[1] In the story, the heir to a galactic empire tours a museum-like Earth, accompanied by a bodyguard who is a resident.
In Kentucky, Kyle Arnam, whose ancestors were bodyguards to the Emperor's ancestors "back in the wars of conquest against the aliens", is required to accompany the Emperor's eldest son, who is visiting Earth and traveling incognito.
A busboy, noticing his arrogant behavior, takes hold of his arm; the Prince is scandalized and attacks him.
Kyle realizes the Prince, a coward, has failed the test set by the Emperor, and he takes action.
It won the Nebula Award for Best Novelette in 1967, and was included in Nebula Award Stories Two;[1] in the introduction to the story, the editors wrote: "His Emperor has the ring of a true emperor, and behind him we are aware of that star-spanning empire and of the problems it must present."
The story was described, in an obituary by David Langford, as "a short, unflinching parable of power and responsibility".