Joe Chessman said impatiently, "Man adapts to circumstances, Gunther. The wars have lost us a lot of men. Women are consequently in a surplus. If the population curve is to continue upward, it's necessary that a man serve more than one woman. Polygamy is the obvious answer."
Gunther cleared his throat smoothly, "So a man in Barry's position will have as many as eight wives, eh? You must have lost a good many men."
Watson grinned modestly. "Everybody doesn't have that many. It's according to your ability to support them, and, also, rank has its privileges. Besides, we figure it's a good idea to spread the best seed around. By mixing our blood with the Texcocan we improve the breed."
Behind him, Taller, the Tulan boy, stirred, without notice.
Kennedy finished off his highball and began to build another immediately. "Here we go again. The big potatoes coming to the top."
Watson flushed. "What do you mean by that, Kennedy?"
"Oh, come off it, Barry," Kennedy laughed. "Just because you're in a position to push these people around doesn't make you the prize stud on Texcoco."
Watson elbowed Dick Hawkins to one side in his attempt to get around the table at the other.
Chessman rapped, "Watson! That's enough. Knock it off or I'll have you under arrest." The Texcocan team head turned abruptly to Mayer and Kennedy. "Let's stop this nonsense. We've come to compare progress. Let's begin."