the back wall shelves and cabinets displayed a marvelous variety of curios, oddments and artifacts representing the collections of a hundred previous Conservators. At the western end of the room a table – against which Julian Bohost leaned in a carefully debonair posture – supported books, periodicals and a bouquet of pink flowers in a bowl glazed pale blue-green celadon.
Six persons occupied the room. Dame Clytie paced the floor, hands clasped behind her back, and Julian leaned against the table. By the window sat a young woman with smooth silver hair and flawless features, absorbed in her own thoughts and paying Julian not the slightest attention. She wore skintight silver trousers, a short loose black shirt and black sandals on bare feet. Beside her stood a man of middle stature or a trifle less, short-necked and compact of physique, with narrow pale gray eyes and a short blunt nose on a small bald bony head. Warden Furgus and Dame Larica Fergus sat stiffly on a couch, watching Dame Clytie with the expressions of birds watching a snake. Both were middle-aged, and wore the somber garments of Stroma.
Dame Clytie marched back and forth, head lowered. “ – inevitable and necessary! Not everyone will be pleased, but what of that? We have already discounted their emotions. The progressive tide – ” She halted in mid-stride to stare at Glawen. “Halloo! What have we here?”
Julian Bohost, leaning against the table, a goblet of wine to his lips, lofted his eyebrows high. “By the nine gods and the seventeen devils It is Glawen, the brave Clattuc who guards us from the Yips!”
Glawen paid no heed. Egon Tamm introduced first the middle-aged couple. “The Warden Wilder Furgus and Dame Larica Furgus.” Glawen bowed politely. Egon Tamm proceeded. “Yonder is Flitz, glistening in the sunlight.” Flitz glanced aside from the corner of her eye, then returned to a contemplation of her black sandals.
Egon Tamm continued. "Beside Flitz stands her close friend and business associate Lewyn Barduys. They are currently the guests of Dame Clytie at Stroma.”
Barduys gave Glawen a courteous salute. Glawen saw that Barduys was not, after all, bald; that a short fine stubble of flaxen hair covered his scalp. His movements were deft and decisive; he seemed antiseptically clean.
After her first startled comment, Dame Clytie had gone to look stonily from the window. Egon Tamm asked gently: "Dame Clytie, I wonder if you remember Captain Clattuc? You met once before, I believe."
“Of course I remember him. He is a member of the local constabulary, or whatever it is called.”
Glawen smiled politely. “Usually it is known as Bureau B. Actually, we are an IPCC affiliate.”
“Indeed Julian, is this your understanding”
“I have heard something to this effect.”
“Odd. It was my understanding that the IPCC imposed stringent standards upon its personnel."
“Your information is correct," said Glawen. “You will be relieved to learn that Bureau B operatives, if anything, are over-qualified.”
Julian laughed. “My dear Aunt Clytie, I do believe that you blundered into a trap.”
Dame Clytie grunted. “I am singularly indifferent. She turned away.”
Julian called out "What brings you here, Glawen? The main attraction is missing – somewhere on Earth, so we are told. Do you know where?"
“I came to visit the Conservator and Dame Cora,” said Glawen. "Finding you and Dame Clytie here is a pleasant surprise.”
“Nicely spoken! But you evaded my question.”
“In regard to Wayness? So far as I know, she is visiting her uncle Pirie Tamm at Yssinges."
“I see.” Julian sipped from his goblet. “Cora Tamm tells me that you too have been junketing off-world on a holiday.”
"I traveled off-world: yes, on official business."
Julian laughed. “Certainly that is how it will be on the expense vouchers."
“I hope so. I would be outraged if I were asked to pay for what went on.”
“Then the trip was not a
Six persons occupied the room. Dame Clytie paced the floor, hands clasped behind her back, and Julian leaned against the table. By the window sat a young woman with smooth silver hair and flawless features, absorbed in her own thoughts and paying Julian not the slightest attention. She wore skintight silver trousers, a short loose black shirt and black sandals on bare feet. Beside her stood a man of middle stature or a trifle less, short-necked and compact of physique, with narrow pale gray eyes and a short blunt nose on a small bald bony head. Warden Furgus and Dame Larica Fergus sat stiffly on a couch, watching Dame Clytie with the expressions of birds watching a snake. Both were middle-aged, and wore the somber garments of Stroma.
Dame Clytie marched back and forth, head lowered. “ – inevitable and necessary! Not everyone will be pleased, but what of that? We have already discounted their emotions. The progressive tide – ” She halted in mid-stride to stare at Glawen. “Halloo! What have we here?”
Julian Bohost, leaning against the table, a goblet of wine to his lips, lofted his eyebrows high. “By the nine gods and the seventeen devils It is Glawen, the brave Clattuc who guards us from the Yips!”
Glawen paid no heed. Egon Tamm introduced first the middle-aged couple. “The Warden Wilder Furgus and Dame Larica Furgus.” Glawen bowed politely. Egon Tamm proceeded. “Yonder is Flitz, glistening in the sunlight.” Flitz glanced aside from the corner of her eye, then returned to a contemplation of her black sandals.
Egon Tamm continued. "Beside Flitz stands her close friend and business associate Lewyn Barduys. They are currently the guests of Dame Clytie at Stroma.”
Barduys gave Glawen a courteous salute. Glawen saw that Barduys was not, after all, bald; that a short fine stubble of flaxen hair covered his scalp. His movements were deft and decisive; he seemed antiseptically clean.
After her first startled comment, Dame Clytie had gone to look stonily from the window. Egon Tamm asked gently: "Dame Clytie, I wonder if you remember Captain Clattuc? You met once before, I believe."
“Of course I remember him. He is a member of the local constabulary, or whatever it is called.”
Glawen smiled politely. “Usually it is known as Bureau B. Actually, we are an IPCC affiliate.”
“Indeed Julian, is this your understanding”
“I have heard something to this effect.”
“Odd. It was my understanding that the IPCC imposed stringent standards upon its personnel."
“Your information is correct," said Glawen. “You will be relieved to learn that Bureau B operatives, if anything, are over-qualified.”
Julian laughed. “My dear Aunt Clytie, I do believe that you blundered into a trap.”
Dame Clytie grunted. “I am singularly indifferent. She turned away.”
Julian called out "What brings you here, Glawen? The main attraction is missing – somewhere on Earth, so we are told. Do you know where?"
“I came to visit the Conservator and Dame Cora,” said Glawen. "Finding you and Dame Clytie here is a pleasant surprise.”
“Nicely spoken! But you evaded my question.”
“In regard to Wayness? So far as I know, she is visiting her uncle Pirie Tamm at Yssinges."
“I see.” Julian sipped from his goblet. “Cora Tamm tells me that you too have been junketing off-world on a holiday.”
"I traveled off-world: yes, on official business."
Julian laughed. “Certainly that is how it will be on the expense vouchers."
“I hope so. I would be outraged if I were asked to pay for what went on.”
“Then the trip was not a
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