as a little raw, but no worse than other gold rushes--few of the
stampeders ever found the gold they went after. The captain of one of
the rockets told me that the first few months the colonists were trying
to stow away on the returning ships. Now they send messages to friends
and relatives to come before the opportunity is gone--that's why you've
seen this better element. Our lies will soon be forgotten, and crops and
foods and minerals will be coming from Venus, and better people will go
to meet the diminished challenge on our brave new world."

Rod stood up. "Well, my compliments for a job well done, Jaimie. When do
you expect to go and live there yourself? You'll have to soon, won't
you, to complete the Project Record in residence?"

Jaimie nodded. "About six months from now, I think. Why?"

"Good," Rod exclaimed. "We can all go together."

"What are you planning to do? Volunteer?"

"The whole personnel staff will be going. Here's just what we need--a
young pioneer society! We can get adequate data for future selection, a
better idea of what kind of person a colony needs at different stages of
growth." Rod grinned. "After all, your method was pretty sloppy, even if
it did work. And you sent far too many wrong people. Once we have some
good data ... anything you can do, we can do better!"

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