more of an air of dedication in the Octagon +and in such ethereal departments as that of Interplanetary Justice, +however, he was in now and not adverse to picking up some sophistication +beyond the ken of the Earth-bound employees of UP. + +The other's voice took on a far away, albeit bored tone. "It seems that +most of the times man gets a really big idea, he goes off half cocked. +Just one example. Remember when the ancient Hellenes exploded into the +Mediterranean? A score of different City-States began sending out +colonies, which in turn sprouted colonies of their own. Take Syracuse, on +Sicily. Hardly was she established than, bingo, she sent off colonists to +Southern Italy, and they in turn to Southern France, Corsica, the +Balearics. Greeks were exploding all over the place, largely without +adequate plans, without rhyme or reason. Take Alexander. Roamed off all +the way to India, founding cities and colonies of Greeks all along the +way." + +The older man shifted in his chair. "You wonder what I'm getting at, eh? +Well, much the same thing is happening in man's explosion into space, now +that he has the ability to leave the solar system behind. Dashing off half +cocked, in all directions, he's flowing out over this section of the +galaxy without plan, without rhyme or reason. I take that last back, he +has reasons all right--some of the screwiest. Religious reasons, racial +reasons, idealistic reasons, political reasons, altruistic reasons and +mercenary reasons. + +"Inadequate ships, manned by small numbers of inadequate people, setting +out to find their own planets, to establish themselves on one of the +numberless uninhabited worlds that offer themselves to colonization and +exploitation." + +Ronny cleared his throat. "Well, isn't that a good thing, sir?" + +Ross Metaxa looked at him and grunted. "What difference does it make if +it's good or not? It's happening. We're spreading our race out over tens +of hundreds of new worlds in the most haphazard fashion. As a result, we +of United Planets now have a chaotic mishmash on our hands. How we manage +to keep as many planets in the organization as we do, sometimes baffles +me. I suppose most of them are afraid to drop out, conscious of the +protection UP gives against each other." + +He picked up a report. "Here's Monet, originally colonized by a bunch of +painters, writers, musicians and such. They had dreams of starting a new +race"--Metaxa snorted--"with everybody artists. They were all so impractical +that they even managed to crash their ship on landing. For three hundred +years they were uncontacted. What did they have in the way of government +by that time? A military theocracy, something like the Aztecs of +Pre-Conquest Mexico. A matriarchy, at that. And what's their religion +based on? That of ancient Phoenicia including plenty of human sacrifice to +good old Moloch. What can United Planets do about it, now that they've +become a member? Work away very delicately, trying to get them to at least +eliminate the child sacrifice phase of their culture. Will they do it? +Hell no, not if they can help it. The Head Priestess and her clique are +afraid that if they don't have the threat of sacrifice to hold over the +people, they'll be overthrown." + +Ronny was surprised. "I'd never heard of a member planet like that. +Monet?" + +Metaxa sighed. "No, of course not. You've got a lot to learn, Ronny, my +lad. First of all, what're Articles One and Two of the United Planets +Charter?" + +That was easy. Ronny recited. "Article One: _The United Planets +organization shall take no steps to interfere with the internal political, +socio-economic, or religious institutions of its member planets._ Article +Two: _No member planets of United Planets shall interfere with the +internal political, socioeconomic or religious institutions of any other +member planet._" He looked at the department head. "But what's that got to +do with the fact that I was unfamiliar with even the existence of Monet?" + +"Suppose one of the advanced planets, or even Earth itself," Metaxa +growled, "openly discussed in magazines, on newscasts, or wherever, the +religious system of Monet. A howl would go up among the liberals, the +progressives, the do-gooders. And the howl would be heard on the other +advanced planets. Eventually, the citizen in the street on Monet would +hear about it and be affected. And before you knew it, a howl would go up +from Monet's government. Why? Because the other planets would be +interfering with her internal affairs, simply by discussing them." + +"So what you mean is," Ronny said, "part of our job is to keep information +about Monet's government and religion from being discussed at all on other +member planets." + +"That's right," Metaxa nodded. "And that's just one of our dirty little +jobs. One of many. Section G, believe me, gets them all. Which brings us +to your first assignment." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny inched forward in his chair. "It takes me into space?" + +"It takes you into space all right," Metaxa snorted. "At least it will +after a few months of indoctrination. I'm sending you out after a legend, +Ronny. You're fresh, possibly you'll get some ideas older men in the game +haven't thought of." + +"A legend?" + +"I'm sending you to look for Tommy Paine. Some members of the department +don't think he exists. I do." + +"Tommy Paine?" + +"A pseudonym that somebody hung on him way back before even my memory in +this Section. Did you ever hear of Thomas Paine in American history?" + +"He wrote a pamphlet during the Revolutionary War, didn't he?" + +" 'Common Sense,' " Metaxa nodded. "But he was more than that. He was born +in England but went to America as a young man and his writings probably +did as much as anything to put over the revolt against the British. But +that wasn't enough. When that revolution was successful he went back to +England and tried to start one there. The government almost caught him, +but he escaped and got to France where he participated in the French +Revolution." + +"He seemed to get around," Ronny Bronston said. + +"And so does this namesake of his. We've been trying to catch up with him +for some twenty years. How long before that he was active, we have no way +of knowing. It was some time before we became aware of the fact that half +the revolts, rebellions, revolutions and such that occur in the United +Planets have his dirty finger stirring around in them." + +"But you said some department members don't believe in his existence." + +Metaxa grunted. "They're working on the theory that no one man could do +all that Tommy Paine has laid to him. Possibly it's true that he sometimes +gets the blame for accomplishments not his. Or, for that matter, possibly +he's more than one person. I don't know." + +"Well," Ronny said hesitantly, "what's an example of his activity?" + +Metaxa picked up another report from the confusion of his desk. "Here's +one only a month old. Dictator on the planet Megas. Kidnapped and forced +to resign. There's still confusion but it looks as though a new type of +government will be formed now." + +"But how do they know it wasn't just some dissatisfied citizens of Megas?" + +"It seems as though the kidnap vehicle was an old fashioned Earth-type +helicopter. There were no such on Megas. So Section G suspects it's a +possible Tommy Paine case. We could be wrong, of course. That's why I say +the man's in the way of being a legend. Perhaps the others are right and +he doesn't even exist. I think he does, and if so, it's our job to get him +and put him out of circulation." + +Ronny said slowly, "But why would that come under our jurisdiction? It +seems to me that it would be up to the police of whatever planet he was +on." + +Ross Metaxa looked thoughtfully at his brown bottle, shook his head and +returned it to its drawer. He looked at a desk watch. "Don't read into the +United Planets organization more than there is. It's a fragile institution +with practically no independent powers to wield. Every member planet is +jealous of its prerogatives, which is understandable. It's no mistake that +Articles One and Two are the basic foundation of the Charter. No member +planet wants to be interfered with by any other or by United Planets as an +organization. They want to be left alone. + +"Within our ranks we have planets with every religion known to man +throughout the ages. Everything ranging from primitive animism to the most +advanced philosophic ethic. We have every political system ever dreamed +of, and every socio-economic system. It can all be blamed on the crack-pot +manner in which we're colonizing. Any minority, no matter how +small--religious, political, racial, or whatever--if it can collect the +funds to buy or rent a spacecraft, can dash off on its own, find a new +Earth-type planet and set up in business. + +"Fine. One of the prime jobs of Section G is to carry out, to enforce, +Articles One and Two of the Charter. A planet with Buddhism as its state +religion, doesn't want some die-hard Baptist missionary stirring up +controversy. A planet with a feudalistic socio-economic systems doesn't +want some hot-shot interplanetary businessman coming in with some big deal +that would eventually cause the feudalistic nobility to be tossed onto the +ash heap. A planet with a dictatorship doesn't want subversives from some +democracy trying to undermine their institutions--and vice versa." + +"And its our job to enforce all this, eh?" Ronny said. + +"That's right," Metaxa told him sourly. "It's not always the nicest job in +the system. However, if you believe in United Planets, an organization +attempting to co-ordinate in such manner as it can, the efforts of its +member planets, for the betterment of all, then you must accept Section G +and Interplanetary Security." + +Ronny Bronston thought about it. + +Metaxa added, "That's why one of the requirements of this job is that you +yourself be a citizen of United Planets, rather than of any individual +planet, have no religious affiliations, no political beliefs, and no +racial prejudices. You've got to be able to stand aloof." + +"Yeah," Ronny said thoughtfully. + +Ross Metaxa looked at his watch again and sighed wearily. "I'll turn you +over to one of my assistants," he said. "I'll see you again, though, +before you leave." + +"Before I leave?" Ronny said, coming to his feet. "But where do I start +looking for this Tommy Paine?" + +"How the hell would I know?" Ross Metaxa growled. + + ------------------------------------- + +In the outer office, Ronny said to the receptionist, "Commissioner Metaxa +said for me to get in touch with Sid Jakes." + +She said, "I'm Irene Kasansky. Are you with us?" + +Ronny said, "I beg your pardon?" + +She said impatiently, "Are you going to be with the Section? If you are, +I've got to clear you with your old job. You were in statistics over in +New Copenhagen, weren't you?" + +Somehow it seemed far away now, the job he'd held for more than five +years. "Oh, yes," he said. "Yes, Commissioner Metaxa has given me an +appointment." + +She looked up at him. "Probably to look for Tommy Paine." + +He was taken aback. "That's right. How did you know?" + +"There was talk. This Section is pretty well integrated." She grimaced, +but on her it looked good. "One big happy family. High interdepartmental +morale. That sort of jetsam." She flicked some switches. "You'll find +Supervisor Jakes through that door, one to your left, two to your right." + +He could have asked one _what_ to his left and two _what_ to his right, +but evidently Irene Kasansky thought he had enough information to get him +to his destination. She'd gone back to her work. + + [Illustration.] + +It was one turn to his left and two turns to his right. The door was +lettered simply _Sidney Jakes_. He knocked and a voice shouted happily, +"It's open. It's always open." + +Supervisor Jakes was as informal as his superior. His attire was on the +happy-go-lucky side, more suited for sports wear than a fairly high +ranking job in the ultra-staid Octagon. + +He couldn't have been much older than Ronny Bronston but he had a nervous +vitality about him that would have worn out the other in a few hours. He +jumped up and shook hands. "You must be Bronston. Call me Sid." He waved a +hand at a typed report he'd been reading. "Now I've seen them all. They've +just applied for entry to United Planets. Republic. What a name, eh?" + +"What?" Ronny said. + +"Sit down, sit down." He rushed Ronny to a chair, saw him seated, returned +to the desk and flicked an order box switch. "Irene," he said, "do up a +badge for Ronny, will you? You've got his code, haven't you? Good. Send it +over. Bronze, of course." + +Sid Jakes turned back to Ronny and grinned at him. He motioned to the +report again. "What a name for a planet. Republic. Bunch of screw-balls, +again. Out in the vicinity of Sirius. Based their system on Plato's +_Republic_. Have to go the whole way. Don't even speak Basic. Certainly +not. They speak Ancient Greek. That's going to be a neat trick, finding +interpreters. How'd you like the Old Man?" + +Ronny said, dazed at the conversational barrage, "Old Man? Oh, you mean +Commissioner Metaxa." + +"Sure, sure," Sid grinned, perching himself on the edge of the desk. "Did +he give you that drink of tequila during working hours routine? He'd like +to poison every new agent we get. What a character." + +The grin was infectious. Ronny said carefully, "Well, I did think his +method of hiring a new man was a little--cavalier." + +"Cavalier, yet," Sid Jakes chortled. "Look, don't get the Old Man wrong. +He knows what he's doing. He always knows what he's doing." + +"But he took me on after only two or three minutes conversation." + +Jakes cocked his head to one side. "Oh? You think so? When did you first +apply for interplanetary assignment, Ronny?" + +"I don't know, about three years ago." + +Jakes nodded. "Well, depend on it, you've been under observation for that +length of time. At any one period, Section G is investigating possibly a +thousand potential agents. We need men but qualifications are high." + +He hopped down from his position, sped around to the other side of the +desk and lowered himself into his chair. "Don't get the wrong idea, +though. You're not in. You're on probation. Whatever the assignment the +Old Man gave you, you've got to carry it out successfully before you're +full fledged." He flicked the order-box switch and said, "Irene, where the +devil's Ronny's badge?" + +Ronny Bronston heard the office girl's voice answer snappishly. + +"All right, all right," Jakes said. "I love you, too. Send it in when it +comes." He turned to Ronny. "What _is_ your assignment?" + +"He wants me to go looking for some firebrand nicknamed Tommy Paine. I'm +supposed to arrest him. The commissioner said you'd give me details." + + ------------------------------------- + +Sid Jakes' face went serious. He puckered up his lips. "Wow, that'll be a +neat trick to pull off," he said. He flicked the order-box switch again. +Irene's voice snapped something before he could say anything and Sid Jakes +grinned and said, "O.K., O.K., darling, but if this is the way you're +going to be I won't marry you. Then what will the children say? Besides, +that's not what I called about. Have ballistics do up a model H gun for +Ronny, will you? Be sure it's adjusted to his code." + +He flicked off the order box and turned back to Ronny. "I understand +you're familiar with hand guns. It's in this report on you." + +Ronny nodded. He was just beginning to adjust to this free-wheeling +character. "What will I need a gun for?" + +Jakes laughed. "Heavens to Betsy, you babe in the woods. Do you realize +this Tommy Paine character has supposedly stirred up a couple of score +wars, revolutions and revolts? Not to speak of having laid in his lap two +or three dozen assassinations. He's a quick lad with a gun. A regular +Nihilist." + +"Nihilist?" + +Jakes chuckled. "When you've been in this Section for a while, you'll be +familiar with every screwball outfit man has ever dreamed up. The +Nihilists were a European group, mostly Russian, back in the Nineteenth +Century. They believed that by bumping off a few Grand Dukes and a Czar or +so they could force the ruling class to grant reforms. Sometimes they were +pretty ingenious. Blew up trains, that sort of thing." + +"Look here," Ronny said, "what motivates this Paine fellow? What's he get +out of all this trouble he stirs up?" + +"Search me. Nobody seems to know. Some think he's a mental case. For one +thing, he's not consistent." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Well, he'll go to one planet and break his back trying to overthrow, say, +feudalism. Then, possibly after being successful, he goes to another +planet and devotes his energies to establishing the same socio-economic +system." + +Ronny assimilated that. "You're one of those who believes he exists?" + +"Oh, he exists all right, all right," Sid Jakes said happily. "Matter of +fact, I almost ran into him a few years ago." + +Ronny leaned forward. "I guess I ought to know about it. The more +information I have, the better." + +"Sure, sure," Jakes said. "This deal of mine was on one of the Aldebaran +planets. A bunch of nature boys had settled there." + +"Nature boys?" + +"Um-m-m. Back to nature. The trouble with the human race is that it's got +too far away from nature. So a whole flock of them landed on this planet. +They call it Mother, of all things. They landed and set up a primitive +society. Absolute stone age. No metals. Lived by the chase and by picking +berries, wild fruit, that sort of thing. Not even any agriculture. Wore +skins. Bows and arrows were the nearest thing they allowed themselves in +the way of mechanical devices." + +"Good grief," Ronny said. + +"It was a laugh," Jakes told him. "I was assigned there as Section G +representative with the UP organization. Picture it. We had to wear skins +for clothes. We had to confine ourselves to two or three long houses. +Something like the American Iroquois lived in before Columbus. Their +society on Mother was based on primitive communism. The clan, the phratry, +the tribe. Their religion was mostly a matter of knocking into everybody's +head that any progress was taboo. Oh, it was great." + +"Well, were they happy?" + +"What's happiness? I suppose they were as happy as anybody ever averages. +Frankly, I didn't mind the assignment. Lots of fishing, lots of hunting." + +Ronny said, "Well, where does Tommy Paine come in?" + +"He snuck up on us. Started way back in the boondocks away from any of the +larger primitive settlements. Went around putting himself over as a holy +man. Cured people of various things from gangrene to eye diseases. Given +antibiotics and such, you can imagine how successful he was." + +"Well, what harm did he do?" + +"I didn't say he did any harm. But in that manner he made himself awfully +popular. Then he'd pull some trick like showing them how to smelt iron, +and distribute some corn and wheat seed around and plant the idea of +agriculture. The local witch doctors would try to give him a hard time, +but the people figured he was a holy man." + +"Well, what happened finally?" Ronny wasn't following too well. + +"Communications being what they were, before he'd been discovered by the +central organization--they had a kind of Council of Tribes which met once a +year--he'd planted so many ideas that they couldn't be stopped. The young +people'd never go back to flint knives, once introduced to iron. We went +looking for friend Tommy Paine, but he got wind of it and took off. We +even found where he'd hidden his little space cruiser. Oh, it was Paine, +all right, all right." + +"But what harm did he do? I don't understand," Ronny scowled. + +"He threw the whole shebang on its ear. Last I heard, the planet had +broken up into three main camps. They were whaling away at each other like +the Assyrians and Egyptians. Iron weapons, chariots, domesticated horses. +Agriculture was sweeping the planet. Population was exploding. Men were +making slaves out of each other, to put them to work. Oh, it was a mess +from the viewpoint of the original nature boys." + +A red light flickered on his desk and Sid Jakes opened a delivery drawer +and dipped his hand into it. It emerged with a flat wallet. He tossed it +to Ronny Bronston. + +"Here you are. Your badge." + +Ronny opened the wallet and examined it. He'd never seen one before, but +for that matter he'd never heard of Section G before that morning. It was +a simple enough bronze badge. It said on it, merely, _Ronald Bronston, +Section G, Bureau of Investigation, United Planets_. + +Sid Jakes explained. "You'll get co-operation with that through the +Justice Department anywhere you go. We'll brief you further on procedure +during indoctrination. You in turn, of course, are to co-operate with any +other agent of Section G. You're under orders of anyone with"--his hand +snaked into a pocket and emerged with a wallet similar to Ronny's--"a +silver badge, carried by a First Grade Agent, or a gold one of Supervisor +rank." + +Ronny noted that his badge wasn't really bronze. It had a certain sheen, a +brightness. + +Jakes said, "Here, look at this." He tossed his own badge to the new man. +Ronny looked down at it in surprise. The gold had gone dull. + +Jakes laughed. "Now give me yours." + +Ronny got up and walked over to him and handed it over. As soon as the +other man's hand touched it, the bronze lost its sheen. + +Jakes handed it back. "See, it's tuned to you alone," he said. "And mine +is tuned to my code. Nobody can swipe a Section G badge and impersonate an +agent. If anybody ever shows you a badge that doesn't have its sheen, you +know he's a fake. Neat trick, eh?" + +"Very neat," Ronny admitted. He returned the other's gold badge. "Look, to +get back to this Tommy Paine." + +But the red light flickered again and Jakes brought forth from the +delivery drawer a hand gun complete with shoulder harness. "Nasty weapon," +he said. "But we'd better go on down to the armory and show you its +workings." + +He stood up. "Oh, yes, don't let me forget to give you a communicator. A +real gizmo. About as big as a woman's vanity case. Puts you in immediate +contact with the nearest Section G office, no matter how near or far away +it is. Or, if you wish, in contact with our offices here in the Octagon. +Very neat trick." + +He led Ronny from his office and down the corridors beyond to an elevator. +He said happily, "This is a crazy outfit, this Section G. You'll probably +love it. Everybody does." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny learned to love Section G--in moderation. + +He was initially taken aback by the existence of the organization at all. +He'd known, of course, of the Department of Justice and even of the Bureau +of Investigation, but Section G was hush-hush and not even United Planets +publications ever mentioned it. + +The problems involved in remaining hush-hush weren't as great as all that. +The very magnitude of the UP which involved more than two thousand member +planets, allowed of departments and bureaus hidden away in the endless +stretches of red tape. + +In fact, although Ronny Bronston had spent the better part of his life, +thus far, in studying for a place in the organization, and then working in +the Population Statistics Department for some years, he was only now +beginning to get the over-all picture of the workings of the mushrooming, +chaotic United Planets organization. + +It was Earth's largest industry by far. In fact, for all practical +purposes it was her only major industry. Tourism, yes, but even that, in a +way, was related to the United Planets organization. Millions of visitors +whose ancestors had once emigrated from the mother planet, streamed back +in racial nostalgia. Streamed back to see the continents and oceans, the +Arctic and the Antarctic, the Amazon River and Mount Everest, the Sahara +and New York City, the ruins of Rome and Athens, the Vatican, the Louvre +and the Hermitage. + +But the populace of Earth, in its hundreds of millions were largely +citizens of United Planets and worked in the organization and with its +auxiliaries such as the Space Forces. + +Section G? To his surprise, Ronny found that Ross Metaxa's small section +of the Bureau of Investigation seemed almost as great a secret within the +Bureau as it was to the man in the street. At one period, Ronny wondered +if it were possible that this was a department which had been lost in the +wilderness of boondoggling that goes on in any great bureaucracy. Had +Section G been set up a century or so ago and then forgotten by those who +had originally thought there was a need for it? In the same way that it is +usually more difficult to get a statute off the lawbooks than it was +originally to pass it, in the same manner eliminating an office, with its +employees can prove more difficult than originally establishing it. + +But that wasn't it. In spite of the informality, the unconventional +brashness of its personnel on all levels, and the seeming chaos in which +its tasks were done, Section G was no make-work project set up to provide +juicy jobs for the relatives of high ranking officials. To the contrary, +it didn't take long in the Section before anybody with open eyes could see +that Ross Metaxa was privy to the decisions made by the upper echelons of +UP. + +Ronny Bronston came to the conclusion that the appointment he'd received +was putting him in a higher bracket of the UP hierarchy than he'd at first +imagined. + +His indoctrination course was a strain such as he'd never known in school +years. Ross Metaxa was evidently of the opinion that a man could +assimilate concentrated information at a rate several times faster than +any professional educator ever dreamed possible. No threats were made, but +Ronny realized that he could be dropped even more quickly than he'd seemed +to have been taken on. There were no classes, to either push or retard the +rate of study. He worked with a series of tutors, and pushed himself. The +tutors were almost invariably Section G agents, temporarily in Greater +Washington between assignments, or for briefing on this phase or that of +their work. + +Even as he studied, Ronny Bronston kept the eventual assignment, at which +he was to prove himself, in mind. He made a point of inquiring of each +agent he met, about Tommy Paine. + +The name was known to all, but no two reacted in the same manner. Several +of them even brushed the whole matter aside as pure legend. _Nobody_ could +accomplish all the trouble that Tommy Paine had supposedly stirred up. + +To one of these, Ronny said plaintively, "See here, the Old Man believes +in him, Sid Jakes believes in him. My final appointment depends on +arresting him. How can I ever secure this job, if I'm chasing a myth?" + +The other shrugged. "Don't ask me. I've got my own problems. O.K., now, +let's run over this question of Napoleonic law. There are at least two +hundred planets that base their legal system on it." + +But the majority of his fellow employees in Section G had strong enough +opinions on the interplanetary firebrand. Three or four even claimed to +have seen him fleetingly, although no two descriptions jibed. That, of +course, could be explained. The man could resort to plastic surgery and +other disguise. + +Theories there were in plenty, some of them going back long years, and +some of them pure fable. + + ------------------------------------- + +"Look," Ronny said in disgust one day after a particularly unbelievable +siege with two agents recently returned from a trouble spot in a planetary +system that involved three aggressive worlds which revolved about the same +sun. "Look, it's impossible for one man to accomplish all this. He's +blamed for half the _coups d'etats_, revolts and upheavals that have taken +place for the past quarter century. It's obvious nonsense. Why, a +revolutionist usually spends the greater part of his life toppling a +government. Then, once it's toppled, he spends the rest of his life trying +to set up a new government--and he's usually unsuccessful." + +One of the others was shaking his head negatively. "You don't understand +this Tommy Paine's system, Bronston." + +"You sure don't," the other agent, a Nigerian, grinned widely. "I've been +on planets where he'd operated." + +Ronny leaned forward. The three of them were having a beer in a part of +the city once called Baltimore. "You have?" he said. "Tell me about it, +eh? The more background I get on this guy, the better." + +"Sure. And this'll give you an idea of how he operates, how he can get so +much trouble done. Well, I was on this planet Goshen, understand? It had +kind of a strange history. A bunch of colonists went out there, oh, four +or five centuries ago. Pretty healthy expedition, as such outfits go. +Bright young people, lots of equipment, lots of know-how and books. Well, +through sheer bad luck everything went wrong from the beginning. +Everything. Before they got set up at all they had an explosion that +killed off all their communications technicians. They lost contact with +the outside. O.K. Within a couple of centuries they'd gotten into a state +of chattel slavery. Pretty well organized, but static. Kind of an Athenian +Democracy on top, a hierarchy, but nineteen people out of twenty were +slaves, and I mean real slaves, like animals. They were at this stage when +a scout ship from the UP Space Forces discovered them and, of course, they +joined up." + +"Where does Tommy Paine come in?" Ronny said. He signaled to a waiter for +more beer. + +"He comes in a few years later. I was the Section G agent on Goshen, +understand? No planet was keener about Articles One and Two of the UP +Charter. The hierarchy understood well enough that if their people ever +came to know about more advanced socio-economic systems it'd be the end of +Goshen's Golden Age. So they allowed practically no intercourse. No +contact whatsoever between UP personnel and anyone outside the upper +class, understand? All right. That's where Tommy Paine came in. It +couldn't have taken him more than a couple of months at most." + +Ronny Bronston was fascinated. "What'd he do?" + +"He introduced the steam engine, and then left." + +Ronny was looking at him blankly. "Steam engine?" + +"That and the fly shuttle and the spinning jenny," the Nigerian said. +"That Goshen hierarchy never knew what hit them." + +Ronny was still blank. The waiter came up with the steins of beer, and +Ronny took one and drained half of it without taking his eyes from the +storyteller. + +The other agent took it up. "Don't you see? Their system was based on +chattel slavery, hand labor. Given machinery and it collapses. Chattel +slavery isn't practical in a mechanized society. Too expensive a labor +force, for one thing. Besides, you need an educated man and one with some +initiative--qualities that few slaves possess--to run an industrial +society." + +Ronny finished his beer. "Smart cooky, isn't he?" + +"He's smart all right. But I've got a still better example of his fouling +up a whole planetary socio-economic system in a matter of weeks. A friend +of mine was working on a planet with a highly-developed feudalism. Barons, +lords, dukes, counts and no-accounts, all stashed safely away in castles +and fortresses up on the top of hills. The serfs down below did all the +work in the fields, provided servants, artisans and foot soldiers for the +continual fighting that the aristocracy carried on. Very similar to Europe +back in the Dark Ages." + +"So?" Ronny said. "I'd think that'd be a deal that would take centuries to +change." + +The Section G agent laughed. "Tommy Paine stayed just long enough to +introduce gunpowder. That was the end of those impregnable castles up on +the hills." + +"What gets me," Ronny said slowly, "is his motivation." + +The other two both grunted agreement to that. + + ------------------------------------- + +Toward the end of his indoctrination studies, Ronny appeared one morning +at the Octagon Section G offices and before Irene Kasansky. Watching her +fingers fly, listening to her voice rapping and snapping, O.K.-ing and +rejecting, he came to the conclusion that automation could go just so far +in office work and then you were thrown back on the hands of the efficient +secretary. Irene was a one-woman office staff. + +She looked up at him. "Hello, Ronny. Thought you'd be off on your +assignment by now. Got any clues on Tommy Paine?" + +"No," he said. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to see the commissioner." + +"About what?" She flicked a switch. When a light flickered on one of her +order boxes, she said into it, "No," emphatically, and turned back to him. + +"He said he wanted to see me again before I took off." + +She fiddled some more, finally said, "All right, Ronny. Tell him he's got +time for five minutes with you." + +"Five minutes!" + +"Then he's got an appointment with the Commissioner of Interplanetary +Culture," she said. "You'd better hurry along." + +Ronny Bronston retraced the route of his first visit here. How long ago? +It already seemed ages since his probationary appointment. Your life +changed fast when you were in Section G. + +Ross Metaxa's brown bottle, or its twin, was sitting on his desk and he +was staring at it glumly. He looked up and scowled. + +"Ronald Bronston," Ronny said. "Irene Kasansky told me to say I could have +five minutes with you, then you have an appointment with the Commissioner +of Interplanetary Culture." + +"I remember you," Metaxa said. "Have a drink. Interplanetary Culture, ha! +The Xanadu Folk Dance Troupe. They dance nude. They've been touring the +whole UP. Roaring success everywhere, obviously. Now they're assigned to +Virtue, a planet settled by a bunch of Fundamentalists. They want the +troupe to wear Mother Hubbards. The Xanadu outfit is in a tizzy. They've +been insulted. They claim they're the most modest members of UP, that +nudity has nothing to do with modesty. The government of Virtue said +that's fine but they wear Mother Hubbards or they don't dance. Xanadu says +it'll withdraw from United Planets." + +Ronny Bronston said painfully, "Why not let them?" + +Ross Metaxa poured himself a Denebian tequila, offered his subordinate a +drink again with a motion of the bottle. Ronny shook his head. + +Metaxa said, "If we didn't take steps to soothe these things over, there +wouldn't be any United Planets. In any given century every member in the +organization threatens to resign at least once. Even Earth. And then +what'd happen? You'd have interplanetary war before you knew it. What'd +you want, Ronny?" + +"I'm about set to take up my search for this Tommy Paine." + +"Ah, yes, Tommy Paine. If you catch him, there are a dozen planets where +he'd be eligible for the death sentence." + +Ronny cleared his throat. "There must be. What I wanted was the file on +him, sir." + +"File?" + +"Yes, sir. I've got to the point where I want to cram up on everything we +have on him. So far, all I've got is verbal information from individual +agents and from Supervisor Jakes." + +"Don't be silly, Ronny. There isn't any file on Tommy Paine." + +Ronny just looked at the other. + +Ross Metaxa said impatiently, "The very knowledge of the existence of the +man is top secret. Isn't that obvious? Suppose some reporter got the story +and printed it. If our member planets knew there was such a man and that +we haven't been able to scotch him, why they'd drop out of UP so fast the +computers couldn't keep up with it. There's not one planet in ten that +feels secure enough to lay itself open to subversion. Why some of our +planets are so far down the ladder of social evolution they live under +primitive tribal society; their leaders, their wise men and witch-doctors, +whatever you call them, are scared someone will come along and establish +chattel slavery. Those planets that have a system based on slavery are +scared to death of developing feudalism, and those that have feudalism are +afraid of _creeping capitalism_. Those with an anarchistic basis--and we +have several--are afraid of being subverted to statism, and those who have +a highly developed government are afraid of anarchism. The socio-economic +systems based on private ownership of property hate the very idea of +socialism or communism, and vice versa, and those planets with state +capitalism hate them both." + + [Illustration.] + +He glared at Ronny. "What do you think the purpose of this Section is, +Bronston? Our job is to keep our member planets from being afraid of each +other. If they found that Tommy Paine and his group, if he's got a group, +were buzzing through the system subverting everything they can foul up, +they'd drop out of UP and set up quarantines that a space mite couldn't +get through. No sir, there is no file on Tommy Paine and there never will +be. And if any news of him spreads to the outside, this Section will +emphatically deny he exists. I hope that's clear." + +"Well, yes sir," Ronny said. The commissioner had been all but roaring +toward the end. + +The order box clicked on Ross Metaxa's desk and he said loudly, "What?" + +"Don't yell at me," Irene snapped back. "Ronny's five minutes are up. +You've got an appointment. I'm getting tired of this job. It's a +mad-house. I'm going to quit and get a job with Interplanetary Finance." + +"Oh, yeah." Ross snarled back. "That's what you think. I've taken +measures. Top security. I've warned off every Commissioner in UP. You +can't get away from me until you reach retirement age. Although I don't +know why I care. I hate nasty tempered women." + +"Huh!" she snorted and clicked off. + +"There's a woman for you," Ross Metaxa growled at Ronny. "It's too bad +she's indispensable. I'd love to fire her. Look, you go in and see Sid +Jakes. Seems to me he said something about Tommy Paine this morning. Maybe +it's a lead." He came to his feet. "So long and good luck, Ronny. I feel +optimistic about you. I think you'll get this Paine troublemaker." + +Which was more than Ronny Bronston thought. + +Sid Jakes already had a visitor in his office, which didn't prevent him +from yelling, "It's open," when Ronny Bronston knocked. + +He bounced from his chair, came around the desk and shook hands +enthusiastically. "Ronny!" he said, his tone implying they were favorite +brothers for long years parted. "You're just in time." + +Ronny took in the office's other occupant appreciatively. She was a small +girl, almost tiny. He estimated her to be at least half Chinese, or maybe +Indo-Chinese, the rest probably European or North American. + +She evidently favored her Asiatic blood, her dress was traditional +Chinese, slit almost to the thigh Shanghai style. + +Sid Jakes said, "Tog Lee Chang Chu--Ronny Bronston. You'll be working +together. Bloodhounding old Tommy Paine. A neat trick if you can pull it +off. Well, are you all set to go?" + +Ronny mumbled something to the girl in the way of amenity, then looked +back at the supervisor. "Working together?" he said. + +"That's right. Lucky you, eh?" + +Tog Lee Chang Chu said demurely, "Possibly Mr. Bronston objects to having +a female assistant." + +Sid Jakes snorted, and hurried around his desk to resume his seat. "Does +he look crazy? Who'd object to having a cutey like you around day in and +day out? Call him Ronny. Might as well get used to it. Two of you'll be +closer than man and wife." + +"Assistant?" Ronny said, bewildered. "What do I need an assistant for?" He +turned his eyes to the girl. "No reflection on you, Miss ... ah, Tog." + +Sid Jakes laughed easily. "Section G operatives always work in pairs, +Ronny. Especially new agents. The advantages will come home to you as you +go along. Look on Tog Lee Chang Chu as a secretary, a man Friday. This +isn't her first assignment, of course. You'll find her invaluable." + +The supervisor plucked a card from an order box. "Now here's the dope. Can +you leave within four hours? There's a UP Space Forces cruiser going to +Merlini, they can drop you off at New Delos. Fastest way you could +possibly get there. The cruiser takes off from Neuve Albuquerque in, let's +see, three hours and forty-five minutes." + +"New Delos?" Ronny said, taking his eyes from the girl and trying to catch +up with the grasshopper-like conversation of his superior. + +"New Delos it is," Jakes said happily. "With luck, you might catch him +before he can get off the planet." He chuckled at the other's expression. +"Look alive, Ronny! The quarry is flushed and on the run. Tommy Paine's +just assassinated the Immortal God-King of New Delos. A neat trick, eh?" + + ------------------------------------- + +The following hours were chaotic. There was no indication of how long a +period he'd be gone. For all he knew, it might be years. For that matter, +he might never return to Earth. This Ronny Bronston had realized before he +ever applied for an interplanetary appointment. Mankind was exploding +through this spiral arm of the galaxy. There was a racial enthusiasm about +it all. Man's destiny lay out in the stars, only a laggard stayed home of +his own accord. It was the ambition of every youth to join the snowballing +avalanche of man into the neighboring stars. + +It took absolute severity by Earth authorities to prevent the depopulation +of the planet. But someone had to stay to administer the ever more +complicated racial destiny. Earth became a clearing house for a thousand +cultures, attempting, with only moderate success, to co-ordinate her +widely spreading children. She couldn't afford to let her best seed +depart. Few there were, any more, allowed to emigrate from Earth. New +colonies drew their immigrants from older ones. + +Lucky was the Earthling able to find service in interplanetary affairs, in +any of the thousands of tasks that involved journey between member planets +of UP. Possibly one hundredth of the population at one time or another, +and for varying lengths of time, managed it. + +Ronny Bronston was lucky and knew it. The thing now was to pull off this +assignment and cinch the appointment for good. + +He packed in a swirl of confusion. He phoned a relative who lived in the +part of town once known as Richmond, explained the situation and asked +that the other store his things and dispose of the apartment he'd been +occupying. + +Luckily, the roof of his apartment building was a copter-cab pickup point +and he was able to hustle over to the shuttleport in a matter of a few +minutes. + +He banged into the reservations office, hurried up to one of the windows +and said into the screen, "I've got to get to Neuve Albuquerque +immediately." + +The expressionless voice said, "The next rocket leaves at sixteen hours." + +"Sixteen hours! I've got to be at the spaceport by that time!" + +The voice said dispassionately, "We are sorry." + +The bottom fell out of everything. Ronny said, desperately, "Look, if I +miss my ship in Neuve Albuquerque, what is the next spaceliner leaving +from there for New Delos?" + +"A moment, citizen." There was an agonized wait, and then the voice said, +"There is a liner leaving for New Delos on the 14th of next month. It +arrives in New Delos on the 31st, Basic Earth calendar." + +The 31st! Tommy Paine could be halfway across the galaxy by that time. + +A gentle voice next to him said, "Could I help, Ronny?" + +He looked around at her. "Evidently, nobody can," he said disgustedly. +"There's no way of getting to Neuve Albuquerque in time to get that +cruiser to New Delos." + +Tog Lee Chang Chu fished in her bag and came up with a wallet similar to +the one in which Ronny carried his Section G badge. She held it up to the +screen. "Bureau of Investigation, Section G," she said calmly. "It will be +necessary that Agent Bronston and myself be in Neuve Albuquerque within +the hour." + +The metallic voice said, "Of course. Proceed to your right and through +Corridor K to Exit Four. Your rocket will be there. Identify yourself to +Lieutenant Economou who will be at the desk at Exit Four." + +Tog turned to Ronny Bronston. "Shall we go?" she said demurely. + +He cleared his throat, feeling foolish. "Thanks, Tog," he said. + +"Not at all, Ronny. Why, this is my job." + +Was there the faintest of sarcasm in her voice? It hadn't been more than a +couple of hours ago that he had been hinting rather heavily to Sid Jakes +that he needed no assistance. + +She even knew the layout of the West Greater Washington shuttleport. Her +small body swiveled through the hurrying passengers, her small feet +a-twinkle, as she led him to and down Corridor K and then to the desk at +Exit Four. + +Ronny anticipated her here. He flashed his own badge at the chair-borne +Space Forces lieutenant there. + +"Lieutenant Economou?" he said. "Ronald Bronston, of the Bureau of +Investigation, Section G. We've got to get to Neuve Albuquerque soonest." + +The lieutenant, only mildly impressed, said, "We can have you in the air +in ten minutes, citizen. Just a moment and I'll guide you myself." + + ------------------------------------- + +In the rocket, Ronny had time to appraise her at greater length. She was a +delicately pretty thing, although her expression was inclined to the +over-serious. There was only a touch of the Mongolian fold at the corner +of her eyes. On her it looked unusually good. Her complexion was that +which only the blend of Chinese and Caucasian can give. Her figure, thanks +to her European blood, was fuller than Eastern Asia usually boasts; tiny, +but full. + +Let's admit it, he decided. My assistant is the cutest trick this side of +a Tri-Di movie queen, and we're going to be thrown in the closest of +juxtaposition for an indefinite time. This comes under the head of work? + +He said, "Look here, Tog, you were with Sid Jakes longer than I was. +What's the full story?" + +She folded her slim hands in her lap, looking like a schoolgirl about to +recite. "Do you know anything about the socio-economic system on New +Delos?" + +"Well, no," he admitted. + +She said severely, "I'd think that they would have given you more +background before an assignment of this type." + +Ronny said impatiently, "In the past three months I've been filled in on +the economic systems, the religious beliefs, the political forms, of a +thousand planets. I just happened to miss New Delos." + +Her mouth expressed disapproval by rucking down on the sides, which was +all very attractive but also irritating. She said, "There are two +thousand, four hundred and thirty-six member planets in the UP, I'd think +an agent of Section G would be up on the basic situation on each." + +He had her there. He said snidely, "Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the +number is two thousand, four hundred and thirty-four." + +"Then," she nodded agreeably, "membership has changed since this morning +when Menalaus and Aldebaran Three were admitted. Have two planets dropped +out?" + +"Look," he said, "let's stop bickering. What's the word on New Delos?" + +"Did you ever read Frazer's 'Golden Bough'?" she said. + +"No." + +"You should. At any rate, New Delos is a theocracy. A priesthood elite +rules it. A God-King, who is immortal, holds absolute authority. The +strongest of superstition plus an efficient inquisition, keeps the people +under control." + +"Sounds terrible," Ronny growled. + +"Why? Possibly the government is extremely efficient and under it the +planet progressing at a rate in advance of UP averages." + +He stared at her in surprise. + +She said, "Would you rather be ruled by the personal, arbitrary whims of +supremely wise men, or by laws formulated by a mob?" + +It stopped him momentarily. In all his adult years, he couldn't remember +ever meeting an intelligent, educated person who had been opposed to the +democratic theory. + +"Wait a minute, now," he said. "Who decides that they're supremely wise +men who are doing this arbitrary ruling? Let any group come to power, by +whatever means, and they'll soon tell you they're an elite. But let's get +back to New Delos, from what you've said so far, the people are held in a +condition of slavery." + +"What's wrong with slavery?" Tog said mildly. + +He all but glared at her. "Are you kidding?" + +"I seldom jest," Tog said primly. "Under the proper conditions, slavery +can be the most suitable system for a people." + +"Under _what_ conditions!" + +"Have you forgotten your Earth history to the point where Egypt, Greece +and Rome mean nothing to you? Man made some of his outstanding progress +under slavery. And do you contend that man's lot is necessarily miserable +given slavery? As far back as Aesop we know of slaves who have reached the +heights in their society. Slaves sometimes could and did become the +virtual rulers in ancient countries." She shrugged prettily. "The +prejudices which you hold today, on Earth, do not necessarily apply to all +time, nor to all places." + +He said, impatiently, "Look, Tog, we can go into this further, later. +Let's get back to New Delos. What happened?" + +Tog said, "The very foundation of their theocracy is the belief on the +part of the populace that the God-King is immortal. No man conspires +against his Deity. Supervisor Jakes informed me that it is understood by +UP Intelligence, that about once every twenty years the priesthood +secretly puts in a new God-King. Plastic surgery would guarantee facial +resemblance, and, of course, the rank and file citizen would probably +never be allowed close enough to discover that their God-King seemed +different every couple of decades. At any rate, it's been working for some +time." + +"And there's been no revolt against this religious aristocracy?" + +She shook her head. "Evidently not. It takes a brave man to revolt against +both his king and his God at the same time." + +"But what happened now?" Ronny pursued. + +"Evidently, right in the midst of a particularly important religious +ceremony, with practically the whole planet watching on TV, the God-King +was killed with a bomb. No doubt about it, definitely killed. There are +going to be a lot of people on New Delos wondering how it can be that an +immortal God-King can die." + +"And Sid thinks it's Tommy Paine's work?" + +She shifted dainty shoulders in a shrug. "It's the sort of thing he does. +I suppose we'll learn when we get there." + + ------------------------------------- + +Even on the fast Space Forces cruiser, the trip was going to take a week, +and there was precious little Ronny Bronston could do until arrival. He +spent most of his time reading up on New Delos and the several other +planets in the UP organization which had fairly similar regimes. More than +a few theocracies had come and gone during the history of man's +development into the stars. + +He also spent considerable time playing Battle Chess or talking with Tog +and with the ship's officers. + +These latter were a dedicated group, high in morale, enthusiastic about +their work which evidently involved the combined duties of a Navy, a Coast +Guard, and a Coast and Geodetic Survey system, if we use the ocean going +services of an earlier age for analogy. + +They all had the dream. The enthusiasm of men participating in a race's +expansion to glory. There was the feeling, even stronger here in space +than back on Earth, of man's destiny being fulfilled, that humanity had +finally emerged from its infancy, that the fledgling had finally found its +wings and got off the ground. + +After one of his studying binges, Ronny Bronston had spent an hour or so +once with the captain of the craft, while that officer stood an easy watch +on the ship's bridge. There was little enough to do in space, practically +nothing, but there was always an officer on watch. + +They leaned back in the acceleration chairs before the ship's controls and +Ronny listened to the other's space lore. Stories of far planets, as yet +untouched. Stories of planets that had seemingly been suitable for +colonization, but had proved disastrous for man, for this reason or that. + +Ronny said, "And never in all this time have we run into a life form that +has proved intelligent?" + +Captain Woiski said, "No. Not that I know of. There was an animal on +Shangri-La of about the mental level of the chimpanzee. So far as I know, +that's the nearest to it." + +"Shangri-La?" Ronny said. "That's a new one." + +There was an affectionate gleam in the captain's eye. "Yes," he said. "If +and when I retire, I think that'd be the planet of my choice, if I could +get permission to leave Earth, of course." + +Ronny scowled in attempted memory. "Now that you mention it, I think I did +see it listed the other day among planets with a theocratic government." + +The captain grunted protest. "If you're comparing it to this New Delos +you're going to, you're wrong. There can be theocracy and theocracy, I +suppose. Actually, I imagine Shangri-La has the most, well _gentle_ +government in the system." + +Ronny was interested. His recent studies hadn't led him to much respect +for a priesthood in political power. "What's the particular feature that's +seemed to have gained your regard?" + +"Moderation," Woiski chuckled. "They carry it almost to the point of +immoderation. But not quite. Briefly, it works something like this. They +have a limited number of monks--I suppose you'd call them--who spend their +time at whatever moves them. At the arts, at scientific research, at +religious contemplation--any religion will do--as students of anything and +everything, and at the governing of Shangri-La. They make a point of +enjoying the luxuries in moderation and aren't a severe drain on the rank +and file citizens of the planet." + +Ronny said, "I have a growing distrust of hierarchies. Who decides who is +to become a monk and who remain a member of the rank and file?" + +The captain said, "A series of the best tests they can devise to determine +a person's intelligence and aptitudes. From earliest youth, the whole +populace is checked and rechecked. At the age of thirty, when it is +considered that a person has become adult and has finished his basic +education, a limited number are offered monkhood. Not all want it." + +Ronny thought about it. "Why not? What are the shortcomings?" + +The captain shrugged. "Responsibility, I suppose." + +"The monks aren't allowed sex, booze, that sort of thing, I imagine." + +"Good heavens, why not? In moderation, of course." + +"And they live on a higher scale?" + +"No, no, not at all. Don't misunderstand. The planet is a prosperous one. +Exceedingly prosperous. There is everything needed for comfortable +existence for everyone. Shangri-La is one planet where the pursuit of +happiness is pursuable by all." Captain Woiski chuckled again. + +Ronny said, "It sounds good enough, although I'm leery of benevolent +dictatorships. The trouble with them is that it's up to the dictators to +decide what's benevolent. And almost always, nepotism rears its head, +favoritism of one sort or another. How long will it be before one of your +moderate monks decides he'll moderately tinker with the tests, or +whatever, just to be sure his favorite nephew makes the grade? A high I.Q. +is no guarantee of integrity." + +The captain didn't disagree. "That's always possible, I suppose. One guard +against it, in this case, is the matter of motive. The _privilege_ of +being a monk isn't as great as all that. Materially, you aren't +particularly better off than any one else. You have more leisure, that's +true, but actually most of them are so caught up in their studies or +research that they put in more hours of endeavor than does the farmer or +industrial worker on Shangri-La." + +"Well," Ronny said, "let's just hope that Tommy Paine never hears of this +place." + +"Who?" the captain said. + +Ronny Bronston reversed his engines. "Oh, nobody important. A guy I know +of." + +Captain Woiski scowled. "Seems to me I've heard the name." + +At first Ronny leaned forward with quick interest. Perhaps the cruiser's +skipper had a lead. But, no, he sank back into his chair. That name was +strictly a Section G pseudonym. No one used it outside the department, and +he'd already said too much by using the term at all. + +Ronny said idly, "Probably two different people. I think I'll go on back +and see how Tog is doing." + + ------------------------------------- + +Tog was at her communicator when he entered the tiny ship's lounge. Ronny +could see in the brilliant little screen of the compact device, the +grinning face of Sid Jakes. Tog looked up at Ronny and smiled, then +clicked the device off. + +"What's new?" Ronny said. + +She moved graceful shoulders. "I just called Supervisor Jakes. Evidently +there's complete confusion on New Delos. Mobs are storming the temples. In +the capital the priests tried to present a new God-King and he was laughed +out of town." + +Ronny snorted cynically. "Sounds good to me. The more I read about New +Delos and its God-King and his priesthood, the more I think the best thing +that ever happened to the planet was this showing them up." + +Tog looked at him, the sides of her mouth tucking down as usual when she +was going to contradict something he said. "It sounds bad to me," she +said. "Tommy Paine's work is done. He'll be off to some other place and we +won't get there in time to snare him." + +Ronny considered that. It was probably true. "I wonder," he said slowly, +"if it's possible for us to get a list of all ships that have blasted off +since the assassination, all ships and their destination from New Delos." + +The idea grew in him. "Look! It's possible that a dictatorial government +such as theirs would immediately quarantine every spaceport on the +planet." + +Tog said, "There's only one spaceport on New Delos. The priesthood didn't +encourage trade or even communication with the outside. Didn't want its +people contaminated." + +"Holy smokes!" Ronny blurted. "It's possible that Tommy Paine's on that +planet and can't get off. Look, Tog, see if you can raise the Section G +representative on New Delos and--" + +Tog said demurely, "I already have taken that step, Ronny, knowing that +you'd want me to. Agent Mouley Hassan has promised to get the name and +destination of every passenger that leaves New Delos." + +Ronny sat down at a table and dialed himself a mug of stout. "Drink?" he +said to Tog. "Possibly we've got something to celebrate." + +She shook her head disapprovingly. "I don't use depressants." + +There was nothing more to be discussed about New Delos, they simply would +have to wait until their arrival. Ronny switched subjects. "Ever hear of +the planet Shangri-La?" he asked her. He took a sip of his brew. + +"Of course," she said. "A rather small planet, Earth type within four +degrees. Noted for its near perfect climate and its scenic beauty." + +"Captain was talking about it," Ronny said. "Sounds like a regular +paradise." + +Tog made a negative sound. + +"Well, what's wrong with Shangri-La?" Ronny said impatiently. + +"Static," she said briefly. + +He looked at her. "It sounds to me as though it's developed a near perfect +socio-economic system. What do you mean, static?" + +"No push, no drive," Tog said definitely. "Everyone--what is the old +term?--everyone has it made. The place is stagnating. I wouldn't be +surprised to see Tommy Paine show up there sooner or later." + +Ronny said, "Look, since we've known each other, have I ever said anything +you agree with?" + +Tog raised her delicate eyebrows. "Why, Ronny. You know perfectly well we +both agreed that the eggs for breakfast were quite inedible." + +Ronny came to his feet again. Considering her size, she certainly was an +irritating baggage. "I think I'll go to my room and see if I can get any +inspirations on tracking down our quarry." + +"Good night, Ronny," she said demurely. + + ------------------------------------- + +They ran into a minor difficulty upon arrival at New Delos. The captain +called both Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu to the bridge. + +He nodded in the direction of the communications screen. A bald headed, +robed character--obviously a priest--scowled at them. + +Captain Woiski said, "The Sub-Bishop informs me that the provisional +government has ruled that any spacecraft landing on New Delos cannot take +off again without permission and that every individual who lands, even +United Planets personnel, will need an exit visa before being allowed to +depart." + +Ronny said, "Then you can't land?" + +The captain said reasonably, "My destination is Merlini. I've gone out of +my way slightly to drop you off here. But I can't afford to take the +chance of having my ship tied up for what might be an indefinite period. +Evidently, there's considerably civil disorder down there." + +From the screen the priest snapped, "That is an inaccurate manner of +describing the situation." + +"Sorry," the captain said dryly. + +Ronny Bronston said desperately, "But, captain, Miss Tog and I simply have +to land." He reached for his badge. "High priority, Bureau of +Investigation." + +The captain shrugged his hefty shoulders. "Sorry, I have no instructions +that allow me to risk tying up my ship. Here's a possibility. Can you +pilot a landing craft? I could spare you one, then you and your assistant +would be the only ones involved. You could turn it over to whatever Space +Forces base we have here." + +Ronny said miserably, "No. I'm not a space pilot." + +"I am," Tog said softly. "The idea sounds excellent." + +"We shall expect you," the Sub-Bishop said. The screen went blank. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu piloted a landing craft with the same verve that she +seemed to be able to handle any other responsibility. As he sat in the +seat next to her, Ronny Bronston took in her practiced flicking of the +controls from the side of his eyes. He wondered vaguely at the efficiency +of such Section G officials as Metaxa and Jakes that they would assign an +unknown quality such as himself to a task as important as running down +Tommy Paine, and then as an assistant provide him with an experienced +operative such as Tog. The bureaucratic mind can be a dilly, he decided. +Was the fact that she was a rather delicately constructed girl a factor? +He felt the weight of the Model-H gun nestled under his left armpit. +Perhaps in the clutch Section G preferred men as agents. + +They swooped into a landing that brought them as close to the control +tower as was practical. In a matter of moments there was a guard of twenty +or more sloppily uniformed men about their small craft. + +Tog made a move. "Welcoming committee," she said. + + [Illustration.] + +They climbed out the circular port, and flashed their United Planets +Bureau of Investigation badges to the youngish looking soldier who seemed +in command. He was indecisive. + +"United Planets?" he said. "All I know is I'm supposed to arrest anybody +landing." + +Ronny snapped, "We're to be taken immediately to United Planets +headquarters." + +"Well, I don't know about that. I don't take orders from foreigners." + +One of his men was nervously fingering the trigger of his submachine gun. + +Ronny's mouth went dry. He had the feeling of being high, high on a rock +face, inadequately belayed from above. + +Tog said smoothly, "But, major, I'm sure whoever issued your orders had no +expectation of a special delegation from the United Planets coming to +congratulate your new authorities on their success. Of course, it's +unknown to arrest a delegation from United Planets." + +"It is?" he frowned at her. "I mean, you are?" + +"Yes," Tog said sweetly. + +Ronny took the hint. "Where can we find a vehicle, major, to get us to the +capital and to United Planets headquarters? Evidently we arrived before we +were expected. There should have been a big welcoming committee here." + +"Oh," the obviously recently promoted lad said hesitantly. "Well, I +suppose we can make arrangements. This way please." He grinned at Tog as +they walked toward the administration building. "Do all girls dress like +you on Earth?" + +"Well, no," she said demurely. + +"That's too bad," he said gallantly. + +"Why, major!" Tog said, keeping her eyes on the tarmac. + +At the administration building there was little of order, but eventually +they managed to arrange for their transportation. Luckily, they were +supplied with a chauffeur driven helio-car. + +Luckily, because without the chauffeur to help them run the gauntlet they +would have been held up by parades, demonstrations and monstrous street +meetings a dozen times before they ever reached their destination. Twice, +Ronny stopped short of drawing his gun only by a fraction when half +drunken demonstrators stopped them. + +The driver, a wispy, sad looking type, shook his head. "There's no going +back now," he told them over his shoulder. "No going back. Last week I was +all with the rest, I never did believe David the One was really Immortal. +But you was just used to the idea, see? It'd always been that way, with +the priests running everything and we was used to it. Now I wish we was +still that way. At least you knew how you stood, see? Now, what's going to +happen?" + +"That's an interesting question," Tog said politely. + +Ronny said, "Possibly you'll have the chance to build a better world, +now." + +The driver shot a contemptuous look over his shoulder. "Better world? What +do I want with a better world? I just don't want to be bothered. I've been +getting my three squares a day, got a nice little flat for my family. How +do I know it's not going to be a worse world?" + +"That's always a possibility," Tog told him. "Do most people seem to feel +the same?" + +"Practically everybody I know does," he said glumly. "But the fat's in the +fire now. The priests are trying to hold on but their government is +falling apart all over the place." + +"Well," Ronny said, "at least you can figure just about anything in the +way of a new government will be better than one based on superstition and +inquisition. It couldn't get worse." + +"Things can always get worse," the other contradicted him sadly. + + ------------------------------------- + +They left the cab before an impressively tall, many windowed building in +city center. As they mounted the steps, Ronny frowned at her. "You seemed +to be encouraging that man in his pessimism. So far as I can see, the best +thing that ever happened to this planet was toppling that phony +priesthood." + +"Perhaps," she said agreeably. "However, the man's mind was an ossified +one. A surprisingly large percentage of people have them, especially when +it comes to institutions such as religion and government. We weren't going +to be able to teach him anything, but it was possible to learn from him." + +Ronny grunted his disgust. "What could we possibly learn from him?" + +Tog said mildly, "We could learn what people of the street were thinking. +It might give us some ideas about what direction the new government will +take." + +They approached the portals of the building and were halted by an armed +Space Forces guard of half a dozen men. Their sergeant saluted, taking in +their obvious other-planet clothing. + +"Identifications, please," he said briskly. + +They showed their badges and were passed on through. Ronny said to him, +"Much trouble, sergeant?" + +The other shrugged. "No. Just precautions, sir. We've been here only three +or four weeks. Civil disturbance. We're used to it. Were over on Montezuma +two basic months ago. Now there was _real_ trouble. Had to shoot our way +out." + +Tog called, "Coming Ronny? I have this elevator waiting." + +He followed her, scowling. An idea was trying to work its way through. +Somehow he missed getting it. + +Headquarters of the Department of Justice were on the eighth floor. A +receptionist clerk led them through three or four doors to the single +office which housed Section G. + +A red eyed, exhausted agent looked up from the sole desk and snarled a +question at them. Ronny didn't get it, but Tog said mildly, "Probationary +Agent Ronald Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu. On special assignment." She +flicked open her badge so that the other could see it. + +His manner changed. "Sorry," he said, getting up to shake hands. "I'm +Mouley Hassan, in charge of Section G on New Delos. We've just had a +crisis here, as you can imagine. The worst of it's now over." He added +sourly, "I hope. All my assistants have already taken off for Avalon." He +was a short statured, dark complected man, his features betraying his +Semitic background. + +Ronny shook hands with him and said, "Sorry to bother you at a time like +this." + +They found chairs and Mouley Hassan flicked a key on his order box and +said to them, "How about a drink? They make a wonderful sparkling wine on +this planet. Trust any theocracy to have top potables." + +Ronny accepted the offer, Tog refused it politely. She sat demurely, her +hands in her lap. + +Mouley Hassan ran a weary hand through already mussed hair. "What's this +special assignment you're on?" + +Ronny said, "Commissioner Metaxa has sent me looking for Tommy Paine." + +"Tommy Paine!" the other blurted. "At a time like this, when I haven't had +three nights' sleep in the last three basic weeks, you come around looking +for Tommy Paine?" + +Ronny was taken aback. "Sid Jakes seemed to think this might be one of +Paine's jobs." + +Tog said mildly, "What better place to look for Tommy Paine, than in a +situation like this, Agent Hassan?" Her eyebrows went up. "Or don't you +think the quest for Paine is an important one?" + +The other subsided somewhat. "I suppose you're right," he said. "I'm +deathly tired. Do whatever you want. But don't expect much from me." + +Tog said, just a trifle tartly, Ronny thought, "We'll have to call on you, +as usual, Agent Hassan. There's probably no single job in Section G more +important than the pursuit of Tommy Paine." + +"All right, all right," Mouley Hassan admitted. "I'll co-operate. How long +have you been away from Earth?" he said to Ronny. + +"About one basic week." + +"Oh," he grunted. "This is your first stop, eh? Well, I don't envy you +your job." He brought a cool bottle from a delivery drawer in the desk +along with two glasses. "Here's the wine." + +Ronny leaned forward to accept the glass. "This situation here," he said, +"do you think it can be laid to Paine?" + +Mouley Hassan shrugged wearily. "I don't know." + +Ronny sipped the drink, looking at the tired agent over the glass rim. +"From what we understand, check has been kept on all persons leaving the +planet since the bombing." + +"Check is right. There's only one ship that took off and it carried nobody +except my assistants. If you ask me, I still needed them, but some brass +hat back on Earth decided they were more necessary over on Avalon." He was +disgusted. + +Ronny put the glass down. "You mean only one ship's left this planet since +the God-King was killed?" + +"That's right. It was like pulling teeth to get the visas." + +"How many men aboard?" + +Mouley Hassan looked at him speculatively. "Four-man crew and six Section +G operatives." + +Tog said brightly, "Why, that means, then, that either Tommy Paine is +still on this planet, or he's one of the passengers or crew members of +that ship." She added, "That is, of course, unless he had a private craft, +hidden away somewhere." + +Ronny slumped back into his chair as some of the ramifications came home +to him. "If it was Tommy Paine at all," he said. + +Mouley Hassan nodded. "That's always a point." He finished his glass and +looked pleadingly at Tog. "Look, I have work. If I can finish some of it, +I might have time for some sleep. Couldn't we postpone the search for +Tommy Paine." + +Tog said nothing to him. + +Ronny came to his feet. "We'll get along. A couple of ideas occur to me. +I'll check with you later." + +"Fine," the agent said. He shook hands with them again. He said, somehow +more to Tog than to Ronny, "I know how important your job is. It's just +that I've been pushed to the point where I can't operate efficiently." + +She smiled her understanding, gave him her small, delicate hand. + +In the elevator, Ronny said to her, "Why should this sort of thing +particularly affect Section G?" + +Tog said, "It's times like this that planets drop out of the UP. Or, +possibly, get into the hands of some jingoistic military group and start +off halfcocked to provoke a war with some other planet, or to missionarize +or propagandize it." She thought about it a moment. "A new revolution, in +government or religion, seems almost invariably to want to spread the +light. An absolute compulsion to bring to others the new truths that +they've found." She added, her voice holding a trace of mockery, "Usually +the new truths are rather hoary ones, and there are few interested in +hearing them." + + ------------------------------------- + +They spent their first day in getting accommodations in a centrally +located hotel, in making arrangements, through the Department of Justice, +for the local means of exchange--it turned out to be coinage, based on +gold--and getting the feel of their surroundings. + +Evidently Delos, the capital city of the planet New Delos, was but slowly +emerging from the chaos that had taken over on the assassination. A +provisional government, composed of representatives of half a dozen +different organizations which had sprung up like mushrooms following the +collapse of the regime, had assumed power. Elections had been promised and +were to be brought off when arrangements could be made. + +Meanwhile, the actual government was still largely in the hands of the +lower echelons of the priesthood. A nervous priesthood it was, seemingly +desirous of getting out from under while the going was good, afraid of +being held responsible for former excesses. + +Ronny Bronston, high hopes still in his head, looked up the Sub-Bishop who +had given them landing orders while they were still aboard the Space +Forces cruiser. Tog was off making arrangements for various details +involved in their being in Delos in its time of crisis. + +A dozen times, on his way over to keep his appointment with the official, +Ronny had to step into doorways, or in other wise make himself +inconspicuous. Gangs of demonstrators roamed the street, some of them +drunken, looking for trouble, and scornful of police or the military. +Twice, when it looked as though he might be roughed up, Ronny drew his gun +and held it in open sight, ready for use, but not threateningly. The +demonstrators made off. + +His throat was dry by the time he reached his destination. The life of a +Section G agent, on interplanetary assignment, had its drawbacks. + +The Sub-Bishop had formerly been in charge of Interplanetary +Communications which involved commerce as well as intercourse with United +Planets. It must have been an ultra-responsible position only a month ago. +Now his offices were all but deserted. + +He looked at Ronny's badge, only vaguely interested. "Section G of the +Bureau of Investigation," he said. "I don't believe I am aware of your +responsibilities. However," he nodded with sour courtesy, "please be +seated. You must forgive my lack of ability to offer refreshment. Isn't +there an old tradition about rats deserting a sinking ship? I am afraid my +former assistants had rodentlike instincts." + +Ronny said, "Section G deals with Interplanetary Security, sir--" + +"I am addressed as Holiness," the other said. + +Ronny looked at him. "Sorry," he said. "I am a citizen of the United +Planets, not any one planet, even Earth. UP citizens have complete +religious freedom. In my case I am unaffiliated with any church." + +The Sub-Bishop let it pass. He said sourly, "I am afraid that even here on +New Delos, I am seldom honoured by my title any more. Go on, you say you +deal with Interplanetary Security." + +"That's correct. In cases like this we're interested in checking to see if +there is any possibility that citizens of planets other than New Delos are +involved in your internal affairs." + +The other's eyes were suddenly slits. He said, heavily, "You suspect that +David the One was assassinated by an alien?" + +Ronny had to tread carefully here. "I make no such suggestion. I am merely +here to check on the possibility. If such was the case, my duty would be +to arrest the man, or men." + +"If we got hold of him, you'd have small chance of asserting your +authority," the priest growled. "What did you want to know?" + +"I understand that no interplanetary craft have left New Delos since the +assassination." + +"None except a United Planets ship which was carefully inspected." + +Ronny said tightly, "But what facilities do you have to check on secret +spaceports, possibly located in some remote desert or mountain area?" + +The New Delian laughed sourly. "There is no other planet in all the United +Planets with our degree of security. We even imported the most recent +developments in artificial satellites equipped with the most delicate of +detection devices. I assure you, it is utterly impossible for a spacecraft +to land or take off from New Delos without our knowledge." + +Ronny Bronston's eyes lit with excitement. "These security measures of +yours. To what extent do you keep under observation all aliens on the +planet?" + +The priest's chuckle had a nasty quality. "You are quite ignorant of our +institutions, evidently. Every person on New Delos, in every way of life, +was under constant survey from the cradle to the grave. Aliens were highly +discouraged. When they appeared on New Delos at all, they were restricted +in their movements to this, our capital city." + +Ronny let air whistle from his lungs. "Then," he said triumphantly, "if +any alien had anything to do with this, he is still on the planet. Can you +get me a list of all aliens?" + +The other laughed again, still sourly. "But there are none. None except +you employees of United Planets. I'm afraid you're on a wild-goose chase." + +Ronny stared at him blankly. "But commercial representatives, cultural +exchange--" + +The priest said flatly, "No. None at all. All commerce was handled through +UP. We encouraged no cultural exchanges. We wished to keep our people +uncorrupted. United Planets alone had the right to land on our one +spaceport." + +The Section G agent came to his feet. This was much simpler than he could +ever have hoped for. He thanked the other, but avoided the necessity of +shaking hands, and left. + + ------------------------------------- + +He found a helio-cab and dialed it to the UP building, finding strange the +necessity of slipping coins into the vehicle's slots until the correct +amount for his destination had been deposited. Coinage was no longer in +use on Earth. + +At the UP building he retraced his steps of the day before to the single +office of Section G. + +To his surprise, not only Mouley Hassan was there, but Tog as well. Hassan +had evidently had at least a few hours of sleep. He was in better shape. + +They exchanged the usual amenities and took their chairs again. + +Hassan said, "We were just gossiping. It's been years since I've been in +Greater Washington. Lee Chang tells me that Sid Jakes is now a Supervisor. +I worked with him for a while, when I first joined Section G. How about a +glass of wine?" + +Ronny said, "Look. If Tommy Paine was connected with this, and it's almost +positive he was, we've got him." + +The others looked at him. + +"You've evidently been busy," Tog said mildly. + +He turned to her. "He's trapped, Tog! He can't get off the planet." + +Mouley Hassan rubbed a hand through his hair. "It'd be hard, all right. +They've got the people under rein here such as you've never seen before. +Or they did until this blew up." + +Ronny sketched the situation to Tog, winding up with, "The only thing that +makes sense is that it's a Tommy Paine job. The local citizens would never +have been able to get their hands on such a bomb, or been able to have +made the arrangements for its delivery. They're under too much +surveillance." + +Tog said thoughtfully, "but how did he escape all this surveillance?" + +"Don't you understand? He's working here, in this building, as an employee +of UP. There is no other alternative." + +They stared at him. + +"I think perhaps you're right," Tog said finally. + +Ronny turned to Mouley Hassan. "Can you get a list of all UP employees?" + +"Of course." He flicked his order box, barked a command into it. + +Ronny said, "It's going to be a matter of eliminating the impossible. For +instance, what is the earliest known case of Tommy Paine's activity?" + +Tog thought back. "So far as we know definitely, about twenty-two years +ago." + +"Fine," Ronny said, increasingly excited. "That will eliminate all persons +less than, say, forty years of age. We can assume he was at least twenty +when he began." + +Hassan said, "Can we eliminate all women employees?" + +Ronny said, "I'd think so. The few times he's been seen, all reports are +of a man. And that case on the planet Mother where he put himself over as +a Holy Man. He could hardly have been a woman in disguise in a Stone Age +culture such as that." + +Hassan said, "And this Tommy Paine has been flitting around this part of +the galaxy for years, so anyone who has been here steadily for a period of +even a couple of years or so, can't be suspect." + +Mouley Hassan thrust his hand into a delivery drawer and brought forth a +handful of punched cards, possibly fifty in all. + +"Surely there's more people than that working in this building," Ronny +protested. + +Mouley Hassan said, "No. I've eliminated already everyone who is a citizen +of New Delos. Obviously, Tommy Paine is an alien. We have only forty-eight +Earthlings and other United Planets citizens working here." + +He carried the cards to a small collator and worked for a moment on its +controls, as Tog and Ronny watched him with mounting tension. "Let's see," +he muttered. "We eliminate all women, all those less than forty, all who +haven't done a great deal of travel, those who have been here for several +years." + +The end of it was that they eliminated everyone employed in the UP +building. + +The cards were stacked back on Mouley Hassan's desk again, and the three +of them sat around and looked glumly at them. + +Ronny said, "He's tinkered with the files. He counterfeited fake papers +for himself, or something. Possibly he's pulled his own card and it isn't +in this stack you have." + +Mouley Hassan said, "We'll double-check all those possibilities, but +you're wrong. Possibly a few hundred years ago, but not today. Forgery and +counterfeiting are things of the past. And, believe me, the Bureau of +Investigation and especially Section G, may look on the slipshod side, but +they aren't. We're not going to find anything wrong with those cards. +Tommy Paine simply is not working for UP on New Delos." + +"Then," Ronny said, "there's only one alternative. He's on this UP ship +going to, what was the name of its destination?" + +"Avalon," Mouley Hassan said, his face thoughtful. + +Tog said, "Do you have any ideas on the men aboard?" + +Mouley Hassan said, "There were four crew men, and six of our agents." + +Tog said, "Unless one of them has faked papers, the six agents are +eliminated. That leaves the crew members. Do you know anything about +them?" + +Hassan shook his head. + +Ronny said, "Let's communicate with Avalon. Tell our representatives there +to be sure that none of the occupants of that ship leaves Avalon until we +get there." + +Mouley Hassan said, "Good idea." He turned to his screen and said into it, +"Section G, Bureau of Investigation, on the Planet Avalon." + +In moment the screen lit up. An elderly agent, as Section G agents seemed +to go, looked up at them. + +Mouley Hassan held his silver badge so the other could see it and on the +Avalon agent's nod said, "I'm Hassan from New Delos. We've just had a +crisis here and there seems to be a chance that it's a Tommy Paine job. +Agent Bronston here is on an assignment tracking him down. I'll turn it +over to Bronston." + +The Avalon agent nodded again, and looked at Ronny. + +Ronny said urgently, "We haven't the time to give you details, but every +indication is that Paine is on a UP spacecraft with Avalon as its +destination. There are only ten men aboard, and six of them are Section G +operatives." + +The other pursed his lips. "I see. You think you have the old fox +cornered, eh?" + +"Possibly," Ronny said. "There are various ifs. Miss Tog and I can double +check here. Then as soon as we can clear exit visas, we'll make immediate +way for Avalon." + +The Avalon Section G agent said, "I haven't the authority to control the +movements of other agents, they have as high rank as I have," he added, +expressionlessly, "and probably higher than yours." + +Ronny said, "But the four-man crew?" + +The other said, "These men are coming to Avalon to work on a job that will +take at least six months. We'll make a routine check, and I'll try and +make sure the whole ten will still be on Avalon when and if you arrive." + +They had to be satisfied with that. They checked all ways from the middle, +nor did it take long. There was no doubt. If this was a Tommy Paine job, +and it almost surely was, then there was only one way in which he could +have escaped from the planet and that was by the single spacecraft that +had left, destination Avalon. He was not on the planet, that was definite +Ronny felt. A stranger on New Delos was as conspicuous as a walrus in a +goldfish bowl. There simply were no such. + +They spent most of their time checking and rechecking United Planets +personnel, but there was no question there either. + +Mouley Hassan and others of UP personnel helped cut the red tape involved +in getting exit visas from New Delos. It wasn't as complicated as it might +have been a week or two before. No one seemed to be so confident of his +authority in the new provisional government that he dared veto a United +Planets request. + +Mouley Hassan was able to arrange for a small space yacht, slower than a +military craft, but capable of getting them to Avalon in a few days time. +A one-man crew was sufficient, Ronny, and especially Tog, could spell him +on the watches. + +Time aboard was spent largely in studying up on Avalon, going over and +over again anything known about the elusive Tommy Paine, and playing +Battle Chess and bickering with Tog Lee Chang Chu. + +If it hadn't been for this ability to argue against just about anything +Ronny managed to say, he could have been attracted to her to the detriment +of the job. She was a good traveler, few people are; she was an +ultra-efficient assistant; she was a joy to look at; and she never +intruded. But, Great Guns, the woman could bicker. + +The two of them were studying in the ship's luxurious lounge when Ronny +looked up and said, "Do you have any idea why those six agents were sent +to Avalon?" + +"No," she said. + +He indicated the booklet he was reading. "From what I can see here, it +sounds like one of the most advanced planets in the UP. They've made some +of the most useful advances in industrial techniques of the past century." + +"Oh, I don't know," Tog mused. "I haven't much regard for Industrial +Feudalism myself. It starts off with a bang, but tends to go sterile." + +"Industrial feudalism," he said indignantly. "What do you mean? The +government is a constitutional monarchy with the king merely a powerless +symbol. The standard of living is high. Elections are honest and +democratic. They've got a three-party system...." + +"Which is largely phony," Tog interrupted. "You've got to do some reading +between the lines, especially when the books you're reading are turned out +by the industrial feudalistic publishing companies in Avalon." + +"What's this industrial feudalism, you keep talking about? Avalon has a +system of free enterprise." + +"A gobbledygook term," Tog said, irritatingly. "Industrial feudalism is a +socio-economic system that develops when industrial wealth is concentrated +into the hands of a comparatively few families. It finally gets to the +point of a closed circle all but impossible to break into. These +industrial feudalistic families become so powerful that only in rare +instances can anyone lift himself into their society. They dominate every +field, including the so-called labor unions, which amount to one of the +biggest businesses of all. With their unlimited resources they even own +every means of dispensing information." + +"You mean," Ronny argued, "that on Avalon you can't start up a newspaper +of your own and say whatever you wish?" + +"Certainly you can, theoretically. If you have the resources. +Unfortunately, such enterprises become increasingly expensive to start. Or +you could start a radio, TV or Tri-Di station--if you had the resources. +However, even if you overcame all your handicaps and your newspaper or +broadcasting station became a success, the industrial feudalistic families +in control of Avalon's publishing and broadcasting fields have the endless +resources to buy you out, or squeeze you out, by one nasty means or +another." + +Ronny snorted. "Well, the people must be satisfied or they'd vote some +fundamental changes." + +Tog nodded. "They're satisfied, and no wonder. Since childhood every means +of forming their opinions have been in the hands of industrial feudalistic +families--including the schools." + +"You mean the schools are private?" + +"No, they don't have to be. The government is completely dominated by the +fifty or so families which for all practical purposes own Avalon. That +includes the schools. Some of the higher institutions of learning are +private, but they, too, are largely dependent upon grants from the +families." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny was irritated by her know-all air. He tapped the book he'd been +reading with a finger. "They don't control the government. Avalon's got a +three-party system. Any time the people don't like the government, they +can vote in an alternative." + +"That's an optical illusion. There are three parties, but each is +dominated by the fifty families, and election laws are such that for all +practical purposes it's impossible to start another party. Theoretically +it's possible, actually it isn't. The voters can vary back and forth +between the three political parties but it doesn't make any difference +which one they elect. They all stand for the same thing--a continuation of +the status quo." + +"Then you claim it isn't democracy at all?" + +Tog sighed. "That's a much abused word. Actually, pure democracy is seldom +seen. They pretty well had it in primitive society where government was +based on the family. You voted for one of your relatives in your clan to +represent you in the tribal councils. Every one in the tribe was equal so +far as apportionments of the necessities of life were concerned. No one, +even the tribal chiefs, ate better than anyone else, no one had a better +home." + +Ronny said, snappishly, "And if man had remained at that level, we'd never +have gotten anywhere." + +"That's right," she said. "For progress, man needed a leisure class. +Somebody with the time to study, to experiment, to work things out." + +He said, "We're getting away from the point. You said in spite of +appearances they don't have democracy on Avalon." + +"They have a pretense of it. But only free men can practice democracy. So +long as your food, clothing and shelter are controlled by someone else, +you aren't free. Wait until I think of an example." She put her right +forefinger to her chin, thoughtfully. + +Holy smokes, she was a cute trick. If only she wasn't so confounded +irritating. + +Tog said, "Do you remember the State of California in Earth history?" + +"I think so. On the west coast of North America." + +"That's right. Well, back in the Twentieth Century, Christian calendar, +they had an economic depression. During it a crackpot organization called +Thirty Dollars Every Thursday managed to get itself on the ballot. Times +were bad enough but had this particular bunch got into power it would have +become chaotic. At first no thinking person took them seriously, however a +majority of people in California at that time had little to lose and in +the final week or so of the election campaign the polls showed that Thirty +Dollars Every Thursday was going to win. So, a few days before voting many +of the larger industries and businesses in the State ran full page ads in +the newspapers. They said substantially the same thing. _If Thirty Dollars +Every Thursday wins this election, our concern will close its doors. Do +not bother to come back to work Monday._" + +Ronny was scowling at her. "What's your point?" + +She shrugged delicate shoulders. "The crackpots were defeated, of course, +which was actually good for California. But my point is that the voters of +California were not actually free since their livelihoods were controlled +by others. This is an extreme case, of course, but the fact always +applies." + +A thought suddenly hit Ronny Bronston. "Look," he said. "Tommy Paine. Do +you think he's merely escaping from New Delos, or is it possible that +Avalon is his next destination? Is he going to try and overthrow the +government there?" + +She was shaking her head, but frowning. "I don't think so. Things are +quite stable on Avalon." + +"Stable?" he scowled at her. "From what you've been saying, they're pretty +bad." + +She continued to shake her head. "Don't misunderstand, Ronny. On an +assignment like this, it's easy to get the impression that all the United +Planets are in a state of socio-political confusion, but it isn't so. A +small minority of planets are ripe for the sort of trouble Tommy Paine +stirs up. Most are working away, developing, making progress, slowly +evolving. Avalon is one of these. The way things are there, Tommy Paine +couldn't make a dent on changing things, even if he wanted to, and there's +no particular reason to believe he does." + +Ronny growled. "From what I can learn of the guy he's anxious to stir up +trouble wherever he goes." + +"I don't know. If there's any pattern at all in his activities, it seems +to be that he picks spots where things are ripe to boil over on their own. +He acts as a catalyst. In a place like Avalon he wouldn't get to first +base. Possibly fifty years from now, things will have developed on Avalon +to the point where there is dissatisfaction. By that time," she said +dryly, "we'll assume Tommy Paine will no longer be a problem to the +Commissariat of Interplanetary Affairs for one reason or the other." + +Ronny took up his book again. He growled, "I can't figure out his +motivation. If I could just put my finger on that." + +For once she agreed with him. "I've got an idea, Ronny, that once you have +that, you'll have Tommy Paine." + + ------------------------------------- + +They drew blank on Avalon. + +Or, at least, it was drawn for them before they ever arrived. + +The Section G agent permanently assigned to that planet had already +checked and double checked the possibilities. None of the four-man crew of +the UP spacecraft had been on New Delos at the time of the assassination +of the God-King. They, and their craft, had been light-years away on +another job. + +Ronny Bronston couldn't believe it. He simply couldn't believe it. + +The older agent, his name was Jheru Bulchand, was definite. He went over +it with Ronny and Tog in a bar adjoining UP headquarters. He had dossiers +on each of the ten men, detailed dossiers. On the face of it, none of them +could be Paine. + +"But one of them has to be," Ronny pleaded. He explained their method of +eliminating the forty-eight employees of UP on New Delos. + +Bulchand shrugged. "You've got holes in that method of elimination. You're +assuming Tommy Paine is an individual, and you have no reason to. My own +theory is that it's an organization." + +Ronny said unhappily, "Then you're of the opinion that there is a Tommy +Paine?" + +The older agent was puffing comfortably on an old style briar pipe. He +nodded definitely. "I believe Tommy Paine exists as an organization. +Possibly once, originally, it was a single person, but now it's a group. +How large, I wouldn't know. Probably not too large or by this time +somebody would have betrayed it, or somebody would have cracked and we +would have caught them. Catch one and you've got the whole organization +what with our modern means of interrogation." + +Tog said, "I've heard the opinion before." + +Jheru Bulchand pointed at Ronny with his pipe stem. "If its an +organization, then none of that eliminating you did is valid. Your +assassin could have been one of the women. He could have been one of the +men you eliminated as too young--someone recently admitted to the Tommy +Paine organization." + +Ronny checked the last of his theories. "Why did Section G send six of its +agents here?" + +"Nothing to do with Tommy Paine," Bulchand said. "It's a different sort of +crisis." + +"Just for my own satisfaction, what kind of crisis?" + +Bulchand sketched it quickly. "There are two Earth type planets in this +solar system. Avalon was the first to be colonized and developed rapidly. +After a couple of centuries, Avalonians went over and settled on Catalina. +They eventually set up a government of their own. Now Avalon has a surplus +of industrial products. Her economic system is such that she produces more +than she can sell back to her own people. There's a glut." + +Tog said demurely, "So, of course, they want to dump it in Catalina." + +Bulchand nodded. "In fact, they're willing to give it away. They've +offered to build railroads, turn over ships and aircraft, donate whole +factories to Catalina's slowly developing economy." + +Ronny said, "Well, how does that call for Section G agents?" + +"Catalina has evoked Article Two of the UP Charter. No member planet of UP +is to interfere with the internal political, socio-economic or religious +affairs of another member planet. Avalon claims the Charter doesn't apply +since Catalina belongs to the same solar system and since she's a former +colony. We're trying to smooth the whole thing over, before Avalon dreams +up some excuse for military action." + +Ronny stared at him. "I get the feeling every other sentence is being left +out of your explanation. It just doesn't make sense. In the first place, +why is Avalon as anxious as all that to give away what sounds like a +fantastic amount of goods?" + +"I told you, they have a glut. They've overproduced and, as a result, +they've got a king-size depression on their hands, or will have unless +they find markets." + +"Well, why not trade with some of the planets that want her products?" + +Tog said as though reasoning with a youngster, "Planets outside her own +solar system are too far away for it to be practical even if she had +commodities they didn't. She needs a nearby planet more backward than +herself, a planet like Catalina." + +"Well, that brings us to the more fantastic question. Why in the world +doesn't Catalina accept? It sounds to me like pure philanthropy on the +part of Avalon." + +Bulchand was wagging his pipe stem in a negative gesture. "Bronston, +governments are never motivated by idealistic reasons. Individuals might +be, and even small groups, but governments never. Governments, including +that of Avalon, exist for the benefit of the class or classes that control +them. The only things that motivate them are the interests of that class." + +"Well, this sounds like an exception," Ronny said argumentatively. "How +can Catalina lose if the Avalonians grant them railroads, factories and +all the rest of it?" + +Tog said, "Don't you see, Ronny? It gives Avalon a foothold in the +Catalina economy. When the locomotives wear out on the railroad, new +engines, new parts, must be purchased. They won't be available on Catalina +because there will be no railroad industry because none will have ever +grown up. Catalina manufacturers couldn't compete with that initial free +gift. They'll be dependent on Avalon for future equipment. In the +factories, when machines wear out, they will be replaceable only with the +products of Avalon's industry." + +Bulchand said, "There's an analogy in the early history of the United +States. When its fledgling steel industry began, they set up a high tariff +to protect it against British competition. The British were amazed and +indignant, pointing out that they could sell American steel products at +one third the local prices, if only allowed to do so. The United States +said no thanks, it didn't want to be tied, industrially, to Great +Britain's apron strings. And in a couple of decades American steel +production passed England's. In a couple of more decades American steel +production was many times that of England's and she was taking British +markets away from her all over the globe." + +"At any rate," Ronny said, "it's not a Tommy Paine matter." + +Just for luck, though, Ronny and Tog double checked all over again on +Bulchand's efforts. They interviewed all six of the Section G agents. Each +of them carried a silver badge that gleamed only for the individual who +possessed it. All of which eliminated the possibility that Paine had +assumed the identity of a Section G operative. So that was out. + +They checked the four crew members, but there was no doubt there, either. +The craft had been far away at the time of the assassination on New Delos. + +On the third day, Ronny Bronston, disgusted, knocked on the door of Tog's +hotel room. The door screen lit up and Tog, looking out at him said, "Oh, +come on in, Ronny, I was just talking to Earth." + +He entered. + +Tog had set up her Section G communicator on a desk top and Sid Jakes' +grinning face was in the tiny, brilliant screen. Ronny approached close +enough for the other to take him in. + +Jakes said happily, "Hi, Ronny, no luck, eh?" + +Ronny shook his head, trying not to let his face portray his feelings of +defeat. This after all was a probationary assignment, and the supervisor +had the power to send Ronny Bronston back to the drudgery of his office +job at Population Statistics. + +"Still working on it. I suppose it's a matter of returning to New Delos +and grinding away at the forty-eight employees of the UP there." + +Sid Jakes pursed his lips. "I don't know. Possibly this whole thing was a +false alarm. At any rate, there seems to be a hotter case on the fire. If +our local agents have it straight, Paine is about to pull one of his coups +on Kropotkin. This is a top-top-secret, of course, one of the few times +we've ever detected him before the act." + +Ronny was suddenly alert, his fatigue of disgust of but a moment ago, +completely forgotten. "Where?" he said. + +"Kropotkin," Jakes said. "One of the most backward planets in UP and +seemingly a setup for Paine's sort of trouble making. The authorities, if +you can use the term applied to Kropotkin, are already complaining, +threatening to invoke Article One of the Charter, or to resign from UP." +Jake looked at Tog again. "Do you know Kropotkin, Lee Chang?" + +She shook her head. "I've heard of it, rather vaguely. Named after some +old anarchist, I believe." + +"That's the place. One of the few anarchist societies in UP. You don't +hear much from them." He turned to Ronny again. "I think that's your bet. +Hop to it, boy. We're going to catch this Tommy Paine guy, or +organization, or whatever, soon or United Planets is going to know it. We +can't keep the lid on indefinitely. If word gets around of his activities, +then we'll lose member planets like Christmas trees shedding needles after +New Year's." He grinned widely. "That's sounds like a neat trick, eh?" + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny Bronston had got to the point where he avoided controversial +subjects with Tog even when provoked and she had a sneaky little way of +provoking arguments. They had only one really knock down and drag-out +verbal battle on the way to Kropotkin. + +It had started innocently enough after dinner on the space liner on which +they had taken passage for the first part of the trip. To kill time they +were playing Battle Chess with its larger board and added contingents of +pawns and castles. + +Ronny said idly, "You know, in spite of the fact that I'm a third +generation United Planets citizen and employee, I'm just beginning to +realize how far out some of our member planets are. I had no idea before." + +She frowned in concentration, before moving. She was advancing her men in +echelon attack, taking losses in exchange for territory and trying to pen +him up in such small space that he couldn't maneuver. + +She said, "How do you mean?" + +Ronny lifted and dropped a shoulder. "Well, New Delos and its theocracy, +for instance, and Shangri-La and Mother and some of the other planets with +extremes in government of socio-economic system. I hadn't the vaguest idea +about such places." + +She made a deprecating sound. "You should see Amazonia, or, for that +matter, the Orwellian State." + +"_Amazonia_," he said, "does that mean what it sounds like it does?" + +She made her move and settled back in satisfaction. Her pawns were in such +position that his bishops were both unusable. He'd tried to play a phalanx +game in the early stages of her attack, but she'd broken through, rolling +up his left flank after sacrificing a castle and a knight. + +"Certainly does," she said. "A fairly recently colonized planet. A few +thousand feminists no men at all--moved onto it a few centuries ago. And +it's still an out and out matriarchy." + +Ronny cleared his throat delicately. "Without men ... ah, how did they +continue several centuries?" + +Tog suppressed her amusement. "Artificial insemination, at first, so I +understand. They brought their, ah, supply with them. But then there were +boys among the first generation on the new planet and even the Amazonians +weren't up to cold bloodedly butchering their children. So they merely +enslaved them. Nice girls." + +Ronny stared at her. "You mean all men are automatically slaves on this +planet?" + +"That's right." + +Ronny made an improperly thought out move, trying to bring up a castle to +reinforce his collapsing flank. He said, "UP allows _anybody_ to join +evidently," and there was disgust in his voice. + +"Why not?" she said mildly. + +"Well, there should be _some_ standards." + +Tog moved quickly, dominating with a knight several squares he couldn't +afford to lose. She looked up at him, her dark eyes sparking. "The point +of UP is to include all the planets. That way at least conflict can be +avoided and some exchange of science, industrial techniques and cultural +gains take place. And you must remember that while in power practically no +socio-economic system will admit to the fact that it could possibly change +for the better. But actually there is nothing less stable. Socio-economic +systems are almost always in a condition of flux. Planets such as Amazonia +might for a time seem so brutal in their methods as to exclude their right +to civilized intercourse with the rest. However, one of these days +there'll be a change--or one of these centuries. They all change, sooner or +later." She added softly, "Even Han." + +"Han?" Ronny said. + +Her voice was quiet. "Where I was born, Ronny. Colonized from China in the +very early days. In fact, I spent my childhood in a commune." She said +musingly, "The party bureaucrats thought their system an impregnable, +unchangeable one. Your move." + +Ronny was fascinated. "And what happened?" He was in full retreat now, and +with nowhere to go, his pieces pinned up for the slaughter. He moved a +pawn to try and open up his queen. + +"Why don't you concede?" she said. "Tommy Paine happened." + +"Paine!" + +"Uh-huh. It's a long story. I'll tell you about it some time." She pressed +closer with her own queen. + +He stared disgustedly at the board. "Well, that's what I mean," he +muttered. "I had no idea there were so many varieties of crackpot +politico-economic systems among the UP membership." + +"They're not necessarily crackpot," she protested mildly. "Just at +different stages of development." + +"Not crackpot!" he said. "Here we are heading for a planet named Kropotkin +which evidently practices anarchy." + +"Your move," she said. "What's wrong with anarchism?" + +He glowered at her, in outraged disgust. Was it absolutely impossible for +him to say anything without her disagreement? + +Tog said mildly, "The anarchistic ethic is one of the highest man has ever +developed." She added, after a moment of pretty consideration. +"Unfortunately, admittedly, it hasn't been practical to put to practice. +It will be interesting to see how they have done on Kropotkin." + +"Anarchist ethic, yes," Ronny snapped. "I'm no student of the movement but +the way I understand it, there isn't any." + +Tog smiled sweetly. "The belief upon which they base their teachings is +that no man is capable of judging another." + +Ronny cast his eyes ceilingward. "O.K., I give up!" + +She began rapidly resetting the pieces. "Another game?" she said brightly. + +"Hey! I didn't mean the game! I was just about to counterattack." + +"Ha!" she said. + + ------------------------------------- + +The Section G agent on Kropotkin was named Hideka Yamamoto, but he was on +a field tour and wouldn't be back for several days. However, there wasn't +especially any great hurry so far as Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu +knew. They got themselves organized in the rather rustic equivalent of a +hotel, which was located fairly near UP headquarters, and took up the +usual problems of arranging for local exchange, meals, means of +transportation and such necessities. + +It was a greater problem than usual. In fact, hadn't it been for the +presence of the UP organization, which had already gone through all this +the hard way, some of the difficulties would have been all but +insurmountable. + +For instance, there was no local exchange. There was no medium of exchange +at all. Evidently simple barter was the rule. + +In the hotel--if it could be called a hotel--lobby, Ronny Bronston looked at +Tog. "Anarchism!" he said. "Oh, great. The highest ethic of all. And +what's the means of transportation on this wonderful planet? The horse. +And how are we going to get a couple of horses with no means of exchange?" + +She tinkled laughter. + +"All right," he said. "You're the Man Friday. You find out the details and +handle them. I'm going out to take a look around the town--if you can call +this a town." + +"It's the capital of Kropotkin," Tog said placatingly, though with a +mocking background in her tone. "Name of Bakunin. And very pleasant, too, +from what little I've seen. Not a bit of smog, industrial fumes, street +dirt, street noises--" + +"How could there be?" he injected disgustedly. "There isn't any industry, +there aren't any cars, and for all practical purposes, no streets. The +houses are a quarter of a mile or so apart." + +She laughed at him again. "City boy," she said. "Go on out there and enjoy +nature a little. It'll do you good. Anybody who has cooped himself up in +that one big city, Earth, all his life ought to enjoy seeing what the +great outdoors looks like." + +He looked at her and grinned. She was cute as a pixie, and there were no +two ways about that. He wondered for a moment what kind of a wife she'd +make. And then shuddered inwardly. Life would be one big contradiction of +anything he'd managed to get out of his trap. + +He strolled idly along what was little more than a country path and it +came to him that there were probably few worlds in the whole UP where he'd +have been prone to do this within the first few hours he'd been on the +planet. He would have been afraid, elsewhere, of anything from footpads to +police, from unknown vehicles to unknown traffic laws. There was something +bewildering about being an Earthling and being set down suddenly in New +Delos or on Avalon. + +Here, somehow, he already had a feeling of peace. + +Evidently, although Bakunin was supposedly a city, its populace tilled +their fields and provided themselves with their own food. He could see no +signs of stores or warehouses. And the UP building, which was no great +edifice itself, was the only thing in town which looked even remotely like +a governmental building. + +Bakunin was neat. Clean as a pin, as the expression went. Ronny was +vaguely reminded of a historical Tri-Di romance he'd once seen. It had +been laid in ancient times in a community of the Amish in old +Pennsylvania. + +He approached one of the wooden houses. The things would have been +priceless on Earth as an antique to be erected as a museum in some crowded +park. For that matter it would have been priceless for the wood it +contained. Evidently, the planet Kropotkin still had considerable virgin +forest. + +An old-timer smoking a pipe, sat on the cottage's front step. He nodded +politely. + +Ronny stopped. He might as well try to get a little of the feel of the +place. He said courteously, "A pleasant evening." + +The old-timer nodded. "As evenings should be after a fruitful day's toil. +Sit down, comrade. You must be from the United Planets. Have you ever seen +Earth?" + +Ronny accepted the invitation and felt a soothing calm descend upon him +almost immediately. An almost disturbingly pleasant calm. He said, "I was +born on Earth." + +"Ai?" the old man said. "Tell me. The books say that Kropotkin is an Earth +type planet within what they call a few degrees. But is it? Is Kropotkin +truly like the mother planet?" + +Ronny looked about him. He'd seen some of this world as the shuttle rocket +had brought them down from the passing liner. The forests, the lakes, the +rivers, and the great sections untouched by man's hands. Now he saw the +areas between homes, the neat fields, the signs of human toil--the toil of +hands, not machines. + +"No," he said, shaking his head. "I'm afraid not. This is how Earth must +once have been. But no longer." + +The other nodded. "Our total population is but a few million," he said. +Then, "I would like to see the mother planet, but I suppose I never +shall." + +Ronny said diplomatically, "I have seen little of Kropotkin thus far but I +am not so sure but that I might not be happy to stay here, rather than +ever return to Earth." + +The old man knocked the ashes from his pipe by striking it against the +heel of a work-gnarled hand. He looked about him thoughtfully and said, +"Yes, perhaps you're right. I am an old man and life has been good. I +suppose I should be glad that I'll unlikely live to see Kropotkin change." + +"Change? You plan changes?" + + ------------------------------------- + +The old man looked at him and there seemed to be a very faint bitterness, +politely suppressed. "I wouldn't say _we_ planned them, comrade. Certainly +not we of the older generation. But the trend toward change is already to +be seen by anyone who wishes to look, and our institutions won't long be +able to stand. But, of course, if you're from United Planets you would +know more of this than I." + +"I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about." + +"You are new indeed on Kropotkin," the old man said. "Just a moment." He +went into his house and emerged with a small power pack. He indicated it +to Ronny Bronston. "This is our destruction," he said. + +The Section G agent shook his head, bewildered. + +The old-timer sat down again. "My son," he said, "runs the farm now. Six +months ago, he traded one of our colts for a small pump, powered by one of +these. It was little use on my part to argue against the step. The pump +eliminates considerable work at the well and in irrigation." + +Ronny still didn't understand. + +"The power pack is dead now," the old man said, "and my son needs a new +one." + +"They're extremely cheap," Ronny said. "An industrialized planet turns +them out in multi-million amounts at practically no cost." + +"We have little with which to trade. A few handicrafts, at most." + +Ronny said, "But, good heavens, man, build yourselves a plant to +manufacture power packs. With a population this small, a factory employing +no more than half a dozen men could turn out all you need." + +The old man was shaking his head. He held up the battery. "This comes from +the planet Archimedes," he said, "one of the most highly industrialized in +the UP, so I understand. On Archimedes do you know how many persons it +takes to manufacture this power pack?" + + [Illustration.] + +"A handful to operate the whole factory, Archimedes is fully automated." + +The old man was still moving his head negatively. "No. It takes the total +working population of the planet. How many different metals do you think +are contained in it, in all? I can immediately see what must be lead and +copper." + +Ronny said uncomfortably, "Probably at least a dozen, some in microscopic +amounts." + +"That's right. So we need a highly developed metallurgical industry before +we can even begin. Then a developed transportation industry to take metals +to the factory. We need power to run the factory, hydro-electric, solar, +or possibly atomic power. We need a tool-making industry to equip the +factory, the transport industry and the power industry. And while the men +are employed in these, we need farmers to produce food for them, educators +to teach them the sciences and techniques involved, and an entertainment +industry to amuse them in their hours of rest. As their lives become more +complicated with all this, we need a developed medical industry to keep +them in health." + +The old man hesitated for a moment, then said, "And, above all, we need a +highly complicated government to keep all this accumulation of wealth in +check and balance. No. You see, my friend, it takes _social labor_ to +produce products such as this, and thus far we have avoided that on +Kropotkin. In fact, it was for such avoidance that my ancestors originally +came to this planet." + +Ronny said, scowling, "This gets ridiculous. You show me this basically +simple power pack and say it will ruin your socio-economic system. On the +face of it, it's ridiculous." + +The old man sighed and looked out over the village unseeingly. "It's not +just that single item, of course. The other day one of my neighbors turned +up with a light bulb with built-in power for a year's time. It is the envy +of the unthinking persons of the neighborhood most of whom would give a +great deal for such a source of light. A nephew of mine has somehow even +acquired a powered bicycle, I think you call them, from somewhere or +other. One by one, item by item, these products of advanced technology +turn up--from whence, we don't seem to be able to find out." + +Under his breath, Ronny muttered, "_Paine!_" + +"I beg your pardon," the old man said. + +"Nothing," the Section G agent said. He leaned forward and, a worried +frown working its way over his face, began to question the other more +closely. + +Afterwards, Ronny Bronston strode slowly toward the UP headquarters. There +was only a small contingent of United Planets personnel on this little +populated member planet but, as always, there seemed to be an office for +Section G. + +Ronny stood outside it for a moment. There were voices from within, but he +didn't knock. + +In fact, he cast his eyes up and down the short corridor. At the far end +was a desk with a girl in the Interplanetary Cultural Exchange Department +working away in concentration. She wasn't looking in his direction. + +Ronny Bronston put his ear to the door. The building was primitive enough, +rustic enough in its construction, to permit his hearing. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu was saying seriously, "Oh, it was chaotic all right, but +no, I don't really believe it could have been a Tommy Paine case. Actually +I'd suggest to you that you run over to Catalina. When I was on Avalon I +heard rumors that Tommy Paine's finger seemed to be stirring around in the +mess there. Yes, I'd recommend that you take off for Catalina immediately. +If Paine is anywhere in this vicinity at all, it would be Catalina." + +For a moment, Ronny Bronston froze. Then in automatic reflex his hand went +inside his jacket to rest over the butt of the Model H automatic there. + +No, that wasn't the answer. His hand dropped away from the gun. + +He listened, further. + +Another voice was saying, "We thought we were on the trail for a while on +Hector, but it turned out it wasn't Paine. Just a group of local agitators +fed up with the communist regime there. There's going to be a blood bath +on Hector, before they're through, but it doesn't seem to be Paine's work +this time." + +Tog's voice was musing. "Well, you never know, it sounds like the sort of +muck he likes to play in." + +The strange voice said argumentatively, "Well, Hector _needs_ a few +fundamental changes." + +"It could be," Tog said, "but that's their internal affairs, of course. +Our job in Section G is to prevent troubles between the differing +socio-economic and religious features of member planets. Whatever we think +of some of the things Paine does, our task is to get him." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny Bronston pushed the door open and went through. Tog Lee Chang Chu +was sitting at a desk, nonchalant and petitely beautiful as usual, +comfortably seated in easy-chairs were two young men by their attire +probably citizens of United Planets and possibly even Earthlings. + +"Hello, Ronny," Tog said softly. "Meet Frederic Lippman and Pedro Nazare, +both Section G operatives. This is my colleague, Ronald Bronston, +gentlemen. Fredric and Pedro were just leaving, Ronny." + +The two agents got up to shake hands. + +Ronny said, "You can't be in that much of a hurry. What's your assignment, +boys?" + +Lippman, an earnest type, and by his appearance not more than twenty-five +or so years of age, began to answer, but Nazare said hurriedly, "Actually, +it's a confidential assignment. We're working directly out of the +Octagon." + +Lippman said, frowning, "It's not that confidential, Tog. Bronston's an +agent, too. What's your assignment, Ronny?" + +Ronny said very slowly, "I'm beginning to suspect that it's the same as +yours and various pieces are beginning to fall into place." + +Lippman was taken aback. "You mean you're looking for Tommy Paine?" His +eyes went to his associate. "How could that be, Tog? I didn't know more +than one of us were on this job. Why, that means if Bronston here finds +him first, I won't get my permanent appointment." + +Ronny looked at Tog Lee Chang Chu who was sitting demurely, hands in lap, +and a resigned expression on her face. He said, "Nor if you find him +first, will I. Look here, Tog, how many men does Sid Jakes have out on +this assignment?" + +"I wouldn't know," she said mildly. + +He snapped, "A few dozen or so? Or possibly a few hundred?" + +"It seems unlikely there could be that many," she said mildly. She looked +at the other two agents. "I think you two had better run along. Take my +suggestion I made earlier." + +"Wait a minute," Ronny snapped. "You mean that they go to Catalina? That's +ridiculous." + +Tog Lee Chang Chu looked at Pedro Nazare and he turned and started for the +door followed by Fredric Lippman who was still scowling his puzzlement. + +"Wait a minute!" Ronny snapped. "I tell you it's ridiculous. And why +follow her suggestions? She's just my assistant." + +Pedro Nazare said, "Come on, Fred, let's get going, we'll have to pack." +But Lippman wasn't having any. + +"His assistant?" he said to Tog Lee Chang Chu. + +Tog Lee Chang Chu's face changed expression in sudden decision. She opened +her bag and brought forth a Section G identification wallet and flicked it +open. The badge was gold. "I suggest you hurry," she said to the two +agents. + +They left, and Tog turned back to Ronny, her eyebrows raised +questioningly. + +Ronny sank down into one of the chairs recently occupied by the other two +agents and tried to unravel thoughts. He said finally, "I suppose my +question should be, why do Ross Metaxa and Sid Jakes send an agent of +supervisor rank to act as assistant to a probationary agent? But that's +not what I'm asking yet. First, Lippman just called his buddy Tog. How +come?" + +Tog took her seat again, rueful resignation on her face. "You should be +figuring it out on your own by this time, Ronny." + +He looked at her belligerently. "I'm too stupid, eh?" The anger was +growing within him. + +"Tog," she said. "It's a nickname, or possibly you might call it a title. +Tog. T-O-G. The Other Guy. My name is Lee Chang Chu, and I'm of supervisor +grade presently working at developing new Section G operatives. +Considering the continuing rapid growth of UP, and the continuing crises +that come up in UP activities, developing new operatives is one of the +department's most pressing jobs. Each new agent, on his first assignment, +is always paired with an experienced old-timer." + +"I see," he said flatly. "Your principal job being to needle the fledging, +eh?" + +She lowered her eyes. "I wouldn't exactly word it that way," she said. She +was obviously unrepentant. + +He said, "You must get a lot of laughs out of it. If I say, it seems to me +democracy is a good thing, you give me an argument about the superiority +of rule by an elite. If I say anarchism is ridiculous, you dredge up an +opinion that it's man's highest ethic. You must laugh yourself to sleep at +nights. You and Metaxa and Jakes and every other agent in Section G. +Everybody is in on the Tog gag but the sucker." + +"Sometimes there are amusing elements to the work," Lee Chang conceded, +demurely. + +"Just one more thing I'd like to ask," Ronny rapped. "This first +assignment, agents are given. Is it always to look for Tommy Paine?" + +She looked up at him, said nothing, but her eyes were questioning. + +"Don't worry," he snapped. "I've already found out who Paine is." + +"Ah?" She was suddenly interested. "Then I'm glad I ordered that other +probationary agent to leave. Evidently, he hasn't. Obviously, I didn't +want the two of you comparing notes." + +"No, that would never do," he said bitterly. "Well, this is the end of the +assignment so far as you and I are concerned. I'm heading back for Earth." + +"Of course," she said. + + ------------------------------------- + +He had time on the way to think it all over, and over and over again, and +a great deal of it simply didn't make sense. He had enough information to +be disillusioned, sick at heart. To have crumbled an idealistic edifice +that had taken a lifetime to build. A lifetime? At least three. His father +and his grandfather before him had had the dream. He'd been weaned on the +idealistic purposes of the United Planets and man's fated growth into the +stars. + +He was a third-generation dreamer of participating in the glory. His +grandfather had been a citizen of Earth and gave up a commercial position +to take a job that amounted to little more than a janitor in an obscure +department of Interplanetary Financial Clearing. He wanted to get into the +big job, into space, but never made it. Ronny's father managed to work up +to the point where he was a supervisor in Interplanetary Medical Exchange, +in the tabulating department. He, too, had wanted into space, and never +made it. Ronny had loved them both. In a way fulfilling his own dreams had +been a debt he owed them, because at the same time he was fulfilling +theirs. + +And now this. All that had been gold, was suddenly gilted lead. The dream +had become contemptuous nightmare. + +Finally back in Greater Washington, he went immediately from the +shuttleport to the Octagon. His Bureau of Investigation badge was enough +to see him through the guide-guards and all the way through to the office +of Irene Kasansky. + +She looked up at him quickly. "Hi," she said. "Ronny Bronston, isn't it?" + +"That's right. I want to see Commissioner Metaxa." + +She scowled. "I can't work you in now. How about Sid Jakes?" + +He said, "Jakes is in charge of the Tommy Paine routine, isn't he?" + +She shot a sharper look up at him. "That's right," she said warily. + +"All right," Ronny said. "I'll see Jakes." + +Her deft right hand slipped open a drawer in her desk. "You'd better leave +your gun here," she said. "I've known probationary agents to get excited, +in my time." + +He looked at her. + +And she looked back, her gaze level. + +Ronny Bronston shrugged, slipped the Model H from under his armpit and +tossed it into the drawer. + +Irene Kasansky went back to her work. "You know the way," she said. + +This time Ronny Bronston pushed open the door to Sid Jakes' office without +knocking. The Section G supervisor was poring over reports on his desk. He +looked up and grinned his Sid Jakes' grin. + +"Ronny!" he said. "Welcome back. You know, you're one of the quickest men +ever to return from a Tommy Paine assignment. I was talking to Lee Chang +only a day or so ago. She said you were on your way." + +Ronny grunted, his anger growing within him. He lowered himself into one +of the room's heavy chairs, and glared at the other. + +Sid Jakes chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Before we go any +further, just to check, who is Tommy Paine?" + +Ronny snapped, "You are." + +The supervisor's eyebrows went up. + +Ronny said, "You and Ross Metaxa and Lee Chang Chu--and all the rest of +Section G. Section G is Tommy Paine." + +"Good man!" Sid Jakes chortled. He flicked a switch on his order box. +"Irene," he said, "how about clearing me through to the commissioner? I +want to take Ronny in for his finals." + +Irene snapped back something and Sid Jakes switched off and turned to +Ronny happily. "Let's go," he said. "Ross is free for a time." + +Ronny Bronston said nothing. He followed the other. The rage within him +was still mounting. + +In the months that had elapsed since Ronny Bronston had seen Ross Metaxa +the latter had changed not at all. His clothing was still sloppy, his eyes +bleary with lack of sleep or abundance of alcohol--or both. His expression +was still sour and skeptical. + +He looked up at their entry and scowled, and made no effort to rise and +shake hands. He said to Ronny sourly, "O.K., sound off and get it over +with. I haven't too much time this afternoon." + +Ronny Bronston was just beginning to feel tentacles of cold doubt, but he +suppressed them. The boiling anger was uppermost. He said flatly, "All my +life I've been a dedicated United Planets man. All my life I've considered +its efforts the most praiseworthy and greatest endeavor man has ever +attempted." + +"Of course, old chap," Jakes told him cheerfully. "We know all that, or +you wouldn't ever have been chosen as an agent for Section G." + +Ronny looked at him in disgust. "I've resigned that position, Jakes." + +Jakes grinned back at him. "To the contrary, you're now in the process of +receiving permanent appointment." + +Ronny snorted his disgust and turned back to Metaxa. "Section G is a +secret department of the Bureau of Investigation devoted to subverting +Article One of the United Planets Charter." + +Metaxa nodded. + +"You don't deny it?" + +Metaxa shook his head. + +"Article One," Ronny snapped, "is the basic foundation of the Charter +which every member of UP and particularly every citizen of United Planets, +such as ourselves, has sworn to uphold. But the very reason for the +existence of this Section G is to interfere with the internal affairs of +member planets, to subvert their governments, their economic systems, +their religions, their ideals, their very way of life." + +Metaxa yawned and reached into a desk drawer for his bottle. "That's +right," he said. "Anybody like a drink?" + +Ronny ignored him. "I'm surprised I didn't catch on even sooner," he said. +"On New Delos Mouley Hassan, the local agent, knew the God-King was going +to be assassinated. He brought in extra agents and even a detail of Space +Forces guards for the emergency. He probably engineered the assassination +himself." + +"Nope," Jakes said. "We seldom go _that_ far. Local rebels did the actual +work, but, admittedly, we knew what they were planning. In fact, I've got +a sneaking suspicion that Mouley Hassan provided them with the bomb. That +lad's a bit too dedicated." + +"But _why_," Ronny blurted. "That's deliberately interfering with internal +affairs. If the word got out, every planet in UP would resign." + +"Probably no planet in the system that needed a change so badly," Metaxa +growled. "If they were ever going to swing into real progress, that +hierarchy of priests had to go." He snorted. "An immortal God-King, yet." + +Ronny pressed on. "That was bad enough, but how about this planet Mother, +where the colonists had attempted to return to nature and live in the +manner man did in earliest times." + +"Most backward planet in the UP," Metaxa said sourly. "They just had to be +roused." + +"And Kropotkin!" Ronny blurted. "Don't you understand, those people were +_happy_ there. Their lives were simple, uncomplicated, and they had +achieved a happiness that--" + +Metaxa came to his feet. He scowled at Ronny Bronston and growled, +"Unfortunately, the human race can't take the time out for happiness. Come +along, I want to show you something." + +He swung around the corner of his desk and made his way toward a +ceiling-high bookcase. + +Ronny stared after him, taken off guard, but Sid Jakes was grinning his +amusement. + +Ross Metaxa pushed a concealed button and the bookcase slid away to one +side to reveal an elevator beyond. + +"Come along," Metaxa repeated over his shoulder. He entered the elevator, +followed by Jakes. + +There was nothing else to do. Ronny Bronston followed them, his face still +flushed with the angered argument. + +The elevator dropped, how far, Ronny had no idea. It stopped and they +emerged into a plain, sparsely furnished vault. Against one wall was a +boxlike affair that reminded Ronny of nothing so much as a deep-freeze. + +For all practical purposes, that's what it was. Ross Metaxa led him over +and they stared down into its glass-covered interior. + +Ronny's eyes bugged. The box contained the partly charred body of an +animal approximately the size of a rabbit. No, not an animal. It had +obviously once been clothed, and its limbs were obviously those of a tool +using life form. + +Metaxa and Jakes were staring down at it solemnly, for once no inane grin +on the supervisor's face. And that of Ross Metaxa was more weary than +ever. + +Ronny said finally, "What is it?" But he knew. + +"You tell us," Metaxa growled sourly. + +"It's an intelligent life form," Ronny blurted. "Why has it been kept +secret?" + +"Let's go on back upstairs," Metaxa sighed. + +Back in his office he said, "Now I go into my speech. Shut up for a +while." He poured himself a drink, not offering one to the other two. +"Ronny," he said, "man isn't alone in the galaxy. There's other +intelligent life. Dangerously intelligent." + +In spite of himself Ronny reacted in amusement. "That little creature down +there? The size of a small monkey?" As soon as he said it, he realized the +ridiculousness of his statement. + +Metaxa grunted. "Obviously, size means nothing. That little fellow down +there was picked up by one of our Space Forces scouts over a century ago. +How long he'd been drifting through space, we don't know. Possibly only +months, but possibly hundreds of centuries. But however long he's proof +that man is not alone in the galaxy. And we have no way of knowing when +the expanding human race will come up against this other intelligence--and +whoever it was fighting." + + [Illustration.] + +"But," Ronny protested, "you're assuming they're aggressive. Perhaps +coming in contact with these aliens will be the best thing that ever +happened to man. Possibly that little fellow down there is the most +benevolent creature ever evolved." + +Metaxa looked at him strangely. "Let's hope so," he said. "However, when +found he was in what must have been a one-man scout. He was dead and his +craft was blasted and torn--obviously from some sort of weapons' fire. His +scout was obviously a military craft, highly equipped with what could only +be weapons, most of them so damaged our engineers haven't been able to +figure them out. To the extent they have been able to reconstruct them, +they're scared silly. No, there's no two ways about it, our little rabbit +sized intelligence down in the vault was killed in an interplanetary +conflict. And sooner or later, Ronny, man in his explosion into the stars +is going to run into either or both of the opponents in that conflict." + +Ronny Bronston slumped back into his chair, his brain running out a dozen +leads at once. + +Metaxa and Jakes remained quiet, looking at him speculatively. + +Ronny said slowly, "Then the purpose of Section G is to push the member +planets of UP along the fastest path of progress, to get them ready for +the eventual, inevitable meeting." + +"Not just Section G," Metaxa growled, "but all of the United Planets +organization, although most of the rank and file don't even know our basic +purpose. Section G? We do the dirty work, and are proud to do it, by every +method we can devise." + +Ronny leaned forward. "But look," he said. "Why not simply inform all +member planets of this common danger? They'd all unite in the effort to +meet the common potential foe. Anything standing in the way would be +brushed aside." + +Metaxa shook his head wearily. "Would they? Is a common danger enough for +man to change his institutions, particularly those pertaining to property, +power and religion? History doesn't show it. Delve back into early times +and you'll recall, for an example, that in man's early discovery of +nuclear weapons he almost destroyed himself. Three or four different +socio-economic systems co-existed at that time and all would have +preferred destruction rather than changes in their social forms." + +Jakes said, in an unwonted quiet tone, "No, until someone comes up with a +better answer it looks as though Section G is going to have to continue +the job of advancing man's institutions, in spite of himself." + +The commissioner made it clearer. "It's not as though we deal with all our +member planets. It isn't necessary. But you see, Ronny, the best colonists +are usually made up of the, well, crackpot element. Those who are +satisfied, stay at home. America, for instance, was settled by the +adventurers, the malcontents, the non-conformists, the religious cultists, +and even fugitives and criminals of Europe. So it is in the stars. A group +of colonists go out with their dreams, their schemes, their far-out ideas. +In a few centuries they've populated their new planet, and often do very +well indeed. But often not and a nudge, a push, from Section G can start +them up another rung or so of the ladder of social evolution. Most of them +don't want the push. Few cultures, if any, realize they are mortal; like +Hitler's Reich, they expect to last at least a thousand years. They resist +any change--even change for the better." + + ------------------------------------- + +Ronny's defenses were crumbling, but he threw one last punch. "How do you +know the changes you make are for the better?" + +Metaxa shrugged heavy shoulders. "It's sometimes difficult to decide, but +we aim for changes that will mean an increased scientific progress, a more +advanced industrial technology, more and better education, the opening of +opportunity for every member of the culture to exert himself to the full +of his abilities. The last is particularly important. Too many cultures, +even those that think of themselves as particularly advanced, suppress the +individual by one means or another." + +Ronny was still mentally reeling with the magnitude of it all. "But how +can you account for the fact that these alien intelligences haven't +already come in contact with us?" + +Metaxa shrugged again. "The Solar System, our sun, is way out in a +sparsely populated spiral arm of our galaxy. Undoubtedly, these others are +further in toward the center. We have no way of knowing how far away they +are, or how many sun systems they dominate, or even how many other empires +of intelligent life forms there are. All we know is that there are other +intelligences in the galaxy, that they are near enough like us to live on +the same type planets. The more opportunity man has to develop before the +initial contact takes place, the stronger bargaining position, or military +position, as the case may be, he'll be in." + +Sid Jakes summed up the Tommy Paine business for Ronny's sake. "We need +capable agents badly, but we need dedicated and efficient ones. We can't +afford anything less. So when we come upon potential Section G operatives +we send them out with a trusted Tog to get a picture of these United +Planets of ours. It's the quickest method of indoctrination we've hit +upon; the agent literally teaches himself by observation and +participation. Usually, it takes four or five stops, on this planet and +that, before the probationary agent begins sympathizing with the efforts +of this elusive Tommy Paine. Especially since every Section G agent he +runs into, including the Tog, of course, fills him full of stories of +Tommy Paine's activities. + +"You were one of the quickest to stumble on the true nature of our Section +G. After calling at only three planets you saw that we ourselves are Tommy +Paine." + +"But ... but what's the end?" Ronny said plaintively. "You say our job is +advancing man, even in spite of himself when it comes to that. We start at +the bottom of the evolutionary ladder in a condition of savagery, clan +communism in government, simple animism in religion, and slowly we +progress through barbarism to civilization, through paganism to the higher +ethical codes, through chattel slavery and then feudalism and beyond. What +is the final end, the Ultima Thule?" + +Metaxa was shaking his head again. He poured himself another drink, +offered the bottle this time to the others. "We don't know," he said +wearily, "perhaps there is none. Perhaps there is always another rung on +this evolutionary ladder." He punched at his order box and said, "Irene, +have them do up a silver badge for Ronny." + +Ronny Bronston took a deep breath and reached for the brown bottle. +"Well," he said. "I suppose I'm ready to ask for my first assignment." He +thought for a moment. "By the way, if there's any way to swing it, I +wouldn't mind working with Supervisor Lee Chang Chu." + +THE END + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ULTIMA THULE*** + + + +CREDITS + + +October 25, 2009 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by Greg Weeks, David King, and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 30334.txt or 30334.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/3/3/30334/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. 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