To any other person who might have been listening the remark must have seemed a complete non sequitur. Browne, however, understood its relevance. He said with a sneer, "So you're out in the open. Well, let me tell you, Mr. Lesbee, there was never any talk of elections when the Lesbees were in power. And for a very good reason. A spaceship requires a technical aristocracy to command it. As for a joint captaincy, it wouldn't work."
Lesbee urged his lie: "If we're going to stay here, we'll need at least two people of equal authority—one on the ground, one on the ship."
"I couldn't trust you on the ship!" said Browne flatly.
"Then you be on the ship," Lesbee proposed. "All such practical details can be arranged."
The older man must have been almost beside himself with the intensity of his own feelings on this subject. He flashed, "Your family has been out of power for over fifty years! How can you still feel that you have any rights?"
Lesbee countered, "How come you still know what I'm talking about?"
Browne said, a grinding rage in his tone, "The concept of inherited power was introduced by the first Lesbee. It was never planned."
"But here you are," said Lesbee, "yourself a beneficiary of inherited power."
Browne said from between clenched teeth: "It's absolutely ridiculous that the Earth government which was in power when the ship left—and every member of which has been long dead—should appoint somebody to a command position ... and that now his descendant think that command post should be his, and his family's, for all time!"
Lesbee was silent, startled by the dark emotions he had uncovered in the man. He felt even more justified, if that were possible, and advanced his next suggestion without a qualm.