"Rebellion?"
"No. Intermarriage. Racial blending. There was a psychology of guilt
behind it. So huge a crime eventually required a proportionate
expiation. Afrikaans is still the world language, but there is only one
race now. No more masters or slaves."
They were both silent for a moment, and then she sighed. "Let us not
talk about them any more."
"Robot factories and farms," Maitland mused. "What else? What means of
transportation? Do you have interstellar flight yet?"
"Inter-what?"
"Have men visited the stars?"
She shook her head, bewildered.
"I always thought that would be a tough problem to crack," he agreed.
"But tell me about what men are doing in the Solar System. How is life
on Mars and Venus, and how long does it take to get to those places?"
He waited, expectantly silent, but she only looked puzzled. "I don't
understand. Mars? What are Mars?"
After several seconds, Maitland swallowed. Something seemed to be the
matter with his throat, making it difficult for him to speak. "Surely
you have space travel?"