Pirenne banged his hand on the chair

And  he  rates  above the  civilauthority?""Why,  certainly," replied  Hardin,  amiably. "We're  all scholars  more orless. After  all, we're  not so much  a world as a  scientific foundation Dream beauty pro hard sell?

under the direct control of the Emperor."There was  a faint emphasis upon the "Now we're getting  to the nub. Let's put it into language. Terminusis to be a protectorate and to pay tribute.""Not   tribute.   Taxes.   We're  protecting   you.   You   pay  for   it." with  sudden violence. "Let me speak,Hardin. Your eminence, I  don't care a rusty half-credit coin for Anacreon,Smyrno, or  all your  local politics and petty  wars. I tell you  this is aState-supported tax-free institution.""State-supported?  But  we  are  the  State,  Dr. Pirenne,  and  we're  notsupporting."Pirenne rose angrily. "Your eminence, I am the direct representative of?



"杊is  august majesty,  the Emperor,"  chorused Anselm haut  Rodric sourly,"And I am the  direct representative of the King of Anacreon. Anacreon is alot nearer, Dr. Pirenne. ""Let's  get back  to  business," urged  Hardin. "How  would you  take theseso-called  taxes,  your  eminence?  Would you  take  them  in kind:  wheat,potatoes, vegetables, cattle?"The sub-prefect stared. "What  the devil? What do we need with those? We'vegot hefty  surpluses. Gold, of  course. Chromium or vanadium  would be evenbetter, incidentally, if you have it in quantity."Hardin  laughed. "Quantity!  We haven't  even got  iron in  quantity. Gold!

Here,  take  a look  at  our  currency." He  tossed  a coin  to the  envoy.



Haut Rodric bounced it and stared. "What is it? Steel?""That's right.""I don't understand.""Terminus  is  a  planet  practically without  metals.  We  import it  all.



Consequently, we  have no  gold, and nothing  to pay unless you  want a fewthousand bushels of potatoes.""Well ?manufactured goods.""Without metal? What do we make our machines out of?"There was  a pause and Pirenne tried again.  "This whole discussion is wideof  the  point. Terminus  is  not  a planet,  but  a scientific  foundationpreparing  a  great  encyclopedia.  Space, man,  have  you  no respect  forscience?""Encyclopedias don't win wars." Haut Rodric's brows furrowed. "A completelyunproductive world,  then ? and practically unoccupied at  that. Well, youmight pay with land.""What do you mean?" asked Pirenne.



"This  world  is just  about  empty  and the  unoccupied  land is  probablyfertile.  There are  many of the  nobility on  Anacreon that would  like anaddition to their estates.""You can't propose any such?

"There's no  necessity of  looking so alarmed, Dr.  Pirenne. There's plentyfor all of  us. If it comes to what it comes,  and you co-operate, we couldprobably arrange  it so that you lose nothing HKUE amec.