(eng) Mack Reynolds - United Planets 05 by Amazon Planet

Author:Amazon Planet [Planet, Amazon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Guy looked at her. "I know I'll get to the bottom sooner or later," he muttered. "Who elects the heads of the phratras?"

"Each phratra is composed of ten genos. The elected head of each genos votes for the chief of the phratra to which he belongs."

"And…" Guy said patiently.

The major wound it up. "The genos is the basic unit of our society. Its membership has a common name, going back to a supposed common ancestor. All members of the genos have certain rights and duties toward their fellow members."

"Kind of a great big, happy family, eh?" Guy said.

"Exactly. It is a type of family, but composed of thousands of persons."

"And each adult member has the right to vote for the person who represents the genos, eh?"

The major became slightly huffy. "Don't be ridiculous. Not the men, of course."

"Oh," Guy said sarcastically. "Of course not." The major said, "Today the Senate which is composed of the heads of each genos is not in session. You will be received by only the Hippolyte, flanked by her council which consists of the four phylon chiefs. When you are presented, you will bow and remain silent until addressed." She added, "I'll stand next to you. The Hippolyte seldom bothers with men, of course. Try not to make a flat of yourself."

Guy said in a sarcastic tone, "I'll do my best."

Her eyes turned bleak. "Don't be cute with me, boy. I'm handing this job because I was ordered to. But I don't like uppity men, understand?"

"I suspected it all along, Major," Guy got out. "Let's go."

Out in the corridors again, they fell into their old pattern of precedence. The major led, followed by the Earthling, followed in turn by Clete and Lysippe.

It would seem this building connected to the palace, or wherever it was that the Hippolyte held audience, by an underground passage. At any rate, they stepped into what Guy at first assumed was an elevator, but it turned out to be an elevator with ramifications. It sank, that feeling he could recognize, but at what he would have assumed to be the bottom of the shaft, no door opened. Instead, they began to move swiftly sideways. This continued for several minutes until they stopped, shunted this way, shunted that for a short distance, then began to mount again.

"What is this?" Guy growled. "An amusement park ride?"

"Shut up," the major rapped.

"Shut up yourself," he snapped back.

The three of them stared at him.

Finally Clete laughed. "Sweety," she said, "you're the most effeminate man I ever saw in my life. Damned if I know what Minythyia sees in you. She'd have to spend the first year teaching you your place."

"That'd be fun," Guy muttered. He was getting fed up with this chaotic relationship between the sexes. On top of everything else, that description he'd just had of the workings of the Paphlagonia government made about as much sense as anything else on this crackpot world. What were the duties of these layers upon layers of elected

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