"What are we learning? And, above all, are we certain that Ertene's culture is best for civilization? How may we tell? The strong and best adapted survive, and since we are no longer striving against the lesser forces of Nature on our planet, and indeed, are no longer striving against those of antisocial thought among our own people--against whom or what do we fight? "Guy Maynard, you are young and intelligent. Perhaps by some whimsy of fate you may be the deciding factor in Ertene's aimlessness. We are here, Guy. We are at the gates to the future. My real reason for bringing you to the Center of Ertene is to have you present your case to the Council." He took Guy's arm and led him through the door at the end of the corridor. They went into the gilt-and-ivory room with the vast hemispherical dome and as the door slowly closed behind them, Guy Maynard, Terran, and Charalas, Ertinian, stood facing a quarter-circle of ornate desks behind which sat the Council. Obviously, they had been waiting. IV. Guy Maynard looked reproachfully at Charalas. He felt that he had been tricked, that Charalas had kicked the bottom out of his argument and then had forced him into the debate with but an impromptu defense. He wondered how this discussion was to be conducted, and while he was striving to collect a lucid story, part of his mind heard Charalas going through the usual procedure for recording purposes. "Who is this man?" "He is Junior Executive Guy Maynard of the Terran Space Patrol." "Explain his title." "It is a rank of official service. It denotes certain abilities and responsibilities." "Can you explain the position of his rank with respect to other ratings of more or less responsibility?" Charalas counted off on his fingers. "From the lowest rank upward, the following titles are used: Junior Aide, Senior Aide, Junior Executive, Senior Executive, Sector Commander, Patrol Marshal, Sector Marshal, and Space Marshal." "These are the commissioned officers? Are there other ratings?" "Yes, shall I name them?" "Prepare them for the record. There is no need of recounting the noncommissioned officials." "I understand." "How did Guy Maynard come to Ertene?" "Maynard was rescued from a derelict spaceship." "By whom?" "Thomakein." "Am I to assume that Thomakein brought him to Ertene for study?" "That assumption is correct." "The knowledge of the system of Sol is complete?" "Between the information furnished by Guy Maynard and the observations made by Thomakein, the knowledge of Sol's planets is sufficient. More may be learned before Ertene loses contact, but for the time, it is adequate." "And Guy Maynard is present for the purpose of explaining the Terran wishes in the question of whether Ertene is to remain here?" "Correct."