patiently, "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."

The three members of the Genoese team glared back in antagonism, but
then Gunther said grudgingly, "He's right. There is no longer amiability
between us, so let's forget about it. Perhaps when the fifty years is
up, things will be different. Now let's merely be businesslike."

"Well," Mayer said, "our report is that progress accelerates. Our
industrial potential expands at a rate that surprises even us. In the
near future we'll introduce the internal combustion engine. Our
universities still multiply and are turning out technicians, engineers,
scientists at an ever-quickening speed. In several nations illiteracy is
practically unknown and per capita production increases almost
everywhere." Mayer paused in satisfaction, as though awaiting the others
to attempt to top his report.

Joe Chessman said sourly, "Ah, almost everywhere per capita production
increases. Why _almost_?"

Mayer snapped, "Obviously, in a system of free competition, all cannot
progress at once. Some go under."

"Whole nations?"

"