All the People

By R. A. LAFFERTY
Illustrated by GAUGHAN
Tin Tony Trotz had only one job—to watch out for something a little odd—in a universe that was insane!
Anthony Trotz went first to the politician, Mike Delado. How many people do you know, Mr. Delado?
Why the question?
I am wondering just what amount of detail the mind can hold.
To a degree I know many. Ten thousand well, thirty thousand by name, probably a hundred thousand by face and to shake hands with.
And what is the limit? Anthony inquired.
Possibly I am the limit. The politician smiled frostily. The only limit is time, speed of cognizance and retention. I am told that the latter lessens with age. I am seventy, and it has not done so with me. Whom I have known I do not forget.
And with special training could one go beyond you?
I doubt if one could—much. For my own training has been quite special. Nobody has been so entirely with the people as I have. I've taken five memory courses in my time, but the tricks of all of them I had already come to on my own. I am a great believer in the commonality of mankind and of near equal inherent ability. Yet there are some, say the one man in fifty, who in degree if not in kind do exceed their fellows in scope and awareness and vitality. I am that one man in fifty, and knowing people is my specialty.
Could a man who specialized still more—and to the exclusion of other things—know a hundred thousand men well.