shook his head in wonder. “And to think the Trevanyi girl called me a Fanscher!”
“What a singular notion!” said Akadie.
Glinnes turned Akadie a sharp glance but saw only an expression of limpid innocence. “How did Fanscherade start? I remember no such trend.”
“The raw material has been long ready at hand, or so I would imagine. A certain spark of ideology was required, no more.”
“And who then is the ideologue of Fanscherade?”
“Junius Farfan. He lives in Welgen.”
“And Junius Farfan has my money!”
Akadie rose to his feet. “I hear a boat. It’s Marucha at last.” He went to the dock, followed by Glinnes. Along Ilfish Water came the boat behind its mustache of white water, across the edge of Ambal Broad and up to the dock. Glinnes took the line from Glay and made it fast to a bollard. Marucha stepped jauntily up to the dock. Glinnes looked in amazement at her clothes: a sheath of severe white linen, black ankle boots, and a black cloche cap, which, in suppressing her hair, accentuated her resemblance to Glay.
Akadie came forward. “I’m sorry I missed you. Still, Glinnes and I have had a pleasant conversation. We’ve been discussing Fanscherade.”
“How very nice!” said Marucha. “Have you brought him around?”
“I hardly think so,” said Akadie with a grin.
“The seed must lie before it germinates.”
Glay, standing to the side, looked more sardonic than ever. Akadie continued. “I have certain articles for you. These” — he handed Marucha a small flask — “are sensitizers; they place your mind in its most receptive state, and conduce to learning. Be sure to take no more than a single capsule or you will become hyperesthesic.” He handed Marucha a parcel of books. “Here we have a manual of mathematical logic, a discussion of minichronics, and a treatise on basic cosmology. All are important to your program.”
“Very good,” said Marucha somewhat stiffly. “I wonder what I would like to give you?”*
“Something on the order of fifteen ozols would be more than ample,” said Akadie. “But no hurry, of course. And now I too must be on my way. The dusk is far along.” Still, Akadie lingered while Marucha counted out fifteen ozols and placed them in his limp-fingered hand. “Goodnight, my friend.” She and Glay went to the house.
Glinnes asked, “And what will I have the pleasure of forcing upon you for the consultation?”
“Ah indeed, let me consider. Twenty ozol would be more than generous, if my remarks have been of help.” Glinnes paid over the money, reflecting that Akadie set a rather high price on his expertise. Akadie departed up Farwan Water toward Saur River, thence by Tethryn Broad and Vernice Water to his eccentric old manse on Sarpassante Island.
Inside the house on Rabendary Island lights glowed. Glinnes slowly walked up to the verandah, where Glay stood watching him. “I’ve learned what you did with the money,” said Glinnes. “You’ve given away Ambal Isle for sheer absurdity.”
*T he question “How much do I owe you?” is considered crass on Trullion, where easy generosity is the way of life.
“We’ve discussed the situation as much as necessary. I’ll be leaving your house in the morning. Marucha wants me to stay, but I think I’ll be more comfortable elsewhere.”
“Do your dirty little mess and run, eh?” The brothers glared at each other, then Glinnes swung off and into the house. Marucha sat reading the manuals Akadie had brought. Glinnes opened his mouth, then shut it again and went out to sit brooding on the verandah. Inside the house Glay and Marucha spoke in low tones.
Chapter 6
In the morning Glay bundled up his belongings and Glinnes took him to Saurkash. Not a word was spoken during the trip. When he had stepped from the boat to Saurkash dock, Glay said, “I won’t be far away, not for a while at any rate. Maybe I’ll camp on the Commons. Akadie will know where to find me in case I’m needed. Try to
“What a singular notion!” said Akadie.
Glinnes turned Akadie a sharp glance but saw only an expression of limpid innocence. “How did Fanscherade start? I remember no such trend.”
“The raw material has been long ready at hand, or so I would imagine. A certain spark of ideology was required, no more.”
“And who then is the ideologue of Fanscherade?”
“Junius Farfan. He lives in Welgen.”
“And Junius Farfan has my money!”
Akadie rose to his feet. “I hear a boat. It’s Marucha at last.” He went to the dock, followed by Glinnes. Along Ilfish Water came the boat behind its mustache of white water, across the edge of Ambal Broad and up to the dock. Glinnes took the line from Glay and made it fast to a bollard. Marucha stepped jauntily up to the dock. Glinnes looked in amazement at her clothes: a sheath of severe white linen, black ankle boots, and a black cloche cap, which, in suppressing her hair, accentuated her resemblance to Glay.
Akadie came forward. “I’m sorry I missed you. Still, Glinnes and I have had a pleasant conversation. We’ve been discussing Fanscherade.”
“How very nice!” said Marucha. “Have you brought him around?”
“I hardly think so,” said Akadie with a grin.
“The seed must lie before it germinates.”
Glay, standing to the side, looked more sardonic than ever. Akadie continued. “I have certain articles for you. These” — he handed Marucha a small flask — “are sensitizers; they place your mind in its most receptive state, and conduce to learning. Be sure to take no more than a single capsule or you will become hyperesthesic.” He handed Marucha a parcel of books. “Here we have a manual of mathematical logic, a discussion of minichronics, and a treatise on basic cosmology. All are important to your program.”
“Very good,” said Marucha somewhat stiffly. “I wonder what I would like to give you?”*
“Something on the order of fifteen ozols would be more than ample,” said Akadie. “But no hurry, of course. And now I too must be on my way. The dusk is far along.” Still, Akadie lingered while Marucha counted out fifteen ozols and placed them in his limp-fingered hand. “Goodnight, my friend.” She and Glay went to the house.
Glinnes asked, “And what will I have the pleasure of forcing upon you for the consultation?”
“Ah indeed, let me consider. Twenty ozol would be more than generous, if my remarks have been of help.” Glinnes paid over the money, reflecting that Akadie set a rather high price on his expertise. Akadie departed up Farwan Water toward Saur River, thence by Tethryn Broad and Vernice Water to his eccentric old manse on Sarpassante Island.
Inside the house on Rabendary Island lights glowed. Glinnes slowly walked up to the verandah, where Glay stood watching him. “I’ve learned what you did with the money,” said Glinnes. “You’ve given away Ambal Isle for sheer absurdity.”
*T he question “How much do I owe you?” is considered crass on Trullion, where easy generosity is the way of life.
“We’ve discussed the situation as much as necessary. I’ll be leaving your house in the morning. Marucha wants me to stay, but I think I’ll be more comfortable elsewhere.”
“Do your dirty little mess and run, eh?” The brothers glared at each other, then Glinnes swung off and into the house. Marucha sat reading the manuals Akadie had brought. Glinnes opened his mouth, then shut it again and went out to sit brooding on the verandah. Inside the house Glay and Marucha spoke in low tones.
Chapter 6
In the morning Glay bundled up his belongings and Glinnes took him to Saurkash. Not a word was spoken during the trip. When he had stepped from the boat to Saurkash dock, Glay said, “I won’t be far away, not for a while at any rate. Maybe I’ll camp on the Commons. Akadie will know where to find me in case I’m needed. Try to
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