by C. C. Beck
"Sounds like a regularparadise."
Tog made a negative sound.
"Well, what's wrong with Shangri-La?" Ronny said impatiently.
"Static," she said briefly.
He looked at her. "It sounds to me as though it's developed a near perfectsocio-economic system. What do you mean, static?"
"No push, no drive," Tog said definitely. "Everyone--what is the oldterm?--everyone has it made. The place is stagnating. I wouldn't besurprised to see Tommy Paine show up there sooner or later."
Ronny said, "Look, since we've known each other, have I ever said anythingyou agree with?"
Tog raised her delicate eyebrows. "Why, Ronny. You know perfectly well weboth agreed that the eggs for breakfast were quite inedible."
Ronny came to his feet again. Considering her size, she certainly was anirritating baggage. "I think I'll go to my room and see if I can get anyinspirations on tracking down our quarry."
"Good night, Ronny," she said demurely.
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They ran into a minor difficulty upon arrival at New Delos. The captaincalled both Ronny Bronston and Tog Lee Chang Chu to the bridge.
He nodded in the direction of the communications screen. A bald headed,robed character--obviously a priest--scowled at them.
Captain Woiski said, "The Sub-Bishop informs me that the provisionalgovernment has ruled that any spacecraft landing on New Delos cannot takeoff again without permission and that every individual who lands, evenUnited Planets personnel, will need an exit visa before being allowed todepart."
Ronny said, "Then you can't land?"
The captain said reasonably, "My destination is Merlini. I've gone out ofmy way slightly to drop you off here. But I can't afford to take thechance of having my ship tied up for what might be an indefinite period.Evidently, there's considerably civil disorder down there."
From the screen the priest snapped, "That is an inaccurate manner ofdescribing the situation."
"Sorry," the captain said dryly.
Ronny Bronston said desperately, "But, captain, Miss Tog and I simply haveto land." He reached for his badge. "High priority, Bureau ofInvestigation."
The captain shrugged his hefty shoulders. "Sorry, I have no instructionsthat allow me to risk tying up my ship. Here's a possibility. Can youpilot a landing craft? I could spare you one, then you and your assistantwould be the only ones involved. You could turn it over to whatever SpaceForces base we have here."
Ronny said miserably, "No. I'm not a space pilot."
"I am," Tog said softly. "The idea sounds excellent."
"We shall expect you," the Sub-Bishop said. The screen went blank.
Tog Lee Chang Chu piloted a landing craft with the same verve that sheseemed to be able to handle any other responsibility. As he sat in theseat next to her, Ronny Bronston took in her practiced flicking of thecontrols from the side of his eyes. He wondered vaguely at the efficiencyof such Section G officials as Metaxa and Jakes that they would assign anunknown quality such as himself to a task as important as running downTommy Paine, and then as an assistant provide him with an experiencedoperative such as Tog. The bureaucratic mind can be a dilly, he decided.Was the fact that she was a rather delicately constructed girl a factor?He felt the weight of the Model-H gun nestled under his left armpit.Perhaps in the clutch Section G preferred men as agents.
They swooped into a landing that brought them as close to the controltower as was practical. In a matter of moments there was a guard of twentyor more sloppily uniformed men about their small craft.
Tog made a move. "Welcoming committee," she said.
[Illustration.]
They climbed out the circular port, and flashed their United PlanetsBureau of Investigation badges to the youngish looking soldier who seemedin command. He was indecisive.
"United Planets?" he said. "All I know is I'm supposed to arrest anybodylanding."
Ronny snapped, "We're to be taken immediately to United Planetsheadquarters."
"Well, I don't know about that. I don't take orders from foreigners."
One of his men was nervously fingering the trigger of his submachine gun.
Ronny's mouth went dry. He had the feeling of being high, high on a rockface, inadequately belayed from above.
Tog said smoothly, "But, major, I'm sure whoever issued your orders had noexpectation of a special delegation from the United Planets coming tocongratulate your new authorities on their success. Of course, it'sunknown to arrest a delegation from United Planets."
"It is?" he frowned at her. "I mean, you are?"
"Yes," Tog said sweetly.
Ronny took the hint. "Where can we find a vehicle, major, to get us to thecapital and to United Planets headquarters? Evidently we arrived before wewere expected. There should have been a big welcoming committee here."
"Oh," the obviously recently promoted lad said hesitantly. "Well, Isuppose we can make arrangements. This way please." He grinned at Tog asthey walked toward the administration building. "Do all girls dress likeyou on Earth?"
"Well, no," she said demurely.
"That's too bad," he said gallantly.
"Why, major!" Tog said, keeping her eyes on the tarmac.
At the administration building there was little of order, but eventuallythey managed to arrange for their transportation. Luckily, they weresupplied with a chauffeur driven helio-car.
Luckily, because without the chauffeur to help them run the gauntlet theywould have been held up by parades, demonstrations and monstrous streetmeetings a dozen times before they ever reached their destination. Twice,Ronny stopped short of drawing his gun only by a fraction when halfdrunken demonstrators stopped them.
The driver, a wispy, sad looking type, shook his head. "There's no goingback now," he told them over his shoulder. "No going back. Last week I wasall with the rest, I never did believe David the One was really Immortal.But you was just used to the idea, see? It'd always been that way, withthe priests running everything and we was used to it. Now I wish we wasstill that way. At least you knew how you stood, see? Now, what's going tohappen?"
"That's an interesting question," Tog said politely.
Ronny said, "Possibly you'll have the chance to build a better world,now."
The driver shot a contemptuous look over his shoulder. "Better world? Whatdo I want with a better world? I just don't want to be bothered. I've beengetting my three squares a day, got a nice little flat for my family. Howdo I know it's not going to be a worse world?"
"That's always a possibility," Tog told him. "Do most people seem to feelthe same?"
"Practically everybody I know does," he said glumly. "But the fat's in thefire now. The priests are trying to hold on but their government isfalling apart all over the place."
"Well," Ronny said, "at least you can figure just about anything in theway of a new government will be better than one based on superstition andinquisition. It couldn't get worse."
"Things can always get worse," the other contradicted him sadly.
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They left the cab before an impressively tall, many windowed building incity center. As they mounted the steps, Ronny frowned at her. "You seemedto be encouraging that man in his pessimism. So far as I can see, the bestthing that ever happened to this planet was toppling that phonypriesthood."
"Perhaps," she said agreeably. "However, the man's mind was an ossifiedone. A surprisingly large percentage of people have them, especially whenit comes to institutions such as religion and government. We weren't goingto be able to teach him anything, but it was possible to learn from him."
Ronny grunted his disgust. "What could we possibly learn from him?"
Tog said mildly, "We could learn what people of the street were thinking.It might give us some ideas about what direction the new government willtake."
They approached the portals of the building and were halted by an arme
dSpace Forces guard of half a dozen men. Their sergeant saluted, taking intheir obvious other-planet clothing.
"Identifications, please," he said briskly.
They showed their badges and were passed on through. Ronny said to him,"Much trouble, sergeant?"
The other shrugged. "No. Just precautions, sir. We've been here only threeor four weeks. Civil disturbance. We're used to it. Were over on Montezumatwo basic months ago. Now there was _real_ trouble. Had to shoot our wayout."
Tog called, "Coming Ronny? I have this elevator