Her mouth expressed disapproval by rucking down on the sides, which was all very attractive but also irritating. She said, “There are two thousand, four hundred and thirty-six member planets in the UP, I’d think an agent of Section G would be up on the basic situation on each.” He had her there. He said snidely, “Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the number is two thousand, four hundred and thirty-four.” “Then,” she nodded agreeably, “membership has changed since this morning when Menalaus and Aldebaran Three were admitted. Have two planets dropped out?” “Look,” he said, “let’s stop bickering. What’s the word on New Delos?” “Did you ever read Frazer’s ‘Golden Bough’?” she said. “No.” “You should. At any rate, New Delos is a theocracy. A priesthood elite rules it. A God-King, who is immortal, holds absolute authority. The strongest of superstition plus an efficient inquisition, keeps the people under control.” “Sounds terrible,” Ronny growled. “Why? Possibly the government is extremely efficient and under it the planet progressing at a rate in advance of UP averages.” He stared at her in surprise. She said, “Would you rather be ruled by the personal, arbitrary whims of supremely wise men, or by laws formulated by a mob?” It stopped him momentarily. In all his adult years, he couldn’t remember ever meeting an intelligent, educated person who had been opposed to the democratic theory. “Wait a minute, now,” he said. “Who decides that they’re supremely wise men who are doing this arbitrary ruling? Let any group come to power, by whatever means, and they’ll soon tell you they’re an elite. But let’s get back to New Delos, from what you’ve said so far, the people are held in a condition of slavery.” “What’s wrong with slavery?” Tog said mildly. He all but glared at her. “Are you kidding?” “I seldom jest,” Tog said primly. “Under the proper conditions, slavery can be the most suitable system for a people.” “Under _what_ conditions!” “Have you forgotten your Earth history to the point where Egypt, Greece and Rome mean nothing to you? Man made some of his outstanding progress under slavery. And do you contend that man’s lot is necessarily miserable given slavery? As far back as Aesop we know of slaves who have reached the heights in their society. Slaves sometimes could and did become the virtual rulers in ancient countries.” She shrugged prettily. “The prejudices which you hold today, on Earth, do not necessarily apply to all time, nor to all places.” He said, impatiently, “Look, Tog, we can go into this further, later. Let’s get back to New Delos. What happened?”