"You see," Flam-harol explained, "we deserve those jobs." "Well, what about the current bio-techs?" "Oh, them. Why, they'll be menials, of course. Not discriminated against, not really; it's just that they've held their lofty positions too long." "It wasn't their fault--" Ker-jon began. Flam-harol waved a hand deprecatingly. "If you're worried about yourself and that girl--what's her name?--forget it. You'll be an exception. I figured on making you go-betweens, assuring peaceful relations between mutants and non-mutants." "No, that wasn't it at all. I still don't like--" "We have voted, have we not?" "Y-yes." "Very well. Next, scaled mutants shall be astro-techs." "You can't do that!" Ker-jon cried. "A man doesn't necessarily fit a job because he happens to be one type of mutant or another. I'd suggest a series of tests, instead; let each man fill the job for which he is qualified." "Unfair," Flam-harol said. "The non-mutants have had training; they'd win all the top positions. Shall we vote?" Three to one. "Albinos will be police and administrative workers. Finally--" "Just a minute. Don't you realize that albinos have weak constitutions? You're relegating them to a position which they won't be able to fill." Flam-harol smiled blandly. "If the police are weak, then the real power will remain in the hands of the bio-technicians. That will make for an era of peace and good-will, and it will assure one thing: we'll never have a military government." "I hope you're right about that peace and good-will," one of the ridge-heads said. "All week long, there's been rioting in the 'low-decks area. Non-mutants on one side, mutants on the other." "That will end," Flam-harol assured him. "I have confidence. Now, the job will be to get things going as quickly as possible. I want those directives carried out at once. The sooner we begin, the sooner we mutants will have a chance to live the way we should...." _This is what I fought for_, Ker-jon thought. _So one tyrant could take the place of another. Maybe Flam-harol doesn't know it; probably he'd be the last one to admit it. Nevertheless...._ Aloud, Ker-jon said: "I resign." "You what?" "I resign. I quit. Run the Ark any way you like, Flam-harol. I want no part of it." 4 Ker-jon said, "Hello." The albino blinked rapidly. "Ker-jon, is it not?" "It looks like you have another recruit. That is, if you're still in business." The albino chuckled. "We're in business, young man. As a matter of fact, we got an additional recruit the day before yesterday. You know her, I think." Cluny-ann came in from the next room, looking very trim and pretty in her jumper. "It's about time you woke up," she said, but then Ker-jon took her hand and held it, and soon she forgot all about being contrary. She said, "Wi'son-gil says we're going to have a rough time of it."