this up for us. Now, if you'll excuse me, Manning, I have an appointment with the Ambassador from Altair...."

"And I remember when you only had appointments with people who wanted to buy life insurance," Manning murmured. He stood up. "Okay, father-in-law. Hold on to your striped pants." He turned and left the office.

As soon as he reached the spaceport, he blasted off. Once he was above the planet, he fed the co-ordinates of Regulus II into the automatic pilot and put the ship into magnidrive. Then he dug out an encyclotape on Acruxians and leaned back to listen to it. He could learn about Regulus when he got there, but he had a hunch he'd better find out about Acruxians before he tangled with one.

II

The Alpha Actuary came out of magnidrive and dropped slowly down toward the surface of Regulus II. Manning Draco stared at the landing screen and wondered if someone had been kidding him. On the entire planet there was only one building in sight and it was a modest dwelling no larger than the average mansion anywhere in the Federation. It certainly wasn't large enough to hold the population of a planet. Besides, its architecture was pure Terran.

There was a small spaceport near the single house and Manning set his ship down on it. He cut the power and threw open the air-lock.

There were two individuals waiting for him as he climbed out of the ship. The first was a Terran, a tall austere man, wearing the formal garb which was still so dear to the hearts of Terran politicians. His welcome was anything but warm.

"I suppose," he said, offering a limp handshake, "you're this Manning Draco person I was told to expect? The election observer, or some such thing?"

"Some such thing," Manning said, returning the handshake.

"Can't imagine why they send anyone—even an observer—to this miserable place," the man said, making no effort to lower his voice. "You're aware, of course, that I'm the Terran Ambassador?"

"I guessed it," Manning said dryly. "It was hard work, but I did it."

The Ambassador stared blankly back at him. "The Secretary of Planets telephoned me you were coming. I don't suppose he sent any word on my request to be transferred?"

"No."

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