He reached out and stroked shiny barrel. "Manuel, once there was a man who held a political make-work job like so many here in this Directorate, shining brass cannon around a courthouse."

"Why would courthouse have cannon?"

"Never mind. He did this for years. It fed him and let him save a bit, but he was not getting ahead in the world. So one day he quit his job, drew out his savings, bought a brass cannon--and went into business for himself."

"Sounds like idiot."

"No doubt. And so were we, when we tossed out the Warden. Manuel, you'll outlive me. When Luna adopts a flag, I would like it to be a cannon or, on field sable, crossed by bar sinister gules of our proudly ignoble lineage. Do you think it could be managed?"

"Suppose so, if you'll sketch. But why a flag? Not a flagpole in all Luna."

"It can fly in our hearts... a symbol for all fools so ridiculously impractical as to think they can fight city hail. Will you remember, Manuel?"

"Sure. That is, will remind you when time comes." Didn't like such talk. He had started using oxygen tent in private--and would not use in public.

Guess I'm "ignorant" and "stubborn"--was both in place called Lexington, Kentucky, in Central Managerial Area. One thing no doctrine about, no memorized answers, was life in Luna. Prof said to tell truth and emphasize homely, warm, friendly things, especially anything different. "Remember, Manuel, the thousands of Terrans who have made short visits to Luna are only a tiny fraction of one percent. To most people we will be as weirdly interesting as strange animals in a zoo. Do you remember that turtle on exhibition in Old Dome? That's us."

Certainly did; they wore that insect out, staring at. So when this male-female team started quizzing about family life in Luna was happy to answer. I prettied it only by what I left out--things that aren't family life but poor substitutes in a community overloaded with males, Luna City is homes and families mainly, dull by Terra standards--but I like it. And other warrens much same, people who work and raise kids and gossip and find most of their fun around dinner table. Not much to tell, so I diseussed anything they found interesting. Every Luna custom comes from Terra since that's where we all came from, but Terra is such a big place that a custom from Micronesia, say, may be strange in North America.

This woman--can't call her lady--wanted to know about various sorts of marriage. First, was it true that one could get married without a license "on" Luna?

I asked what a marriage license was?

Her companion said, "Skip it, Mildred. Pioneer societies never have marriage licenses."

"But don't you keep records?" she persisted.

"Certainly," I agreed. "My family keeps a family book that goes back almost to first landing at Johnson City--every marriage, birth, death, every event of importance not only in direct line but all branches so far as we can keep track. And besides, is a man, a schoolteacher, going around copying old family records all over our warren, writing a history of Luna City. Hobby."

"But don't you have official records? Here in Kaintucky we have records that go back hundreds of years."

"Madam, we haven't lived there that long."

"Yes, but-- Well, Luna City must have a city clerk. Perhaps you call him 'county recorder.' The official who keeps track of such things. Deeds and so forth."

I said. "Don't think so, madam. Some bookies do notary work, witnessing chops on contracts, keeping records of them. Is for people who don't read and write and can't keep own records. But never heard of one asked to keep record of marriage. Not saying couldn't happen. But haven't heard."

"How delightfully informal! Then this other rumor, about how simple it is to get a divorce on the Moon. I daresay that's true, too?"

"No, madam, wouldn't say divorce is simple. Too much to untangle. Mmm... take a simple example, one lady and say she has two husbands--"

"Two?"

"Might have more, might have just one. Or might be complex marriage. But let's take one lady and two men as typical. She decides to divorce one. Say it's friendly, with other husband agreeing and one she is getting rid of not making fuss. Not that it would do him any good. Okay, she divorces him; he leaves. Still leaves endless things. Men might be business partners, co-husbands often are. Divorce may break up partnership. Money matters to settle. This three may own cubic together, and while will be in her name, ex-husband probably has cash coming or rent. And almost always are children to consider, support and so forth. Many things. No, madam, divorce is never simple. Can divorce him in ten seconds but may take ten years to straighten out loose ends. Isn't it much that way here?"

"Uh... just fuhget ah evah asked the question, Cunn'l; it may be simpluh hyuh." (She did talk that way but was understandable once I got program. Won't spell it again.) "But if that is a simple marriage, what is a 'complex' one?"

Found self explaining polyandries, clans, groups, lines, and less common patterns considered vulgar by conservative people such as my own family--deal my mother set up, say, after she ticked off my old man, though didn't describe that one; Mother was always too extreme.

Woman said, "You have me confused. What is the difference between a line and a clan?"

Are quite different. Take own case. I have honor to be member of one of oldest line marriages in Luna--and, in my prejudiced opinion, best. You asked about divorce. Our family has never had one and would bet long odds never will. A line marriage increases in stability year after year, gains practice in art of getting along together, until notion of anybody leaving is unthinkable. Besides, takes unanimous decision of all wives to divorce a husband--could never happen. Senior wife would never let it get that far."

Went on describing advantages--financial security, fine home life it gives children, fact that death of a spouse, while tragic, could never be tragedy it was in a temporary family, especially for children--children simply could not be orphaned. Suppose I waxed too enthusiastic--but my family is most important thing in my life. Without them I'm just one-armed mechanic who could be eliminated without causing a draft.

"Here's why is stable," I said. "Take my youngest wife, sixteen. Likely be in her eighties before is senior wife. Doesn't mean all wives senior to her will die by then; unlikely in Luna, females seem to be immortal. But may all opt out of family management by then; by our family traditions they usually do, without younger wives putting pressure on them. So Ludmilla--"

"Ludmilla?"

"Russki name. From fairy tale. Milla will have over fifty years of good example before has to carry burden. She's sensible to start with, not likely to make mistakes and if did, has other wives to steady her. Self-correcting, like a machine with proper negative feedback. A good line marriage is immortal; expect mine to outlast me at least a thousand years--and is why shan't mind dying when time comes; best part of me will go on living."

Prof was being wheeled out; he had them stop stretcher cart and listened. I turned to him. "Professor," I said, "you know my family. Would mind telling this lady why it's a happy family? If you think so."

"It is," agreed Prof. "However, I would rather make a more general remark. Dear madam, I gather that you find our Lunar marriage customs somewhat exotic."

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far!" she said hastily. "Just somewhat unusual."

"They arise, as marriage customs always do, from economic necessities of the circumstances--and our circumstances are very different from those here on Earth. Take the line type of marriage which my colleague has been praising...nd justifiably, I assure you, despite his personal bias--I am a bachelor and have no bias. Line marriage is the strongest possible device for conserving capital and insuring the welfare of children--the two basic societal functions for marriage everywhere--in an enviroment in which there is no security, neither for capital nor for children, other than that devised by individuals. Somehow human beings always cope with their environments. Line marriage is a remarkably successful invention to that end. All other Lunar forms of marriage serve that same purpose, though not as well."