painters, writers, musicians and such. They had dreams of starting a new
race"--Metaxa snorted--"with everybody artists. They were all so impractical
that they even managed to crash their ship on landing. For three hundred
years they were uncontacted. What did they have in the way of government
by that time? A military theocracy, something like the Aztecs of
Pre-Conquest Mexico. A matriarchy, at that. And what's their religion
based on? That of ancient Phoenicia including plenty of human sacrifice to
good old Moloch. What can United Planets do about it, now that they've
become a member? Work away very delicately, trying to get them to at least
eliminate the child sacrifice phase of their culture. Will they do it?
Hell no, not if they can help it. The Head Priestess and her clique are
afraid that if they don't have the threat of sacrifice to hold over the
people, they'll be overthrown."

Ronny was surprised. "I'd never heard of a member planet like that.
Monet?"

Metaxa sighed. "No, of course not. You've got a lot to learn, Ronny, my
lad. First of all, what're Articles One and Two of the United Planets
Charter?"

That was easy. Ronny recited. "Article One: _The United Planets
organization shall take no steps to interfere with the internal political,
socio-economic, or religious institutions of its member planets._ Article
Two: _No member planets of United Planets shall interfere with the
internal political, socioeconomic or religious institutions of any other
member planet._" He looked at the department head. "But what's that got to
do with the fact that I was unfamiliar with even the existence of Monet?"

"Suppose one of the advanced planets, or even Earth itself," Metaxa
growled, "openly discussed in magazines, on newscasts, or wherever, the
religious system of Monet. A howl would go up among the liberals, the
progressives, the do-gooders. And the howl would be heard on the other
advanced planets. Eventually, the citizen in the street on Monet would
hear about it and be affected. And before you knew it, a howl would go up
from Monet's government. Why? Because the other planets would be
interfering with her internal affairs, simply by discussing them."

"So what you mean is," Ronny said, "part of our job is to keep information
about Monet's government and religion from being discussed at all on other
member planets."

"That's right," Metaxa nodded. "And that's just one of our dirty little
jobs. One of many. Secti