"People'd never go for that junk," interrupted the Mind. "Everyone knows Venus is swampy." "Everyone whose reading tastes matured no further than Edgar Rice Burroughs!" The Mind, with a if-you-know-so-much-why-aintcha-rich look, sneered, "How come you know all about it?" Speechless, I spread my hands. This joker was leading with his chin, forcing the fight. I had to hit him again; if I lost, I lost good. "A person," I said slowly and rhythmically, "with normal intelligence and a minute interest in the universe, will keep step with the major sciences, at least on an elementary level. I must stress the qualification of normal intelligence." The Mind, face contorted, was determined to get me. I was in a very vulnerable spot; more important, so was the idea. Mind began an emotional tirade, and mentally I damned him. It couldn't have mattered to him what environment we used, but he was politicking where he shouldn't. There was silence when he stopped. This was the crux; The Boss would decide. I held my breath. He said, "We'll make it hot and dusty." The realists had won; the rest climbed on the bandwagon but quick; and the temple was cleansed. It was natural--because at the moment I was fair-haired--for the project to become mine. God knows, I worked hard for it. I'd have to watch the Mind, though; he would make things as difficult as possible. However, he'd proved he was the one person I wasn't seeking. One down and 2,499,999,999 to go. Within a few days, a new opposition coalition formed, headed by the Mind. Fortunately, they helped. I'd hesitated on one last point. Pushed. I gambled the momentum of the initial enthusiasm would carry it. * * * * * Originally the plan was a series of rooms, glassed off, that people could stare into. There was something much better; engineering and I spent 36 hours straight, figuring costs, juggling space and equipment, until the modification didn't look too expensive--juggling is always possible in technical proposals. For the results, the cost was worth it. I hand-carried the proposal in. Why not take people _through_ the rooms? We could even design a simulated, usable spacesuit. There'd be airlock doors between the rooms for effectiveness, insulation, economy. No children under ten allowed; no adults over 50. They'd go through in groups of 10 or 11. Sure, I realized this was the most elaborate, most ambitious concession ever planned. The greatest ever attempted in its line, it would cost--both us and the public. But people will pay for value. They'd go for a buck-and-a-half or even two; the lines of those filing past the windows, at 50 cents a crack, would also bring in the dough. They bought it. Not all--they nixed my idea of creating exact environmental conditions; and I didn't insist, luck and Hollywood being what they are.