Araminta Station by Jack Vance Page A

appointment was made permanent.
    Chilke at once instituted a general shake-up which in due course ran him afoul of Namour. At issue were the Yips assigned to the airport staff, where they performed such tasks as keeping the field in order, washing and cleaning the aircraft, checking spare parts in and out of the warehouse, and a few simple tasks of routine maintenance, or even mechanical work, under Chilke’s supervision.
    Up to this time Chilke had not yet been assigned an assistant manager. To lighten his own work load, he trained his four Yips with care, and finally brought them to a level where they actually seemed interested in what they were doing. Nevertheless, at the end of their six-month stint, Namour sent them back to Yipton and assigned Chilke four fresh Yips.
    Chilke protested with fervor: “What the bloody hell is going on? Do you think I’m running a ruddy educational institution here? Not on your life!”
    Namour said coldly: “These people are here on six-month permits. That is the rule. I did not make this rule, but I am required to enforce it.”
    “And sometimes you do,” said Chilke. “Sometimes you are busy elsewhere. At the hospital Yip orderlies get new cards every six months and nothing is said; also in the tailor shop and much of the domestic help. I’m not complaining; it only makes sense. Why train these geezers if you intend to send them back to Yipton? There’s no flyers at Yipton, so far as I know. If you want trained Yips for Yipton, you train them yourself.”
    “You’re talking nonsense, Chilke!”
    With amiable pertinacity Chilke continued. “If I can’t keep the ones I have now, don’t send any at all. I’ll bring in my own help.”
    Namour drew himself up to his full height. Slowly turning his head, he brought a glacial stare to bear on Chilke. He said: “Listen well, Chilke, so that there will be no misunderstanding. Your orders come from me and you will do exactly as you are told. Otherwise, two roads lead into the future. The first is uneventful: you resign with your health and leave Araminta Station by the first ship.”
    Chilke’s ropy grin grew even broader. He put his hand upon Namour’s face and pushed with great force, to send Namour reeling back against the wall. Chilke said: “That kind of talk makes me nervous. If we’re going to stay friends, you’ll beg my pardon with full sincerity and leave, smiling and closing the door quietly on your way out. Otherwise I’m going to tousle you around a bit.”
    Namour, a Clattuc and no coward, was nonetheless a trifle daunted. At last he said: “Come on, then; we’ll see who gets tousled.”
    The two men were much of a weight. Namour, with a good physique, stood taller by two inches. Chilke was more compact, burly at the chest and shoulders, with long arms and heavy fists. As the Yips and some boys from the lyceum watched, the two fought an epic battle, and in the end Chilke stood grinning his twisted grin down at Namour, half propped against the wall.
    “Now then,” said Chilke. “Let’s face the facts. Why you brought me here I don’t know. You weren’t concerned for my welfare, and I don’t think you’re avid for the stuffed owl I owe you.”
    Namour started to speak, then checked himself and painfully rubbed the side of his face.
    Chilke went on. “Whatever the reason, I’m here. So long as I stay and keep your scheme going, I’m paying you all I owe you. Otherwise, and except for the owl, we’re even. You keep to your line of work and I’ll keep to mine. Now back to the help. I’ll take your six-month Yips, if you insist! But I’ll use them for dog work only and fill out with my own staff, which is the way I want it anyway.”
    Namour pulled himself to his feet. “For your information, the Conservator won’t allow any more Yip extensions. If you don’t like it, go down to Riverview House and tousle him around like you did me.”
    Chilke laughed. “I may be wild but I’m not reckless. I’ll