kids will be scratching their names on our hull."

* * * * *

In the morning, two or three hours after dawn, they made their
preparations to disembark. Of them all, only Leonid Plekhanov was
unarmed. Joe Chessman had a heavy handgun holstered at his waist. The
rest of the men carried submachine guns. More destructive weapons were
hardly called for, nor available for that matter; once world government
had been established on Earth the age-old race for improved arms had
fallen away.

Chessman assumed command of the men, growled brief instructions. "If
there's any difficulty, remember we're civilizing a planet of nearly a
billion population. The life or death of a few individuals is
meaningless. Look at our position scientifically, dispassionately. If it
becomes necessary to use force--we have the right and the might to back
it up. MacBride, you stay with the ship. Keep the hatch closed and
station yourself at the fifty-caliber gun."

The natives seemed to know intuitively that the occupants of the craft
from the sky would present themselves at this time. Several thousands of
them crowded the plaza. Warriors, armed with spears and bronze headed
war clubs, kept the more adventurous from crowding too near.

The hatch opened, the steel landing stair snaked out, and the hefty
Plekhanov stepped down, closely followed by Chessman. The others brought
up the rear, Watson, Roberts, Stevens, Hawkins and Cogswell. They had
hardly formed a compact group at the foot of the spacecraft than the
ranks of the natives parted and what was obviously a delegation of
officials approached them. In the fore was a giant of a man in his late
middle years, and at his side a cold-visaged duplicate of him, obviously
a son.

Behind these were variously dressed others, military, priesthood, local
officials, by their appearance.

Ten feet from the newcomers they stopped. The leader said in quite
understandable Amer-English, "I am Taller, Khan of all the People. Our
legends tell of you. You must be from First Earth." He added with a
simple dignity, a quiet gesture, "Welcome to the World. How may we serve
you?"

Plekhanov said flatly, "The name of this planet is Texcoco and the
inhabitants shall henceforth be called Texcocans. You are correct, we
have come from Earth. Our instructions are to civilize you, to bring you
the benefits of the latest technology, to prepare you to enter the
community of planets." Phlegmat