**ROSE, Murray S.:
Choice?**
“Query,” he said.
**ROSE, Murray S.:
?**
“According to contemporary standards,” said Murray, “rate the planets on the list, insofar as the following criteria are concerned: comfort of climate and terrain, probability of cultivating normal dietary constituents, minimum at least of aesthetic pleasures, lack of serious dangers consisting of animal, vegetable, mineral, geological, and meteorological threats, at least one potential homesite with optimum conditions implied by the above and entailing what we understand to be essential for normal life and human happiness. Narrow the list to three choices.”
TECT ransacked its memories for nearly a minute. Finally the original list of worlds on the CRT vanished, replaced by Epsilon Eridani, Planet D; Tau Ceti, Planet C; and Pasogh 1874, Planet C.
**ROSE, Murray S.:
Choice?**
“Print data on the three choices. Request hard copy.” Immediately, full profiles of the three planets appeared in the form of fiches, through a slot beneath the CRT screen. Murray studied the material for a couple of hours. Just before dinner he went to the tect. After Choice?** he typed, Pasogh 1874, Planet C. Then he went out and told his parents, who laughed skeptically. The next morning another message on the tect waited for him. It said:
**ROSE, Murray S. RepNA Dis9 Secl4 Loc58-NY-337
M154-62-485-39Min
08:38:06 1OJuly 467 YR RepGreet MANDATORY**
**ROSE, Murray S.:
Greetings from the Representative of North America (text follows) (conditions follow) (commands follow)**
**ROSE, Murray S.:
The Representative of North America congratulates you on your superlative score in the Twelfth-year Test, and on your award. Your planet, Pasogh 1874,
Planet C, has been readied for you, according to current standards and the wishes of the Representative.
You are to report to TECT TELETRANS Main Substation by 12:00:00 11July 467 YR. Failure to do so will be considered Contempt of RepWish**
**ROSE, Murray S.:
You are enjoined against worry, for your planet has been prepared with more than enough material for all sustenance and a generous share of luxury.
You are advised to terminate all business and to appoint an agent to govern those affairs that cannot be brought to a conclusion by noon tomorrow**
**ROSE, Murray S.:
Name agent**
“Rose, Gordon J.,” said Murray.
**ROSE, Murray S.:
State relationship to agent**
“He’s my father.”
**ROSE, Murray S.:
Congratulations once more. Good luck**
And that was it. Murray stared at the console for several seconds, still futilely trying to understand what had happened. He had been given a planet. That in itself was unbelievable enough; but he was expected—no, he was compelled—to settle on the unknown place in a matter of hours. He thought about how he would break the news to his parents. He went back to the tect. He identified himself to the console and waited for the ?** to appear. When it did, he said, “Request.”
**ROSE, Murray S.:
State request**
“I’d like a printout of all material relayed through this console since l0July 467 YR RepGreet.” In a few seconds a fiche appeared in the slot. Murray took the fiche into the living room and explained the situation to his parents. Their skepticism of the previous day turned first to wonder, then to pride, and at last to horror.
“Tomorrow?” cried Murray’s mother. “What kind of a thing is that? Tomorrow?”
“You’re going away? Where?” asked his father, who couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of the situation.
“I’m going to another planet,” said Murray wearily. “Somewhere out in space. By another star. They gave it to me.”
“But what about us?” asked his mother, sobbing. “What about you? What about college? Are you going all by yourself?”
“I guess so,” said Murray. He hadn’t thought about it that way, the only human being on an entire world. He felt cold suddenly, frightened and lonely.
“Who are these Representatives?” said his father. “How can they tear a family apart like this? How can they ruin a fine boy’s life?”
“You don’t understand,” said Murray. “It’s an honor. Not even the Representatives themselves have a whole planet to govern. It’s a special award, because of how well I did in school.”
“I want you here, Murray,” said his mother. Murray just sighed. He explained to his father about the job of acting as Murray’s agent; then Murray went back to his room to pack.
The next day he awoke early, dressed, made himself a small breakfast, and checked his suitcases again. His father came into Murray’s room and shook his son’s hand. “Your mother’s upset,” he said. “I gave her a pill last night, so she won’t wake up until after you’re gone.”
“Okay,” said Murray. “I’ll miss her. I’ll miss you.”
“It’s a hell of an opportunity, I suppose,” said Murray’s father. “I have to get down to the Substation. It’s getting late.” Murray loaded his luggage into his small car. His father stood on the driveway, looking worried and sad. Just before Murray began backing out of the drive, his father came to the car and shook hands again. Murray said nothing.
There were only a few people in the Substation. Teletrans was an expensive way to travel; people made long journeys by train, or they saved their money for the trip by tect. There didn’t seem to be anyone to meet Murray. He went up to a uniformed CAS guard and explained his predicament.
“Certainly, Mr. Rose,” said the guard. He spoke with more deference than Murray had ever experienced. “Just check in at the TECT desk over there.” Murray began to wrestle his suitcases across the broad, polished floor, but to his surprise the guard offered to carry one of the bags. Murray nodded, and carried the other suitcase to the TECT control station.
“Mr. Rose?” asked one of the uniformed women there. Murray nodded. “Just sign here, and step through. You’ll have to leave those bags behind.”
“But I’ll need—”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Rose,” said the woman. “The office of the Representative specified ‘No Luggage.’ It costs too much to ship it through, and they’ve taken care of all your needs on the other side.” Murray shrugged and signed the release form.
“Through here?” he asked, pointing to a small door in the building’s wall, apparently leading back out to the parking lot. The woman waved him away impatiently. Murray took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked through.
He was on another world.
Behind him there was the sound of the door sighing closed. He turned around quickly, but there was no hint of building or portal. Murray stood in the midst of a meadow of tall, waving grass. The field ran unbroken to the horizon, the light turquoise color of the grass making the scene more like a seascape than virgin prairie. To his left, on a small knoll, stood a house. Murray walked toward it, enjoying the odd smells of the plants and the moist red soil. The sun was low in the sky; whether it was rising or setting he could not immediately decide. The star around which Planet C traveled was of a more orange color than Earth’s sun. And the sky had a magenta tint to it that startled Murray several times on the way to the house.
A note was tacked to the front gate. It said:
Congratulations, Murray S. Rose! Welcome to your new home! The crops in your fields are nearly ready to be harvested. These fruits and vegetables have been grown under the supervision of the Representatives, and are recommended for flavor and nutrition. Cooking instructions and menu suggestions will be found in the kitchen, along with helpful hints toward saving seeds, etc., for next year’s crops. Though the plants may look bizarre and unsavory, you will soon learn to value their manifold benefits.