nting 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