He said, “Look here, Tog, you were with Sid Jakes longer than I was. What's the full story?”
She folded her slim hands in her lap, looking like a schoolgirl about to recite. “Do you know anything about the socio-economic system on New Delos?”
“Well, no,” he admitted.
She said severely, “I'd think that they would have given you more background before an assignment of this type.”
Ronny said impatiently, “In the past three months I've been filled in on the economic systems, the religious beliefs, the political forms, of a thousand planets. I just happened to miss New Delos.”
Her mouth expressed disapproval by rucking down on the sides, which was all very attractive but also irritating. She said, “There are two thousand, four hundred and thirty-six member planets in the UP, I'd think an agent of Section G would be up on the basic situation on each.”
He had her there. He said snidely, “Hate to contradict you, Tog, but the number is two thousand, four hundred and thirty-four.”
“Then,” she nodded agreeably, “membership has changed since this morning when Menalaus and Aldebaran Three were admitted. Have two planets dropped out?”
“Look,” he said, “let's stop bickering. What's the word on New Delos?”
“Did you ever read Frazer's ‘Golden Bough’?” she said.