ing up
some of the problems that have arisen in the two weeks since President
Reynolds left office."

"How is he?" Wong asked. "I knew him, you know. He taught at Venus
University at the same time I did. He was a fine man."

"I'm afraid he's no better," Al said, shaking his head. "We're doing
all we can for him, but he won't even speak to his wife. You know how
difficult it is."

"Yes, I know," Wong said.

They rode downstairs in silence and walked to the Presidential Copter
parked in the street in front of the house. A few guards loitered in
the vicinity, but there were no crowds. They entered the plush copter,
which rose smoothly under its whirling blades and carried them over
the city, landing finally on the lawn of the Executive Mansion.

Chief Justice Herz met them, dressed in a blue business suit, and
after they shook hands he administered the oath.

"Do you, George Wong," he asked, "swear to make every decision you are
asked to make as President of the Solar Union for the benefit of the
people of the Union and in accord with what you believe to be fair and
just, fully cognizant of the fact that the welfare of seventy-five
billion citizens of the Union is dependent on you?"

"I do," George Wong said, through a painfully dry throat that would
barely permit the words to come out.

* * * * *

They all shook hands again. Then Al Grimm led the President across the
grassy lawn, into the mansion, and up to the office that had served
over a thousand Presidents. Wong entered it nervously. It was a large
plain room, severely decorated. Tentatively, he slid into the chair
behind the huge steel desk, and began opening the drawers. He found
them fully stocked with tapes, a recorder, all the other necessities.
The desk and everything else in the room was brand new. There was no
trace anywhere of his predecessors, and he was relieved to find it so.
The Psychology Department at work, he thought.

"While we are moving your effects into the living quarters, Mr.
President," Al said from the doorway, "I wonder if we could start
discussing the problem of the Gnii ... their Ambassadors have
presented an ultimatum, and they demand an answer today."

* * * * *

So soon, President Wong thought. Couldn't he have just a few hours to
get used to his office, to wander through the building, to explore the
green garden that he could see from his barred window stretchin