was born here," Jaimie grinned. "Paine didn't come over in the
first wave. And I suppose General Carlson was Miles Standish. Maybe that
kid journalist you saw was Paine's counterpart. No, Rod--the bait I held
out attracted the same kind of people initially as it always has. You
have been compromising all along on the factors you really wanted in
order to get young, healthy, moral people to Venus. The answer is simply
this: Pioneers are not necessarily young, healthy, or moral. So you
didn't get what you wanted.

"You see, America wasn't only founded by pilgrims. They were actually a
minority here. We were settled by promoters, trappers, bonded servants,
exiled British deportees, pickpockets and thieves. We were explored by
French and Spanish pirates. The better element in Europe didn't come
here at first--why should they? It was dangerous. Pioneering was to the
advantage of the worst elements. They came by court order, out of
necessity, for adventure. They came for gold more than for freedom; for
a new chance more than for a new religion.

"Australia was set up as a penal colony. Others went there for gold, or
to start over where they weren't known. That's the kind of person who
settles a new land--the misfits: too impulsive, drunkards, weaklings,
convicts, and fugitives from justice. Too sick in mind and body to make
a go of it where they are.

"So we announced that there was a brand new world with a new chance for
everyone on it. We implied that there was wealth. We told them
everything about Venus that brought the English to America, the Spanish
to South America, the Easterners to the West, and the Middlewesterners
to California. We didn't hunt for pioneers. They came to us."

* * * * *

Rod refilled his glass thoughtfully. "But what kind of a society will
men like that create? A fighting, lawless structure...."

"That's right. And the lawless will eliminate themselves by their very
activities. Like the early West. While the doctors come in to treat
wounds, and the lawyers to plead their cases; while their wives and the
other wives will start schools and bring in school-teachers. That
society will purge itself, Rod--many of the worst will become good
citizens out of meeting the challenge of a new planet, and the rest will
disappear."

"Well, then, what about the gold story?" Rod asked. "Won't they be angry
with everyone connected with the project because of the hoax?"

"That w