Birthright

“Nothing,” he replied. “How do you know this is so?”

“In your work, you deal with figures,” said Miss Moore. “In mine, I deal with people, human and nonhuman alike. At a convention on Lodin XI, this was the prime topic of discussion among the alien members present, nor did they seem intent on hiding their feelings or their purposes. They want value received for their economic contributions to the Republic.” “So they want a piece of the action, do they?” asked Ngana. “How well organized are they?” “Very,” said Miss Moore. “As I said, Mr. Ngana, you've done your job too well. They now possess an economic club—a clubyou gave them—to threaten us with.” “Have we any corroborative reports?” Ngana asked Renyan. “I've had feelers out all day,” said Renyan, “and while the movement seems to be in its infancy, it definitely exists.”

“Have you contacted Psychology yet?”

“No, Kip,” said Renyan. “I thought we'd better discus all our options first.” “I'll begin by assuming that the Republic isn't crazy about the notion of giving four hundred billion aliens the vote,” said Ngana wryly. “Which means whatever action we decide upon must be aimed at preventing this movement from coming to fruition, correct?” “May I remind you that it was only twenty-six hundred years ago that your own race was held in a slavery more severe than the economic bonds you now shackle these worlds with?” said Miss Moore. “Your point is noted,” said Ngana, “although my own ancestors never left the African continent until long after the American Civil War. And, to be honest with you, Miss Moore, if I were an inhabitant of the Denebian colonies, or Lodin XI, or any other recently assimilated world, I'd be very much in favor of complete and immediate enfranchisement, just as I would have been were I an American slave centuries ago. But I am neither. I am a ranking member of the Republic, charged with perpetuating the interests of my employer. Or to be blunt, I'm one of the Haves. The Have-nots’ arguments appeal to me emotionally, but I run my job with my intellect, not with my heart. And if Man is to fulfill whatever destiny he has in the galaxy and claim whatever birthright is his, he'll reach his goal a lot sooner if he does not allow all of his achievements to become subservient to some alien's notion of fair play and morality, or even his own such notion.”

“How noble!” said Miss Moore sarcastically. “Nobility is a drag on the market. I'm paid for solving problems, not for moralizing them away. I'm sorry that you don't admire my ethics; but on the other hand, I don't think too much of your pragmatism.” “Kip,” broke in Renyan hastily, “wait in the anteroom for me, and check out the ramifications of the problem with Psychology. I'll be with you shortly.” Ngana took his leave, walked to the plush anteroom, and sat down. Renyan walked out a few minutes later, looking somewhat flustered.

“You know, Kip,” he began, “when I called you in we had only one crisis on our hands. Now we have