The Status Civilization

"So I wanted to see one," Ronny said. He was an undersized child with a pinched, intelligent face. "He wanted to see one," the man explained. "I told him it wasn't necessary, since all the facts and pictures are in the encyclopedia. But he wanted to see one." "It gives me a good opening paragraph," Ronny said. "Of course," Barrent said, nodding vigorously. He was beginning to wonder about the man. For a member of the secret police, he was certainly taking a devious route. "You work on the ships?" Ronny asked. "That's right." "How fast do they go?" "In real or subspace?" Barrent asked. This question seemed to throw Ronny off his stride. He pushed out his lower lip and said, "Gee, I didn't know they went in subspace." He thought for a moment. "As a matter of fact, I don't think I know what subspace is." Barrent and the boy's father smiled understandingly. "Well," Ronny said, "how fast do they go in real space?" "A hundred thousand miles an hour," Barrent said, naming the first figure that came into his head. The boy nodded, and his father nodded. "Very fast," the father said. "And much faster in subspace of course," Barrent said. "Of course," the man said. "Starships are very fast indeed. They have to be. Quite long distances involved. Isn't that right, sir?" "Very long distances," Barrent said. "How is the ship powered?" Ronny asked. "In the usual way," Barrent told him. "We had triplex boosters installed last year, but that comes more under the classification of auxiliary power."