Fader and others helped Shugan to the dock.
"You should have been more careful," said Fader.
"I realize this," said Shugart.
"I spoke a trifle too loudly."
"One learns by his mistakes. Well, no doubt you will dry off soon. We cannot waste time in commiseration. This way, then.
Stay together and do not get lost, as a substantial fee is charged if we must find a missing person."
The Bold Lions walked along a trestle, climbed steps, passed through a narrow doorway into a corridor which after ten yards gave upon a balcony overlooking a murmurous murk so large that the far wall could only be sensed. A dozen dingy skylights provided
illumination; as their eyes adapted to the gloom, the Bold Lions saw below a multitude of Yips. They stood in small groups, or squatted around tiny fire pots where they toasted morsels of skewered fish. Some sat spraddle-legged in circles playing at cards, or dice, or other games; some cut hair or clipped toenails; others played soft breathy music on bamboo pipes, evidently for their private amusement, since no one troubled to listen. Others stood alone, lost in their thoughts, or lay supine staring at nothing. The sound of so many folk came to the balcony as a great soft whisper with no definable source.
Glawen unobtrusively studied the faces of the Bold Lions.
Each, predictably, wore a different expression. The brash Kiper would have given voice to facetious jokes, had he dared. Aries maintained a supercilious impassivity, while Kirdy seemed awed and thoughtful. Shugart, still damp from his immersion, clearly found : he conditions deplorable.
Later he described the Caglioro to his friends: "--ten billion pale eels! The nightmare of a diseased mind! A human miasma!"
Similarly, Uther Offaw would later describe the circumstances, a trifle less trenchantly, as "psychic soup."
Fader addressed the group, speaking without inflection:
"This is where men come to rest, to think their thoughts and think the thoughts of others. Women, of course, have similar facilities."
Dauncy asked Fader: "How many folk are out there?"
"It is hard to guess. Persons come; persons go. Notice yonder around the balcony: a party of tourists is amused to throw coins out on the floor! As you see, it causes something of a scramble. Sometimes the tourists throw large sums, and persons become seriously hurt in the tumult."
Jardine asked suspiciously: "Is coin throwing permitted without payment of fees?"
"Yes; we stretch a point in this case. You may indulge yourself as you wish. If you have no small coins you may change sols at the wicket yonder."
Kiper said excitedly: "I'm out of coins! Who'll lend me a few dinkets?"
Kirdy said sternly: "Learn some dignity, Kiper! It's a stupid and pointless waste, throwing money away!" He looked at Fader: "We are not all of us lummoxes, despite your conviction."
Fader smiled, and shook his head.
"I deal with many kinds of people, but I make no judgments."
Cloyd Diffin spoke: "You said that the women had separate facilities. Can these be visited?"
"You may select from Tours 128, 129 or 130, as listed in the brochure. They are similar save for optional features."
"Where do men and women meet? How do they marry and form families?"
Fader said: "Our social system is complex. I cannot even provide a generality within the limits of Tour 112. Payment of tutorial fees will provide instruction to any desired level of expertise. If you care to undertake this course of study, please make arrangements with the tour secretary tonight."
The irrepressible Kiper called out: "Tonight Cloyd performs his own research! He intends to gain wisdom at the very source of such lore!"
Cloyd was not amused.
"That will be about enough from you, Kiper."
Aries pointed across the Caglioro, to where the other group of tourists stood staring up toward the ceiling.
"What is going on over there?"
Fader turned to look.
"They are paying for a spectacle. You must not look; that is the rule. If you participate in the viewing, you must pay what we call a subsidiary fee."
"Pure and total bosh!" declared Aries.
"I have paid to look out over the Caglioro. If your 'spectacle' interferes with my enjoyment of the view, I will feel free to claim a partial refund!"
Fader emphatically shook his head.
"If you are inconvenienced, simply turn your back and do not look."
Kirdy said: "Fader, be sensible. We have paid to inspect the Caglioro, together with--and here I quote the brochure to the best of my memory--'all the picturesque episodes and quaint incidents for which this surprising chamber is notorious." Any spectacles occurring during our visit are implicitly included."
"Just so," said Fader.
"Consider very carefully the thrust of that sentence. The Caglioro is not notorious for this particular spectacle, nor any other single and specific spectacle. Hence, if you watch one of these events, a subsidiary fee must be applied."
