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nothing upon which to base a planetary theory; and so it is not
strange that astronomy was an unknown science to them, that the sun
and the stars did not exist insofar as they were concerned.
For four hours they listened to me and questioned me; then they
instructed Ero Shan and Herlak to withdraw to an anteroom with me
and wait there until we were again summoned.
We did not have long to wait. In less than fifteen minutes we were
recalled before the board.
"It is our unanimous opinion," announced Kantum Shogan, "that
your value of humanity far outweighs the danger that it incurs from
your inherited defects. You are to live and enjoy the freedom of
Havatoo. Your duties will consist of instructing others in that new
science which you call astronomy and in applying it for the welfare of
humanity.
"As you are now the only member of your class you may live in any
section of the city you choose. Your requisitions for all that you
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require for your personal needs and the advancement of your
department will be honored by the Sera Tartum.
"For the time being I recommend you to the guidance of Korgan
Sentar Ero Shan as you are a stranger to Havatoo and will wish to
become familiar with our customs and our manners."
With that he dismissed us.
"Before I go may I ask what is to become of the girl, Nalte, who was
taken with me yesterday?" I inquired.
"She was considered fit to remain in the yorgan section of Havatoo,"
he replied. "When her duties have been definitely determined and her
living quarters assigned her I will let you know where you may find
her."
It was with a feeling of relief that I left the Sera Tartum with Ero Shan
and Herlak. Nalte was safe, and so was I. Now if I could only find
Duare!
I spent the following several days familiarizing myself with the city
and purchasing such things as I required, an of which were suggested
by Ero Shan. Among them was a car. It was very easy--all I had to do
was sign a voucher.
"But what check have they on my espenditures?" I asked my friend. I
do not even know how much has been placed to my credit."
"Why should they check what you spend?" he asked.
"But I might be dishonest. I might buy things for which I had no need
and resell them."
Ero Shan laughed. "They know you will not do that," he assured me.
"If the psychologist who examined you had not known that you are an
honorable man, not even your knowledge of astronomy would have
saved you; that is one vice we will not tolerate in Havatoo. When
Mankar destroyed the corrupt and the vicious he almost completely
eradicated the breeds in Havatoo, and during the many generations of
men that have followed him we have succeeded in completing the
work he inaugurated. There are no dishonest men in Havatoo."
I often talked with Ero Shan about Duare. I wanted to cross the river
to Kormor and search for her, but he convinced me that it would be
suicidal to attempt it. And in view of the fact that I had no reason to
believe that she was there I reluctantly put the idea away from me.
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"If I had an airplane," I said, "I would find a way to search Kormor."
What is an airplane?" asked Ero Shan, and when I explained it he
became very much interested, as flying has never been developed in
Amtor, at least in those portions with which I am familiar.
The idea intrigued my companion to such an extent that he could
scarcely talk to anything else. I explained the various types of both
heavier and lighter than air ships and described the rocket in which I
had traversed space from Earth to Venus. In the evening he had me
sketch the several types I had explained. His interest seemed to be
becoming an obsession.
One evening when I returned to the house I now shared with Ero Shan
I found a message awaiting me. It was from an under-clerk of the
board of examiners and it gave the address of the house in which
Nalte lived.
As I was now familiar with the city I started out in my car after the
evening meal to visit Nalte. I went alone as Ero Shan had another
engagement.
I found the house in which Nalte lived in the yorgan section of a quiet
street not far from the Korgan Lat. the Avenue of Warriors. The house
was occupied by women who cleaned the preparatory schools on the
Korgan Lat nearby. One of their number admitted me and said that
she would call Nalte; then she conducted me to a living room in which
were eight or ten women. One of them was playing a musical
instrument, the others were painting, embroidering, or reading.
As I entered, they stopped what they were doing and greeted me
pleasantly. There was not one among them that was not beautiful, and
all were intelligent and cultured. These were the scrub women of
Havatoo! Breeding had done for the people of Havatoo what it has
done for our prize-winning dairy herds; it has advanced them all
toward perfection.
Nalte was glad to see me, and as I wished to visit with her alone I
asked her to come for a ride with me.
"I am glad that you passed your examination successfully," I said as
we started toward the Korgan Lat.
Nalte laughed joyously. "I just squeezed through," she admitted. "I
wonder what they would say back in Andoo if they knew that I, the
daughter of their jong, was considered fit only to scrub floors in
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