e 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