court to stop Wembling; he has a seemingly valid charter. Meantime, Wembling's niece Talitha and his hired (and fired) anthropologist Hort form a relationship. They discover Obrien's wrecked craft and read his log, including his notes on the Plan; they are amazed that one man could have created such a complete and detailed scheme, including Obrien's masterstroke. Sympathizing with the natives and fearing to interfere with the Plan, they keep their newfound knowledge to themselves. In accordance with the Plan, the people have been secretly learning to read. After having achieved the required high literacy rate, they successfully petition for membership in the Galactic Federation. The Plan then enters its endgame: the duly formed planetary government imposes a tax rate of 1000%. Since the natives have few personal assets, they can easily afford to pay, but such an exorbitant rate would bankrupt Wembling. The developer is helpless: a government can impose any tax it wishes, as long as it is applied equally to all. The new government plans to build schools, parks, and hospitals to benefit the people. In the short story, it even hires Wembling, admiring his ruthless energy, if not his morals. (In the novel, he departs in disgust after trying to offer the new government a deal on a hotel.) Differences between the novel and short story versions In the short story, there is a break of unspecified length between Obrien's death and the arrival of new space ships. Fornri does not appear in the section where Obrien does. In the short story, Wembling does not arrive on the initial exploring ship, but is appointed ambassador by the local Sector Governor after the first treaty has been signed. He is said to have "bothered" the native women, which is never suggested in the novel. Talitha Warr and Eric Hort do not appear in the short story at all—their role in the final scene is taken by the Navy admiral who negotiates the initial treaty. Fornri and Wembling are much more briefly drawn in the short story version. Fornri's uncertainty and romantic frustration are not mentioned. Indeed, no female characters of any significance appear in the short story version, while the novel features the paired romances of Fornri and Dalla, and Talitha and Hort. The Federation court system is not shown in the short story version; only its decisions are mentioned. No action occurs on any world but