nt 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--th