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Matlab A Practical Introduction to Programming and
Problem Solving 1st Edition Stormy Attaway Digital
Instant Download
Author(s): Stormy Attaway
ISBN(s): 9780750687621, 0750687622
Edition: 1
File Details: PDF, 4.26 MB
Year: 2009
Language: english
Matlab:
A Practical Introduction to
Programming and Problem Solving
Matlab:
A Practical Introduction to
Programming and Problem
Solving
By
Stormy Attaway
College of Engineering, Boston University
Boston, MA

AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON

NEW YORK • OXFORD • PARIS • SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO
Butterworth-Heinemann is an imprint of Elsevier
This page intentionally left blank
Butterworth-Heinemann is an imprint of Elsevier
30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA
Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK

Copyright © 2009, Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any

means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights
Department in Oxford, UK: phone: (+44) 1865 843830, fax: (+44) 1865 853333,
E-mail: permissions@elsevier.com. You may also complete your request online
via the Elsevier homepage (http://elsevier.com), by selecting “Support & Contact”
then “Copyright and Permission” and then “Obtaining Permissions.”

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Application submitted

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-0-75-068762-1

For information on all Butterworth-Heinemann publications

visit our Web site at www.elsevierdirect.com

Attribution
MATLAB® and Handle Graphics® are registered trademarks
of The MathWorks, Inc.

Printed in Canada
08╇ 09╇ 10╇╇ 9╇ 8╇ 7╇ 6╇ 5╇ 4╇ 3╇ 2╇ 1
 Dedication
This book is dedicated to my two mentors at Boston University: the late
Bill Henneman of the Computer Science Department, and the late Merrill Ebner
of the Department of Manufacturing Engineering.
Stormy Attaway
This page intentionally left blank
Contents

Preface................................................................................................... xiii
Part I  rogramming and Problem Solving
P
Using MATLAB............................................................. 1
Chapter 1 Introduction to MATLAB.................................................... 3
1.1 Getting into MATLAB............................................................. 4
1.2 Variables and Assignment Statements................................. 6
1.2.1 Initializing, Incrementing, and Decrementing............. 8
1.2.2 Variable Names.............................................................. 8
1.3 Expressions........................................................................... 10
1.3.1 The Format Function and Ellipsis.............................. 10
1.3.2 Operators...................................................................... 11
1.3.3 Built-In Functions and Help........................................ 12
1.3.4 Constants...................................................................... 14
1.3.5 Types............................................................................. 14
1.3.6 Random Numbers........................................................ 16
1.4 Characters and Encoding..................................................... 18
1.5 Vectors and Matrices............................................................ 20
1.5.1 Creating Row Vectors.................................................. 21
1.5.2 Creating Column Vectors............................................ 24
1.5.3 Creating Matrix Variables........................................... 24
1.5.4 Dimensions................................................................... 28
1.5.5 Using Functions with Vectors and Matrices.............. 33
1.5.6 Empty Vectors.............................................................. 33

Chapter 2 Introduction to MATLAB Programming.......................... 41

2.1 Algorithms............................................................................. 42
2.2 MATLAB Scripts.................................................................... 43
2.2.1 Documentation............................................................. 45
2.3 Input and Output.................................................................. 46

vii
viii Contents 

2.3.1 Input Function.............................................................. 46

2.3.2 Output Statements: disp and fprintf......................... 48
2.4 Scripts with Input and Output............................................. 53
2.5 Scripts to Produce and Customize Simple Plots................. 54
2.5.1 The Plot Function........................................................ 54
2.5.2 Simple Related Plot Functions.................................... 57
2.6 Introduction to File Input/Output (Load and Save)........... 59
2.6.1 Writing Data to a File................................................... 60
2.6.2 Appending Data to a Data File................................... 61
2.6.3 Reading from a File...................................................... 61
2.7 User-Defined Functions that Return a Single Value.......... 64
2.7.1 Function Definitions.................................................... 65
2.7.2 Calling a Function........................................................ 66
2.7.3 Calling a User-Defined Function from a
Script............................................................................. 67
2.7.4 Passing Multiple Arguments...................................... 67
2.7.5 Functions with Local Variables.................................. 68

Chapter 3 Selection Statements........................................................ 79

3.1 Relational Expressions......................................................... 80
3.2 The if Statement................................................................... 82
3.2.1 Representing Logical True and False........................ 86
3.3 The if-Else Statement........................................................... 87
3.4 Nested if-Else Statements................................................... 88
3.5 The Switch Statement.......................................................... 93
3.6 The Menu Function.............................................................. 96
3.7 The is Functions in MATLAB............................................... 98

Chapter 4 Looping............................................................................ 109

4.1 The for Loop........................................................................ 110
4.1.1 Finding Sums and Products...................................... 111
4.1.2 Combining for Loops with if Statements................. 118
4.1.3 For Loops that Do Not Use the Iterator
Variable in the Action................................................ 119
4.1.4 Input in a for Loop..................................................... 120
4.2 Nested for Loops................................................................. 122
4.2.1 Nested Loops and Matrices...................................... 126
4.2.2 Combining Nested for Loops and if
Statements.................................................................. 130
4.3 Vectorizing........................................................................... 131
4.3.1 Logical Vectors........................................................... 133
4.3.2 Vectors and Matrices as Function Arguments..............140
 Contents ix

4.4 While Loops........................................................................ 143

4.4.1 Multiple Conditions in a While Loop....................... 145
4.4.2 Reading from a File in a While Loop........................ 145
4.4.3 Input in a While Loop................................................ 147
4.4.4 Counting in a While Loop......................................... 148
4.4.5 Error-Checking User Input in a While Loop............ 149

Chapter 5 MATLAB Programs......................................................... 161

5.1 More Types of User-Defined Functions............................. 162
5.1.1 Functions that Return More than
One Value................................................................... 162
5.1.2 Functions that Accomplish a Task
Without Returning Values......................................... 166
5.1.3 Functions that Return Values Versus
Printing....................................................................... 167
5.1.4 Passing Arguments to Functions............................. 168
5.2 Matlab Program Organization........................................ 170
5.2.1 Modular Programs...................................................... 170
5.2.2 Subfunctions............................................................... 172
5.3 Application: Menu-Driven Modular Program................... 174
5.4 Variable Scope..................................................................... 182
5.4.1 Persistent Variables................................................... 184
5.5 Debugging Techniques...................................................... 185
5.5.1 Types of Errors........................................................... 186
5.5.2 Tracing........................................................................ 188
5.5.3 Editor/Debugger........................................................ 189
5.5.4 Function Stubs........................................................... 190

Chapter 6 String Manipulation........................................................ 197

6.1 Creating String Variables................................................... 198
6.1.1 Strings as Vectors...................................................... 198
6.2 Operations on Strings......................................................... 200
6.2.1 Concatenation............................................................ 200
6.2.2 Creating Customized Strings.................................... 202
6.2.3 Removing Whitespace Characters........................... 206
6.2.4 Changing Case........................................................... 207
6.2.5 Comparing Strings..................................................... 207
6.2.6 Finding, Replacing, and Separating
Strings......................................................................... 209
6.2.7 Evaluating a String.................................................... 213
6.3 The is Function for Strings................................................. 214
6.4 Converting between String and Number Types.............. 215
x Contents

Chapter 7 Data Structures: Cell Arrays and Structures................ 223

7.1 Cell Arrays........................................................................... 224
7.1.1 Creating Cell Arrays.................................................. 224
7.2 Structures............................................................................ 229
7.2.1 Creating and Modifying Structure
Variables..................................................................... 229
7.2.2 Passing Structures to Functions............................... 231
7.2.3 Related Structure Functions...................................... 232
7.2.4 Vectors of Structures................................................. 234
7.2.5 Nested Structures...................................................... 241
7.2.6 Vectors of Nested Structures.................................... 243

Chapter 8 Advanced File Input and Output................................... 253

8.1 Lower Level File I/O Functions.......................................... 254
8.1.1 Opening and Closing a File....................................... 254
8.1.2 Reading from Files..................................................... 255
8.1.3 Writing to Files........................................................... 262
8.1.4 Appending to Files.................................................... 264
8.2 Writing and Reading Spreadsheet Files........................... 264
8.3 Using MAT-Files for Variables........................................... 266
8.3.1 Writing Variables to a File......................................... 266
8.3.2 Appending Variables to a MAT-File......................... 267
8.3.3 Reading from a MAT-File........................................... 267

Chapter 9 Advanced Functions....................................................... 273

9.1 Anonymous Functions........................................................ 273
9.2 Uses of Function Handles................................................... 275
9.2.1 Function Functions.................................................... 276
9.3 Variable Numbers of Arguments....................................... 278
9.3.1 Variable Number of Input Arguments...................... 279
9.3.2 Variable Number of Output Arguments................... 280
9.4 Nested Functions................................................................ 284
9.5 Recursive Functions........................................................... 287

Part II Applications. ............................................................. 295

Chapter 10 MATLAB Plots................................................................. 297
10.1 Plot Functions.................................................................... 297
10.1.1 Matrix of Plots........................................................ 298
10.1.2 Plot Types............................................................... 299
10.2 Animation.......................................................................... 302
10.3 Three-Dimensional Plots.................................................. 303
10.4 Customizing Plots............................................................. 304
 Contents xi

10.5 Graphics Properties.......................................................... 306

10.6 Plot Applications............................................................... 308
10.6.1 Plotting from a Function........................................ 308
10.6.2 Plotting File Data.................................................... 309

Chapter 11 Solving Systems of Linear Algebraic Equations.......... 321

11.1 Matrix Definitions............................................................. 322
11.1.1 Matrix Properties................................................... 322
11.1.2 Square Matrices...................................................... 324
11.1.3 Matrix Operations.................................................. 328
11.1.4 Matrix Multiplication............................................. 330
11.1.5 Vector Operations.................................................. 334
11.2 M
 atrix Solutions to Systems of Linear
Algebraic Equations......................................................... 336
11.2.1 Solving 2 ´ 2 Systems of Equations...................... 338
11.2.2 Gauss, Gauss-Jordan Elimination......................... 341
11.2.3 Reduced Row Echelon Form................................. 347
11.2.4 Finding a Matrix Inverse by Reducing
an Augmented Matrix............................................ 348
11.3 Symbolic Mathematics...................................................... 348
11.3.1 Symbolic Variables and Expressions.................... 349
11.3.2 Simplification Functions........................................ 350
11.3.3 Displaying Expressions......................................... 351
11.3.4 Solving Equations.................................................. 352

Chapter 12 Basic Statistics, Searching, and Sorting........................ 361

12.1 Statistical Functions......................................................... 362
12.1.1 Mean........................................................................ 363
12.1.2 Variance and Standard Deviation......................... 366
12.1.3 Mode........................................................................ 367
12.1.4 Median.................................................................... 368
12.2 Set Operations................................................................... 368
12.3 Sorting................................................................................ 372
12.3.1 Sorting Vectors of Structures................................ 374
12.3.2 Sorting Strings........................................................ 377
12.4 Indexing............................................................................. 379
12.4.1 Indexing into Vectors of Structures...................... 381
12.5 Searching........................................................................... 382
12.5.1 Sequential Search................................................... 382
12.5.2 Binary Search......................................................... 383

Chapter 13 Sights and Sounds.......................................................... 393

13.1 Sound Files........................................................................ 393
xii Contents

13.2 Introduction to Handle Graphics..................................... 395

13.2.1 Graphics Objects and Their Properties................ 395
13.3 Image Processing.............................................................. 400
13.4 Introduction to Graphical User Interfaces...................... 405

Chapter 14 Advanced Mathematics................................................. 421

14.1 Fitting Curves to Data...................................................... 421
14.1.1 Polynomials............................................................. 422
14.1.2 Curve Fitting.......................................................... 423
14.1.3 Interpolation and Extrapolation............................ 423
14.1.4 Least Squares......................................................... 426
14.2 Complex Numbers............................................................ 429
14.2.1 Equality for Complex Numbers............................. 431
14.2.2 Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers.........431
14.2.3 Multiplying Complex Numbers............................. 432
14.2.4 Complex Conjugate and Absolute Value............. 433
14.2.5 Complex Equations Represented as
Polynomials............................................................. 433
14.2.6 Polar Form............................................................... 434
14.2.7 Plotting.................................................................... 434
14.3 Calculus: Integration and Differentiation....................... 435
14.3.1 Trapezoidal Rule..................................................... 435
14.3.2 Differentiation........................................................ 437
14.3.3 Calculus in Symbolic Math Toolbox...................... 438

Index......................................................................................................... 447
Preface

Motivation
The purpose of this book is to teach basic programming concepts and skills
needed for basic problem solving, all using MATLAB® as the vehicle. MATLAB
is a powerful software package that has built-in functions to accomplish a
diverse range of tasks, from mathematical operations to three-dimensional
imaging. Additionally, MATLAB has a complete set of programming constructs
that allows users to customize programs to their own specifications.
There are many books that introduce MATLAB. There are two basic flavors
of these books: those that demonstrate the use of the built-in functions in
MATLAB, with a chapter or two on some programming concepts, and those that
cover only the programming constructs without mentioning many of the built-
in functions that make MATLAB efficient to use. Someone who learns just the
built-in functions will be well-prepared to use MATLAB, but would not under-
stand basic programming concepts. That person then would not be able to learn
a language such as C++ or Java without taking another introductory course, or
reading another book, on the programming concepts. Conversely, anyone who
learns only programming concepts first (using any language) would tend to
write highly inefficient code using control statements to solve problems, not
realizing that in many cases these are not necessary in MATLAB.
This book instead takes a hybrid approach, introducing both the programming
and the efficient uses. The challenge for students is that it is nearly impossi-
ble to predict whether they will in fact need to know programming concepts
later on or whether a software package such as MATLAB will suffice for their
careers. Therefore, the best approach for beginning students is to give them
both—the programming concepts and the efficient built-in functions. Since
MATLAB is very easy to use, it is a perfect platform for this approach to �teaching
�programming and problem solving.
Since programming concepts are critically important to this book, emphasis
is not placed on the time-saving features that evolve with every new MATLAB
release. For example, in current versions of MATLAB statistics on variables are xiii
xiv Preface

available readily in the Workspace window. This is not shown in any detail in
the book, since whether this feature is available depends on the version of the
software, and because of the desire to explain the concepts in the book.

Key Features
Side-by-Side Programming Concepts and Built-In
Functions
The most important, and unique, feature of this book is that it teaches program-
ming concepts and the use of the built-in functions in MATLAB side by side.
It starts with basic programming concepts such as variables, assignments, input/
output, selection, and loop statements. Then, throughout the rest of the book,
often a problem will be introduced and then solved using the “Â�programming
concept” and also using the “efficient method.”

Systematic Approach
Another key feature is that the book takes a very systematic, step-by-step
approach, building on concepts throughout the book. It is very tempting in a
MATLAB text to show built-in functions or features early on with a note that
says “we’ll do this later.” This book does not do that; all functions are covered
before they are used in examples. Additionally, basic programming concepts
will be explained carefully and systematically. Very basic concepts such as loop-
ing to calculate a sum, counting in a conditional loop, and error-checking are
not found in many texts but will be covered here.

File Input/Output
Many applications in engineering and the sciences involve manipulating large
data sets that are stored in external files. Most MATLAB texts at least mention
the save and load functions, and in some cases also some of the lower level
file input/output functions. Since file input and output is so fundamental to
so many applications, this book will cover several low-level file input/output
functions, as well as reading from and writing to spreadsheet files. Later chap-
ters will also deal with audio and image files. These file input/output concepts
are introduced gradually: first load and save in Chapter 2, then lower level
functions in Chapter 8, and finally sound and images in Chapter 13.

User-Defined Functions
User-defined functions are a very important programming concept, and yet
many times the nuances and differences between types of functions, function
calls versus function headers, and so on, can be very confusing to beginning
programmers. Therefore these concepts are introduced gradually. First, �arguably
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of Money is the
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This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONEY IS THE

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Money Is the Root of All Good

BY PATRICK WILKINS

Urgent! Class AA emergency for Universal

Relief!
Stock market crash on planet Lyrane, where
people live
by economy based on good deeds. Cause
unknown. Suspect
galactical manipulators of watering stock.

[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from

Worlds of If Science Fiction, October 1954.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Kalgor, capital of the Galactic Empire, is not, as one would expect,
one solid city. As a matter of fact, it is more suburban and rural than
many farming planets.
The reason is obvious if but considered. The galactic government and
the equally large galactic businesses are so immense that they must
be distributed throughout the whole galaxy, with only the very cream
of the hierarchy located on Kalgor. Thus, each company would have
only one small building—but with a communication web that enfolded
macroscopic enterprises.
Universal Relief Incorporated was typical of this arrangement.
Although its warehouses and offices throughout the Empire could
form a megalopolis in themselves, the fountainhead on Kalgor was a
two story building.
In that building there was excitement. People were rushing frantically
—the teletypes chattered in a frenzy—the air was static with urgency.
It manifested itself in the quick jerky motions, in the voices held just
below the cracking point.
Universal Relief served the function that used to be handled by the
Red Cross. They were disaster rectifiers, succor and reconstruction
was their business. But they were a business—declaring annual,
taxable profits and dividends and, in general, a profit-seeking firm.
They received regular payments from planetary governments, much
like premiums with insurance, and in case of emergency they were to
provide complete relief as swiftly as possible. There was no chance
for graft in their business, for they were closely checked by the
government and competing organizations like Galactic Aid, their
closest rival.
This business was now apparently faced with a crisis and its staff was
feverishly trying to cope with it.
Roald Gibbons, President of Universal Relief, was the only person not
affected—at least not apparently. His indolent posture, his quiet grey
eyes reflected nothing of the hectic activity.
This made Kim Roger nervous.
"I don't think you comprehend the seriousness of it, Mr. Gibbons," he
was saying.
"I am not thinking of the seriousness of it. I just want the facts."
"Very well, sir. Two days ago, the Lyranian stock market crashed."
"You will have to go back further than that. I can't possibly know the
history of all the planets in the Empire. That's what I pay you for.
Give me some background."
This little speech made Kim lose his clutching hold on his patience.
Roald Gibbons had just taken office after the death of his father, who
had managed the galactic firm for twenty years. By merely being the
boss's son, Roald had achieved the reputation of being an ignorant,
careless playboy. His professed ignorance of the planets confirmed, in
Kim's mind, this reputation.
With an effort, Kim resumed. "The planet of Lyrane, the only
habitable one in the system of Lyrane—Copernicus sector—was
colonized by a socio-economic sect for the purpose of testing its
slightly radical beliefs.
"This sect maintained that an individual should not be paid on the
basis of the work he did, but for the good deeds, or good thoughts
he had. A small stipend was paid for actual work or production, to
establish a workable basic economy and trade. This stipend was
enough to cover all the basic wants of the individual.
"To procure luxuries, a citizen had to use the money he received for
his good deeds or thoughts. Every time a man helped an old lady
across the street, or came up with a bit of philosophical wisdom, he
could record it with a central office and receive his luxury pay from
the government.
"The purpose of the system was to make people emphasize virtue
and quality in their lives. Instead of concentrating on profit for profit's
sake, they would have to consider the inherent rightness and beauty
of what they were doing."
"In such a system," Roald asked, "how could such a thing as a stock
market possibly develop?"
"Very simple, sir. This luxury pay, issued in a different currency than
the commodity pay, could be used in any way a person saw fit. Some
people naturally developed the idea of investing stock in a particularly
virtuous or intelligent person. Every time that person did a good
deed, the stockholders received a dividend from his luxury pay. All of
the scientists and philosophers, therefore, became corporations in
themselves, with as many as five thousand people holding stock in
one man."
"Sorry, Kim, but I don't get it. How could these incorporated
individuals get any luxury pay for themselves if they had to hand it
out to their stockholders?"
"The administration would allow for that. A person received luxury
pay in proportion to the number of stockholders that he claimed. The
government had to do this since they indirectly were investing in
these corporation-men—but I'll explain that later.
"The corporation-man lived off the original investments of
stockholders, with some of the stock solvent for sales. In this way,
the individual would profit from "good-doing" by receiving many new
investments."
"What is the social makeup of this Lyrane? It seems to me it would
be a lunatic fringe de luxe, with every hack writer, thaumaturgist, or
evangelist climbing aboard the gravy train."
"On the contrary, it is a social structure of the finest minds in the
galaxy. The rest are all weeded out. Although the motives of the
system are idealistic, they are enforced with a rigid practicality. They
demand quality and truth, and gauge it with the revealing yardstick
of public consumption and approval as measured in sales and polls."
Roald gazed out at the pastoral countryside surrounding this vital
little nub of a billion-credit business. He swung back to Kim, and said,
"But the basic difficulty would be determining just what a good deed
or thought is. How in God's name could they determine that, when
every act or word that anyone ever commits or utters is open to
judgment by so many different standards. For instance, what about
the case of the man who trespasses to save a person's life. How are
you going to rate that sort of thing?"
"Mr. Gibbons, I am an economist, not a philosopher. It is the wonder
of the galaxy that these people did establish and maintain this
system, in spite of obstacles such as you mentioned."
"All right, we'll discount the philosophical angle. I still don't
understand it. How about big business? How could that develop with
this system? They certainly need it to support a planet."
"That's the easiest part of it. People would use their luxury pay to
establish businesses. At these businesses men could work their five
hours a day to get their commodity pay. It was not only possible, but
mandatory that such businesses develop. There were two types:
mass production of commodities, with a regulated profit in
commodity pay; or specialization and production of fine merchandise
that was sold at cost, but which the government paid for in luxury
pay in proportion to its quality as thoroughly tested.
"However—all big businesses were closely controlled by the
government. They would grant franchises so that there would be no
cutthroat competition, and supply was regulated to meet demand.
Therefore, business itself was stable, and there was no opportunity
for speculating in its stock market. That left only the variable
corporation-men for actual stock market trading—and that is what
crashed.
"Let's take a writer, for example. He writes a book, and a publishing
house prints it. The people buy it—spending luxury pay. The
publishing house has to convert that luxury pay to commodity pay to
cover costs and payroll. They make no profit, the book being sold at
cost.
"That book has to sell so many thousand copies to receive luxury pay
from the government. Then both the author and the publisher receive
luxury pay in proportion to its sales, which is the indication of its
merit. The luxury pay that the publisher receives goes in the pockets
of the executives. The luxury pay that the author receives—which is
much larger—goes to his stockholders.
"Since the author is the source of this transaction, the people invest
in him and not the publisher, for they can't get any great return from
investing in the publisher, but they can from the author.
"Actually, what the whole thing amounts to is a complete shift of
emphasis from big business and its speculations—which is what
we've always known—to individuals and the intangibles and variables
of their ideas and deeds."
"There is only one question left," Roald said. "The government doles
out all this luxury pay. Pray tell, where do they get it?"
"There are two parts to the government. There is the actual
administration, with its members drawing set salaries and unable to
draw luxury pay, to prevent graft; and then there is the Economics
Commission, which controls luxury pay.
"This Economics Commission is a business. They invest in galactic
corporations, such as ours, and make a profit. That's part of their
money. Then—and here's the secret—any time a book is written, or
fine merchandise produced, it must be sold on Lyrane at cost. But the
government sells it throughout the galaxy for a profit, and keeps that
profit to redistribute in luxury pay to Lyranian citizens.
"Anyway, the system finally blew up, and now we're holding a messy
bag."
"But how could it? Why?"
"That's just it. Nobody knows what brought it about, but suddenly
the men who were corporations just stopped producing. They
stopped doing good deeds, stopped writing, stopped research, and
what-not and, consequently, stopped drawing luxury pay.
"Naturally, their stockholders got mad and wanted to sell, but
incorporated men couldn't liquidate and the values of the stocks
dropped to zero, along with the value of the luxury pay. The result
was a depression and a lot of angry people."
"A planetary depression is not such an outstanding emergency that it
should cause Universal Relief to be in such an uproar. I believe that it
is merely a Class B emergency, with complete regulations on proper
handling."
Kim was so earnest in his reply that he leaned over and almost
rubbed noses with his superior. "On the contrary, sir. There are other
factors, so it's not so simple. This Lyranian system has been working
for ten years now, and the Lyranians want desperately for it to
succeed. They are almost fanatics on it, trying to prove the value of
their system so that other planets will adopt it—which God forbid.
"Naturally, the resentment against the corporation-men for betraying
them has turned into hatred, with murder, riots and a civil war in the
offing. Yes, their politics were unitary and stable until this emergency,
but you'd be surprised at the number of political factions that can be
formed and develop hostilities in a period of crisis."
"Could it be an attempt by some faction to seize power?"
"Impossible. The way it was set up, political power was not desirable,
being unprofitable and mostly drudgery. If they upset the apple-cart,
the balance was so fine only chaos would result and there would be
nothing to take power over. The only reason parties have developed
now is due to differing views on how to rectify the situation, and
blaming different things for being responsible. But no power motive."
"Very well then, the situation is a Class A emergency, but we've
handled them before."
Kim allowed one fleeting sigh of despair. He had thought for a while
that this Roald could take hold, could be competent, but—
"If you have ever consulted our financial records, sir," he said with
heavy sarcasm, "you would find that our largest contribution comes
from Lyrane. They have established our organization as tops in the
good-deeds field, and nearly every person on Lyrane has stock in us,
along with a sizable payment since we threw a high premium at
them, fearing just this eventuality."
Roald appeared thoughtful, then said, "Well, continue with standard
procedures for a Class A emergency. I'll see what can be done."
Kim made one last desperate appeal. "I firmly believe that this should
be a Class AA emergency!"
"Your field of specialization is overriding your business sense, Kim.
You are fascinated, as an economist, by this Lyrane system, and you
would like to see us put it back on its feet so you economists would
have a live experiment to observe. I'm sorry, but it isn't practical. You
know how fantastically expensive a Class AA is, and no one planet is
about to get it."
Kim cowered mentally. This wasn't the indolent playboy, but the Old
Man, giving him a good dressing down. He left the office with
restored faith, but a faith that was interlaced with doubt in regard to
Roald Gibbons.
Roald appeared to Kim to be uninformed and incompetent; but on
the contrary, he had learned the business thoroughly from his father.
There was one division of the company that he knew especially well.
This division was known to only a few people in the company, and no
one outside knew it existed. Roald managed this special division, and
left the rest of the management to the routine procedures and junior
executives.
While the rest of the company was in a state of organized hysteria,
with great ships loading from the massive warehouses of food,
medicine, and other relief supplies, and heaving into the sky bound
for Lyrane, Roald was having a quiet conference with the members of
his special division.
Roald's father had known that the cheapest way to relieve an
emergency was to alleviate the causes behind it, unless it were a
natural disaster. For this reason, he had organized a corps of special
agents to penetrate behind the scenes to straighten out the causes
and cut short the emergencies that Universal Relief had to pay for.
"Apparently there is a definite force operating on Lyrane," Roald was
saying to his elite corps, "that caused these men, who had been
living by the standards of that civilization and becoming rich from it,
to cease the activity which they had profited by."
"Could it be a religious doctrine?" one of them asked.
"Possibly. It could be anything. The fact is we don't know—and we
should. So we're going to Lyrane. For the Main Office, this is a Class
A; but for us it is a Class AA!"

Erol Garbin sat on the cool stone terrace of the mountain lodge,
gazing out over the small valley with the golden orange sun of Lyrane
setting behind the mountains. The cool evening breeze gently
rearranged his white hair and brushed over the creased forehead and
the worried eyes.
He looked up to see his daughter come out on to the terrace. She
was a comely young woman of slight build and apparently sensitive
nature as vivified in her piquant features. He gave her a wistful smile,
at which she rushed into his arms and buried her head in his
shoulder, which was still powerful despite his age. Her body quivered
with muffled sobs.
"Yma, my dearest Yma," he said tenderly. "Why didn't you marry, so
that you would have none of this? You could be leading your own life,
instead of bearing my burden."
"You are no burden, Father. You are my life. And now that your life is
threatened—"
He knew what had upset her. He had heard the newscasts too—yes,
the video still operated, controlled by the people. He had heard the
names of his old friends—Fredrikson, Tomlin, Masschau—all dead by
violence.
"Why do you keep silent?" his daughter asked with a little child's
pleading. "Where is the protection you were offered? Why don't you
tell the people?" The world was mad and destructive in the eyes of
the child—the woman who was a child in the face of this dilemma.
He gently quieted her with a large, steady hand that pressed her
head to him.
"It would do no good. Arnson tried it."
She looked up with hope in her eyes.
"He spoke to a special meeting of his stockholders and tried to tell
them. They scorned it as a wild fantasy to excuse his betrayal. They
issued him an ultimatum—work! He said that they would have to
believe him; he couldn't work. They killed him."
The hope slid away and her eyes assumed the depths of despair and
bitterness.
Despair for the future, and bitterness for the past. And she thought
of the past—for she dared not think of the future.
Where does violence start, she wondered. Trace it to its roots; what's
its source, what's its manifestation?
It starts with one man and an idea. Many men may have had the
same idea, but it takes one man to express it at the right time, to
apply it. Then the planning, by many or by one.
And, finally, the last step is persuasion. The man who had the original
idea must convince others. He must indoctrinate them with this new
concept so that they believe. No more.
For once a man, who has been a stable entity in a stable
organization, develops and believes a strange and contradictory idea
—the result is inevitable. Misunderstanding, resentment, hate,
violence. The cycle carries on from there with its own momentum.
And the people who are swept up in it, and that may include anyone
from the most innocent to the perpetrator himself, are as helpless to
control its outcome as are the atoms helpless to control the nova
they started in a sun.
So this violence on Lyrane had begun, with one man, then a group of
men, and then had come the misunderstanding, resentment, hate,
violence cycle. It manifested itself in the offices of Universal Relief as
a logical study in sociology and economics.
But to Yma Garbin and her father, it was pure hell.
When had it all started, and when would it end?
Did it start that first day when an orphanage in the capital city
burned to the ground, and not one of the many philanthropists made
a move or an offer to aid or restore?
Yes, that was when it started for the public, but it had really started
in midnight conversations in locked rooms. Words, an idea, then the
act—and who is to say which is more real?
But there was no questioning the reality of what she had seen at
Tomlin's house. That was yesterday.
Tomlin, the greatest living biochemist in the empire, was nothing but
a sad, huddled corpse. His beautiful mansion was slashed and looted,
and then fired to the ground. The air was filled with the odor of
burning, of death—but especially the mentally sickening, defeating
odor of violence.
This was true of the whole planet, especially in the cities. The great
houses beseiged by furious mobs, shattered. Night full of stray shots
and casual death. Every man with that cold gleam in his eye when he
looked at even his best friend.
"Did you cause it?"
Yma lay in her father's arms, her mind reeling through this wax works
of personal horror and death.
This scene was interrupted by a gyro landing on the lawn.
Erol watched it curiously; his daughter, tensely. A man emerged and
strode towards them. He was a young man, with good and intelligent
features, and Erol felt no fear.
"Dr. Garbin," the man addressed him, "I'm delighted to find you. I
tried to see others—I was always too late." He paused, then said, "If
anyone should be able to tell me what has happened, you should."
A slight suspicion showed in Erol's face while Yma looked as wary as
an animal.
"If I can help you in any way, sir, I shall be delighted," Erol said.
The young man sat down. His eyes told of bewilderment and horror,
and Erol guessed that he had been in the cities.
"My name is Florin Brite," the man said after a long silence. "I was a
student of Tomlin, the biochemist, who was, I believe, your friend. I
left over a year ago to study at the Institute of Klynos. I heard of
trouble here and grabbed the first ship home.
"I never dreamed I'd find such violence.
"When I tried to find out what happened, I only found that all the
great men that I knew were murdered, or in hiding."
"How did you find where I was?" Erol asked.
"I talked to one of Tomlin's servants, an old fellow—scared silly—but
he remembered me and he told me."
Erol seemed to accept this. "What do you want to know?"
"Sir, I just want to know what happened. Why do the people feel they
have been deceived, and by whom? Why are all the incorporated
men in danger of their lives?"
"It is the corporation-men who have deceived the public." It was a
flat statement by Erol, without rancor or sympathy. "They are, in
consequence, subject to the wrath of the people who relied upon
them."
The bewilderment in the young man's eyes deepened. "How could
they deceive the public? Why? They had everything to gain from
earning luxury pay for their stockholders. Why did they stop?"
As if at a signal, Erol relaxed and his weariness became evident. Yma
relaxed somewhat but remained alert.
"Why they did," Erol replied, "is a private matter that only each of
those men knows. The fact is that they, myself included, did—and
now we must pay."
"You sir? But you were always such an eminent figure. I've admired
you from childhood as being one of the best of the planet's many
scientists. Your researches in sociology have led the empire. Why
should you suddenly stop your writing?"
"Fine flattery, son, but it will not avail you. I also see that you are not
completely in the dark. You must have been investigating or you
wouldn't know that I have a half-finished book that never got to the
publisher on time.
"Anyway, the reasons are inconsequential, now. It is done, and we
must consider the consequences. And we must consider you. What
do you intend to do, return to Klynos, or stay here?"
"You don't get out of it that easily," Florin said. "Yes, consider me.
Consider me as a citizen of this planet, a believer in its principles. I
am no idiot that can't understand or won't accept the truth.
"You are a sociologist. Here we have one of the most paradoxical
sociological situations imaginable on our planet. There obviously are
many unknown factors. You know them—you must. Just consider me
a student and explain the functionings of these phenomena."
"You try my patience, Mr. Brite. I am accepting you at face value, but
you are a stranger to me. What I wish to keep to myself is entirely
my business. As I say, I am accepting you, and trying to help you—as
we all must do in this mess. Now what do you intend to do?"
With a fatalistic shrug, Florin replied, "I cannot go back to Klynos. My
education was paid for by my stock in corporation-men here. That is
now, as you know, worthless."
Yma spoke to him for the first time. "Then don't you feel resentment
towards the men who—who betrayed you?" Her eyes awaited his
answer.
Florin smiled. "I do not feel that I have been betrayed. I know that
the corporation-men, representing the most intelligent element of
Lyrane, wouldn't do this thing without a sound reason."
Erol said, "Apparently you wish to throw in your lot with us, rather
than the mob."
"My loyalty to my teacher and his associates compels me to do so. It
is also my personal desire."
"You won't get any luxury pay for that loyalty," Yma snapped.
"That's unfair. You know Tomlin always advocated proper living from
a moral obligation rather than for mercenary reward."
Their conversation was interrupted by a faint humming. Out over the
valley three gyros were approaching at a low altitude.
Bitterly, Yma said, "Apparently Tomlin's servant has talked to other
people—or perhaps Mr. Brite here—."
Florin shrugged again. "I have no defense except to say that I talked
to no one. Either you believe me or you don't."
Erol chimed in, "You'll have to excuse my daughter; she's upset. I
expected them to discover me long before this. This abandoned
hunting lodge was too well known."
Yma's mind jumped on that. Yes, she thought, How well it is known—
to me. My childhood is stuffed full of memories of this place, all
pleasant. I know the woods around here better than the streets of
the city. Now it will be the scene of this furtive hiding, suspense, and
God knows what new violence.
While she was thinking, Erol was still talking. "I will ask you, since
you are young and more adept in this sort of emergency. What shall
we do?"
Florin glanced at Yma, and saw that the bitterness had left her in the
face of danger. She too looked anxiously to him for help.
"If we stay here," he said, "we will be killed without question. I have
no doubt that those ships are part of the mob. Even if it is the police,
and I doubt there are any left after the rioting, they will imprison us."
Erol said, "This is a hunting lodge. There are some weapons here. We
have nothing but your gyro to escape in, and it's too slow. I can see
that those are police gyros."
"Then we'll fight," Yma declared and rushed inside, with Florin and
Erol following her.
"This place is not much for defense," Florin said while they
rummaged for rifles, for nothing more deadly was allowed outside the
hands of the Galactic Patrol. "I suggest we make it seem peaceful
and surprise them."
"Good idea, boy," Erol said. "If you want, I'll sit outside as a decoy."
"That's great!" Florin said quickly, ignoring Yma's protest. "If they see
you, they will probably land and talk; but if nobody's in sight, they
might bomb us."
The three worked well together, swiftly and efficiently. Erol sat on the
veranda, in the open, with a pistol under a lap robe, while Yma and
Florin stationed themselves inside.
The three gyros approached cautiously. They were the large black
type used by the planetary police, but from the inexpert way they
were handled all three at the lodge knew they were not bearing
police. They carried bombs, the one weapon allowable to planetary
police by the Galactic Patrol, but the men in them would have
nothing more than firearms. Therefore it was imperative to get them
on the ground.
They circled over the lodge, with two finally landing and one
remaining aloft. Florin padded over to Yma, and whispered for her to
station herself in some bushes by the lodge. He told her to try to
shoot down the gyro above when firing began.
Men piled out of the ships which had landed, and approached the
lodge. They spread out and swiftly encircled the building. They all
carried rifles. Florin estimated that there were about twenty of them.
Three of them approached Erol.
"Are you Erol Garbin?"
"Yes. What can I do for you?"
"We are arresting you."
"What for?"
"For betraying the confidence of the people."
"May I see your warrant?"
"We don't need a warrant. We are a people's committee, come to
take you to a people's court, where you will undoubtedly be found
guilty and executed."
"And what if I refuse to recognize your authority?"
"We will have to kill you. Resisting arrest—"
What happened next surprised Florin with its swiftness. Erol flipped
the gun from under the robe and with three snap shots dropped all
three men.
Florin did not let surprise hamper him, for Erol's shots were echoed
by his own rifle, which caught two men who were further away.
As the rest of the attackers dove for cover, Florin was pleased to hear
the blast of a rifle from the side of the lodge, and the whine of a
shattered blade as the gyro plummeted to the ground.
Yma had done well, hitting where he told her, at the base of the
props. The moment of victory was rudely shattered by a volley of fire
from the men around the lodge.
As Erol sprang from his chair and dove towards the door, he was hit
and fell outside. Ignoring his wound he kicked over a table and used
it as a shield, returning fire. Florin's thought of rescuing him was cut
short by Erol's yell, "Get to the back of the lodge. They may rush it."
Florin made a dash for it, finding Erol's words true. The attackers
were moving in. He still heard firing from the front and side, so he
felt reassured.
He was lost in the blind ritual of firing at moving objects. His whole
mind was devoted to the problems of loading clips, changing
windows to keep everything covered, and trying to stay out of the
path of the viciously whining bullets.
This was adventure and excitement. There was the crash of the rifles,
the nasty whistle of ricochets, the moving bodies, sometimes jerking
ludicrously when hit. Yet, to Florin, it was just a job, as it always is in
the face of danger with every man. Just a specialized job with a very
high incentive.
Staying alive.
Florin was surprised when he realized that he had disposed of all the
attackers on his side. Despite their numbers, they were no match for
the trio in the lodge. Florin was an expert marksman, and Erol and
Yma had done enough hunting to be quite proficient. On the other
side of the ledger, the people's committee were completely new to
the business, some of them never having held a gun, and certainly
not used to combat in woods.
When he went up front, he found that Erol had done a magnificent
job despite his wound, beating back several attacks, and killing or
wounding all his men. But he had received two more wounds and he
was lying on the flagstone terrace in a litter of blood and cartridge
cases.
The firing from the bushes at the side had stopped too, and Yma
came rushing up, to kneel beside her father. She screamed at Florin
to get bandages, but it was too late.
In the pastoral woods, men had fought and died, and now they felt
tragedy. But the sky was still blue, and in a nearby dale, a bird
warbled freely.

Late that night, Florin and Yma stopped at a small cabin in the
mountains, finding it deserted. They had been travelling on foot since
the fight, leaving the gyros as too obvious a method of travel.
Yma was still upset over her father's death, and Florin had remained
quiet in consideration. The mountain paths were rocky and steep,
and they were both exhausted. After a cold meal, they sat in the
gathering darkness in the cabin and talked.
"I know it's inconsiderate of me to talk of it," Florin said, "but don't
you feel resentment against the men who killed your father?"
She shook her head and said, "I can't feel resentment, I know that it
was just circumstances. Those men felt justified in what they did—
and maybe they were."
"How can you be so cold-blooded?" he said half-angrily. "Killing is
never justified, and ignorance and violence against intelligent and
kindly men are the supreme injustice."
"Why bother discussing the right and wrong of it," she said wearily.
"It is all over with, all so meaningless—and easily forgotten."
"That's just it," Florin said earnestly. "You've got to think about it,
decide who was right and who was wrong. You've got to decide so
that you can base your future actions and attitudes on that. You can't
just mark it off the books, for it will still be in your head, all jumbled
emotion and no sense."
He was trying desperately to bring her out of apathy. He knew that
the incident and all of its contributing factors must be clinically
analyzed, for both their sakes.
Again she shook her head. "No, they were right, they were betrayed.
Some of those people had their life's saving of luxury pay invested in
the corporation-men, and when those men failed them, they lost their
savings and their futures. Poverty is a treacherous catalyst, it makes
men do weird and horrible things. Common tricks of psychology
added to that, make the whole mess into a primitive society of
revenge and hatred."
Florin saw he had her on the right track, but ran his hand through his
hair in bewilderment as he asked, "But why? We can see the result,
but nobody is willing to tell the cause. I've got to know."
She looked at him, barely discernable in the dark cabin, then said,
"Why are you so interested? Why did you help us?"
"I told you. I was a student of Tomlin, and a believer in the principles
of this planet. I saw it produce a society where intelligence and virtue
were manifest—whether for mercenary or other reasons is
inconsequential. It worked, and it made a wonderful world. I wanted
to do my part in that world—my world.
"Now I want to know why my world has crumbled into a screaming
madhouse of violence."
"Yes, I can understand all too well how you feel. It's really horrible
when you have grown up in a society, learned about its every
intricacy, its principles, and come to have faith in it—then see it
suddenly disintegrate.
"You come to think of your society as the universe, nothing else is as
permanent as your world, your people. You make plans and move
through that society, believing in it with a faith stronger than any
religious faith—for you can see and understand it constantly.
"Then something like this happens. The familiar still exists, but palled
with suffering and horror. People you have known suddenly become
beasts. Your world has collapsed. And even if you know the reason, it
doesn't seem possible, the reason is out of a textbook and unreal,
but the disillusionment and despair are all too real.
"And from such a disintegration, you learn one important thing—how
abysmally ignorant you are of the society that you've lived in, and of
people in general."
There was a long silence.
Finally she said, "I believe in you, and I believe you should know the
reason."
It was a strange scene as the two people, dirty and tired, sat in the
crude cabin by the moonlight and discussed the fate of a world.
"When this planet was colonized," Yma began, "everyone laughed at
us, and said that our radical socio-economic system couldn't work. All
types of people started here. Some were merely looking for a final
refuge, some were criminals and confidence men out to 'take' this
'starry-eyed flock of crackpots'. Most of them, though, were solid
citizens, who believed that this system of paying a man for his
intelligence and virtue on a carefully regulated basis was the proper
compromise between reality and altruism to achieve a Utopia.
"As you know, it did produce a peaceful, cultural world that has few if
any equals in the galaxy. There was one dangerous element in the
plan though. Men were paid for their ability and it was money that
was used; and wherever there is money there is dishonesty and
greed. We had security and precautions against such things
disrupting us internally, but we never counted on outside
interference.
"We joined that galactic company known as Universal Relief. Our
government maintained that it performs the highest type of good
deeds, they do it for profit, nevertheless it was still a beneficial
organization. Its motive of meritorious work for profit was quite
similar to our own economic structure, so we invested heavily in the
company, both on an individual and a governmental level. We also
gave them a large premium, because of our—well, our eccentricity.
We were considered unstable, and I guess the company knew what it
was talking about." The last comment was with a wry bitterness that
stung Florin.
"Anyway, in the last few years a rival company has sprung up. This
company, Galactic Aid, has made great strides and is a serious
competitor to Universal Relief.
"—The managers of Galactic Aid thought that if they could take our
account and investment from Universal, Galactic Aid would have a
distinct advantage and eventually break their competitor. They tried
salesmanship first, but we were loyal to the original company.
"Then they tried other means."
Until then her story had been told in the dispassionate voice of a
mechanical reader, but when she continued, there was vehemence.
"In a galactic company there is inconceivable power, and
inconceivable greed. They are willing, and able, to go to any lengths
to gain an economic advantage over a rival. The fate of one planet,
more or less, is irrelevant.
"Galactic Aid's method of destroying us for that advantage was very
crude and very simple; but effective because of its simplicity.
"As you know, the ratio of corporation-men to citizens here is very
disproportionate, and the economy of the planet is vested in
comparatively few individuals. These few people were the ones
Galactic Aid attacked.
"They sent their agents to the corporation-men, my father included,
and told them to stop research, writing, art, or whatever they were
doing to earn their luxury pay. They promised protection if they were
threatened by the people, and also promised full re-instatement after
normalcy had returned, plus a sizeable bonus for co-operating. The
ones who refused this offer, were threatened, each one personally
and their families. It was mass terrorization, and they actually killed a
few to prove their seriousness.
"Because of our social structure, this plan could, and did work. There
are only 224 corporation-men with over a hundred stockholders.
These people are, of course, quite clannish and have little actual
contact with the masses. Therefore, this mass threat was heightened
by the unity of the small group that it affected.
"You know the rest. Under this pressure the incorporated men
stopped producing, the economy crumbled, and the riots began.
"We have developed a peaceful, cultural society, but no matter how
civilized and stabilized a society is, once you knock out the financial
props, the populace is going to go mad.
"The corporation-men didn't receive the promised protection. They
soon realized that they had been tricked, but it was too late. Galactic
Aid wanted them destroyed by the mob; they wanted murder and
riots; and they wanted a Class AA emergency which would drain
Universal Relief's resources.
"They wanted an economic debacle on Lyrane, thus cutting off a
large source of Universal's income.
"When the corporation-men tried to tell the people the truth, the
mobs called them liars and killed them."
Yma appeared to be more relaxed after she had relieved her
burdened mind. Florin, however, was stunned.
"I know it's terrible," she said, "but what can we do? What can
anyone do? Their plan has succeeded, and the planet is too far into
chaos to patch up things.
"There is nothing that can be done, so we have only individual
survival to consider."
Florin said, "I don't know what your personal plans are, but I've got
to go back to the cities. I've got work to do." She didn't question him.
The next morning, after a solid night's sleep, they separated. Yma
headed through the mountains to some relatives, while Florin struck
out for the capital.

The office of the new, self-appointed Planetary Governor of Lyrane

was quite busy. It was the disorganization of a new office, set up
during an emergency. And yet, it was an office, a recognizable
political mechanism.
Considering the murderous imbroglio that this planet had been
facing, such an office, even in disorganized form, was quite
surprising.
Due to the confusion and a knack for bluffing, Florin Brite was able to
gain admittance to the Secretary-Governor's office. This official, a
former municipal police chief, was obviously impressed with his new
position. He was quite brusque to Florin.
"What is it man? I hope that it's important—don't want my time
wasted. We're frightfully busy."
"I can see that, sir. I merely wished to establish my classification in
the new administration."
"Good grief man!" the Secretary-Governor exploded. "We've
published classification lists. Do I have to tell every man, woman and
child their classification? Are you blind—or just too lazy to read?"
"My classification isn't listed," Florin said mildly.
"Isn't listed? What classification is that?"
"A scientist—and a former corporation-man."
Years of police work and interrogation had steeled the official. There
was no surprise shown. "We handle those cases directly, Mr. ah—ah
—"
"Florin Brite."
"Mr. Brite, there is a feeling of—uh—well, touchiness about such
individuals so we handle their cases in confidence. I'm glad you came
here—"
"Yes, you're quite delighted," Florin was no longer mild. "You're also
quite amazed—for you had no idea that there were any corporation-
men left after the 'purge', a very thorough purge, I might add."
"Now, see what I mean about touchiness? We were not responsible,
not even involved in that mess. This new government is composed of
citizens who merely wish stability and sanity. Co-operation is our
keynote—"
"Cut it. I don't need the party platform, I've read your handbills. I
just want to know, what about me?"
"Well, you will undoubtedly have to be put under some sort of
protective custody. There is still strong feeling—"
Their tete a tete was interrupted by a rushing clerk shouting wildly.
"They did it! Universal Relief finally declared it a Class AA!"
The clerk was brandishing a sheet of paper, which he proffered to the
Secretary, who took it with an expression of pleasure. His reading
was interrupted by Florin's voice.
"It seems highly unnecessary that we be declared Class AA now. You
people have done such a marvelous job of organizing an emergency
government that everything seems to be well under control."
"Nonsense man," the Secretary declared. "There is still isolated
fighting and rioting, even murder is not unusual."
"I merely wished to congratulate you on your speedy action. It was
almost as if this government was waiting to spring into existence."
The irony was very thinly veiled.
The Planetary Governor himself had entered the office while Florin
was speaking.
There was ice in his voice as he said, "What do you mean by that,
sir?"
Florin turned and bowed to him. When he spoke again, the veil was
torn off and the irony was as flagrant as a dead rat—and as fragrant.
"Good day sir. I'm delighted to meet you. I was merely commenting
to your Secretary on your efficiency and speed which has so helped
this planet in its hour of need."
The Governor's eyes ossified. "Just words. What do you want?"
The irony disappeared, and Florin's voice transmuted to a tone of
accustomed authority. "I want to find out just how you were able to
organize and take over so quickly in this emergency. With this
planet's economy completely shot after the corporation-men quit
producing and with stocks down to nothing, I am fascinated by the
problem of how you got financial backing."
"That is none of your business."
"On the contrary, it is very much my business. You left your offices in
rather a turmoil in your rush to take control. Since you haven't had
the time to security screen your governmental employees, the files
were as open as if they'd been set on the sidewalks.
"From those files, my agents have procured some interesting items,
such as—" and he paused to pull out a sheaf of papers—"cancelled
checks made out to officials of your new government from Titanic
Food Distributors, a subsidiary of Galactic Aid.
"Also a detailed plan of organization for this government, outlining
each step for acquisition of power during the emergency. This plan is
dated two years ago and is initialed 'CRS', which, I believe, are the
initials of the president of Galactic Aid Incorporated. Hand-writing
analysts will sew that one up.
"The plan is quite fascinating. It gives the procedure for your present
establishment: the vigilantes gradually converted to city councils,
local governments, consisting of confused and unprepared citizens
gullible to the suggestions of agent provocateurs, regional then
international conventions to formulate the new government. And at
every turn, every election, guided by citizen-agents who would never
have seen political power under the old status quo.
"The future of this plan is even more fascinating—putting Lyrane on
an industrialized economy, when Lyrane has never had industrial
potential, gumming up the works with embargoes and tariffs; and a
bureaucratic, leech-like government that will sop up everything in
taxes.
"It's a masterpiece of planning—of planning the permanent financial
and moral destruction of a planet."
The planetary officials had suddenly been confronted by a master
duelist, this stranger was a swords-man with complete command of
riposte, parry and thrust. All they could do was try a few clumsy
lunges.
"Just who the hell are you to take charge this way and say these
preposterous things?" the Governor asked.
Florin replied. "You, I know, are a minor executive of one of Galactic
Aid's subsidiaries. I happen to be Roald Gibbons, head of Universal
Relief.
"And since you want the cards on the table—here they are.
"We have this evidence that I have mentioned, and much more, all
under lock and key now. We will use that evidence to prove that this
planetary government was and is sponsored by Galactic Aid for the
purpose of exploiting this planet in a negative sense and thereby
removing it from the accounts of Universal Relief.
"We also have a solid case to prove that you, or some of your
cohorts, incited the original treason and violence that caused this
whole mess. My special investigators have unearthed the cobra nest
of your government, while I personally had the satisfaction of
gathering proof of your hand in the corporation-men purge."
From a casual administrative difficulty, Florin had turned the
conversation, since he entered, into a venomous attack. Florin had
remained standing, but the two officials had retired to chairs. As
opposition, they were discouragingly silent, but Florin had more than
enough to carry the conversation alone.
The two governors were just listening, appalled, but as all men do
when they watch their world crumbling, figuring angles, escapes,
explanations. But Florin, or rather Roald, was smashing angles faster
than they could think of them.
"Furthermore," he continued to the silent men, "if you will read that
bulletin declaring this planet under Class AA emergency, you will find
some interesting facts. As you may or may not know, when a planet
is declared Class AA by a relief company, that company is empowered
by galactic law to have several controls.
"Those controls consist of complete administration of the planet until
status quo is resumed, establishment of martial law with the right to
arrest and confiscate any persons or things that may have caused the
emergency, confiscation of all planetary currency to be retained and
re-issued at face value when normalcy returns and, of course, the
right to bring charges in Galactic Court against individuals or
organizations that have caused the emergency.
"On that last point, we, Universal Relief that is, have many charges to
bring against Galactic Aid and its agents on this planet. First there is
the charge of coercion, readily proved by the testimony of the
corporation-men ... yes, there are some left. We protected them.
Other charges will include inciting planetary revolution, establishing a
false government through outside sources, and—oh, just lots of
others.
"Since you are an executive in Galactic Aid's organization, I will speak
for your benefit now." Roald moved over and faced the Governor.
"You were pulled in from some desk job to handle this fledgling
government. You had your orders, and for you it was mostly a paper
operation. You understand what I have just been talking about,
because you know galactic law.
"But now, let's talk about something you aren't familiar with. Let's
talk about violence, death, and a sick planet—the things that your
company planned and executed.
"For that your company will stand trial and be found guilty. It will
probably be outlawed, and certainly bankrupt once fines and
reparations are paid. Meanwhile, this planet, under the guidance of
Universal Relief, will be helped to recuperate and the people will be
informed of the gross injustice they have suffered. I am sure they will
then desire to return to their previous system.
"But so much for the future. What about the past? Do you fully
realize the enormity of the crime that your company has committed?
"Of course you don't. You weren't with me when I saw a nice old
gentleman, one of the most brilliant minds of the age, blasted down
with primitive rifles and even more primitive rage. You haven't heard
the screams at night, have you? You weren't around, and neither was
I, thank God, when Gerta Robin, that beautiful woman physicist was
caught by the mob.
"Friend against friend, and the old hunting guns polished up for more
deadly and constant shooting—is that a story that belongs in galactic
history? Is it for this that great galactic corporations work—to turn
peaceable planets into charnel houses for a stinking profit?
"That's the charge that you, and the rest of your workers, will have to
answer to—not in courts, but to the people of the Galaxy.
"And, most important—to yourselves!"
With that, he strode out.

Kim Rogers was again in the presence of Roald Gibbons, and he was
angry again.
"And don't look so smug. I know what you did. I worked with your
father long enough to know about his special agents—but don't think
the operation was all your doing.
"What do you think happened here when you sent that spacegram
tipping us off that it was Galactic Aid behind the mess, and that we
were to declare it a Class AA. It was a madhouse!
"It accomplished the desired result," Roald said. "When the Governor
and the Secretary read that Class AA bulletin—and it took careful
planning and timing to get into their office just when it was delivered
—with me there to pound it home, they sort of faded about the gills.
"They came running to me in a few minutes. Now they are Honor
Witnesses at Galactic Court, with more than enough testimony to sew
up Galactic Aid."
Roald had a hard time keeping his mind on the present conversation.
He was due to blast to Lyrane in a few hours. His company was
proceeding with rehabilitation ahead of schedule, with the natural
zealousness of the Lyranians for their old system helping them along.
Roald had not forgotten the piquant beauty of Erol Garbin's daughter.
He had a hard time keeping his mind on the conversation.
"If anyone else had read that Class AA bulletin," Kim said, "we would
have been sewed up. You know perfectly well we don't have the
powers you had us state in that bulletin. It was a galactic offense to
even print such a thing. What if the Governor had known that?"
"I counted on him not knowing it. Even though he was an executive
of Galactic Aid, Class AA emergencies are so rare that very few
people are familiar with their actual provisions.
"Certainly, it was a risky bluff. But when you're dealing with that sort
of power, you have to bluff fast and hard. We didn't have enough
evidence to actually stop Galactic. We needed inside testimony. When
you rescinded the Class AA order, two hours later, the confession was
already signed."
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