JOE CHESSMAN was at the controls of the space lighter.  At his side sat Leonid Plekhanov and behind them the other seven members of their team, including Isobel Sanchez.  They had circled Texcoco twice at great altitude, four times at a lesser one.  Now they were low enough to spot a few man-made works.

"Nomadic," Plekhanov muttered.  "Nomadic and village cultures."

"A few dozen urbanized cultures," Chessman said.  "Whoever first compared the most advanced nation to the Aztecs was accurate, except for the fact that they base themselves along a river rather than on a mountain plateau."

Plekhanov said, "Similarities to the Egyptians and Sumerians, and the Indus valley culture of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa - what Lewis Morgan would have called the latter stage of barbarism."  He looked over his beefy shoulder at the technician who was photographing the areas over which they passed.  "How does our geographer progress, Roberts?"

Natt Roberts brought his eyes up from his camera viewer, "I've got most of what we'll need for awhile, sir."

Isobel Sanchez said, "It's a beautiful world, Leonid."

Plekhanov ignored her use of his first name and turned back to Chessman.  "We might as well head for their principle city, the one with the pyramids.  We'll make initial contact there.  I like the suggestion of surplus labor available."

"Surplus labor?" Chessman said, setting the controls.  "How do you know?"

"Pryamids," Plekhanov rumbled.  "I've always been of the opinion that such projects as pyramids, whether they be in Yucatan or Egypt, are make-work affairs.  A priesthood, or other evolving ruling clique, keeping its people busy and out of mischief."

Chessman adjusted a speed lever and settled back.  "I can see their point, keep the yokes busy and they don t have time to wonder why they, who do all the hard work, don't have the living standard of their betters."

"But I don't agree with it," Plekhanov said ponderously.  "A society that builds pyramids is a static one.  Both the Mayans and Egyptians are classic examples; for centuries, neither changed its basic culture.  For that matter, any society that resorts to make-work projects to busy its citizenry has something basically wrong, and that includes the New Deal back in the Twentieth Century."

"Never heard of that one," Hawkins said, from his rear seat.

Joe Chessman said sourly, "I wasn't supporting the idea, just understanding the viewpoint of the priests.  They'd made a nice thing for themselves and didn't want to see anything happen to it.  It's not the only time a group in the saddle has held up progress for the sake of remaining there.  Priests, slave owners, feudalistic barons, or bureaucrats of the Twentieth Century police states.  A ruling clique will never give up power without pressure."

Barry Watson leaned forward and pointed down and to the right.  "There's the river," he said.  "And there's their capital city.  Whoever selected its location didn't have much of an eye for defense."

"It probably wasn't selected," Chessman said.  "It probably just evolved there from some original watering place, or trade crossroads."

The small spacecraft settled at decreasing speed.

Chessman said, "The central square?  It seems to be their market, by the number of people."

"I suppose so," Plekhanov said.  "Right there before the largest pyramid.  We'll remain inside the craft for the rest of today and tonight."

Isobel said, her voice low, "But good heavens, that's going to be awfully... intimate.  Me in here with you eight men."

Natt Roberts, who had put away his camera, backed her.  "Yes, why?  Doctor Sanchez is right.  It's too crowded in here."