' Mad Dog: colloquial term for the Bureau A computer. 34 feet and bowed politely toward Fratano. His voice quavered so slightly that no one noticed but Scharde.
"Thank you, sir, for your good wishes. I will truly do my best to become both a good agent of the Conservator and a credit to Clattuc House."
Fratano asked: "And where will you work, or have you chosen?"
"I have already been accepted into Bureau B."
"A sound choice! We need careful and vigilant patrols if we are to keep Marmion Land' clear of the Yips."
The Yip footmen smiled somewhat self-consciously at Fratano's remarks, but otherwise showed no reaction.
Glawen sat down to a spatter of applause, and footmen began to serve the supper. Conversation once more became general, and all declared that never for an instant had they believed the wild rumor in regard to Glawen, which was on the face of it absurd. Furtive glances were turned toward Spanchetta, who sat like a stone, until suddenly, as if at a signal, she became animated, even ebullient, and conducted four conversations at once.
Now that Glawen was no longer to be considered a pariah, his Great-aunt Clotilde, a tall breezy woman of middle age, condescended to speak with him. She keenly enjoyed the game of epaing, and considered herself knowledgeable in regard to the game's tactical intricacies; she now conveyed to Glawen a number of her opinions.
With Scharde's advice in mind, Glawen carefully suppressed all evidence of independent thought, and later Clotilde remarked upon Glawen's intelligence to her cronies.
The Supper culminated with a festive pudding of iced custard and fruit. The company drank a ritual, if rather perfunctory, toast to Glawen, then Fratano rose to his feet, and the Supper was at an end.
A number of folk, as they left the room, paused to wish Glawen good luck. Aries sauntered across the room.
"A good number!" he stated.
"A very fan- number, considering everything. I'd placed it a bit higher, as you know, but I'm glad to see that all turned out favorably. Although you don't want to be overconfident! 24 is by no means a free pass."
"I know."
Scharde took Glawen's arm and the two returned to their chambers,
' Deucas was divided into sixty districts, or "lands."
Marmion Land was that strip of pleasant savanna along the northeast coast directly opposite Lutwen Atoll. Already Yips were crossing over to set up camps and remain until apprehended and ejected by Bureau B patrols.
where Glawen instantly rushed into his bedroom and changed into| ordinary clothes.
He returned to the parlor to find Scharde at the window, brooding across the landscape. Scharde turned and pointed to a chair.
"Sit. We have important matters to discuss."
Glawen slowly seated himself, wondering what was afoot.
Scharde| brought out a bottle of the light fresh wine known as Quiritavo andJi poured a pair of goblets half full. He noticed Glawen's expression andl grinned.
"Relax! There are no dreadful secrets to be shared with you on your sixteenth birthday just some precautions: practical planning,;
so to speak." ;
"In regard to Spanchetta?"
"Quite right. She has been humiliated and everyone is laughing at her. She is seething with fury and padding back and forth like some awful beast in a cage."
Glawen said thoughtfully: "If Aries is wise, he will slip down to the Lions' Lair and hide under the table."
"And if he is very wise indeed, he will never mention that due to his loose tongue we were able to catch her out in her tricks."
"Isn't what she did illegal?"
"In principle: yes. But if we brought charges, she would simply assert that she had made a mistake, and it would be hard to prove otherwise. To Spanchetta, it's already water under the bridge, and unless I miss my guess, she'll be scheming and plotting in new directions."
"That is insanity!"
"Insanity or not, be warned and be careful, but don't let her become s an obsession. The world can't stop because of Spanchetta. You've now got lyceum to think about, which will be more than enough to keep you busy, especially with Bureau B's supplementary work."
"When will I start going out on patrols?"
"That's a long way off. First there's the matter of your flying permit, then your special training. Of course, if some emergency comes upj anything can happen."
"By emergency, you mean the Yips."
"I don't see how to avoid it. Every day there are more Yips with no place to go but Yipton." :
"Then you really think there will be trouble." j Scharde considered before responding.
"It's not inevitable, if proper decisions are made and made soon. Already the Yip Oomphaw is starting to act oddly, as if he knows something we don't."
"Is that possible? What could he know?"
"Probably nothing, unless he's been talking with the Fairness and Peace people at Stroma."
