The Bold Lions took their breakfast, settled their accounts at the hotel and descended to the dock.
At the wicket stood four Oomps: stern muscular men with black lips and heads shaved bald. They seemed easy and casual, but Glawen saw that they carefully scanned each person as he or she paid the departure tax. Kirdy whispered to Glawen: "On the far left: he's the one who saw me by the wall. They are looking for me; I know it."
"Ignore them. You did nothing they know about."
"So I hope."
Glawen paid the departure tax, passed through the wicket unchallenged and with a great surge of relief crossed the gangplank to the deck of the Faraz, where the Oomps were not allowed to venture.
As Kirdy started to pay his tax the Oomp to the left made a sign and the others stepped forward.
"Your name, sir?"
"I am Kirdy Wook. What of it?"
"We must ask you to come with us."
"What for? I'm planning to take the ferry, and I don't want to be delayed over some trifle."
"The matter may well be serious, sir. An offense has been committed and we must find out who is responsible."
Kirdy looked from one to the other.
"This is a great mystery:
certainly to me. What offense are you talking about?"
"A certain Aries Clattuc has complained in regard to a stolen cloak. We have discovered in your room a wad of silver lace, which Aries Clatiuc identifies as the cincture to the stolen cloak. Through careful inspection we have discovered black fibers which Aries Clattuc states to be identical to the fibers which made up the cloth of the cloak. Thus we must detain you until the circumstances are explained."
Glawen turned to Aries: "Tell them now, quickly, that you forgot, that you lost that cloak to Kirdy in a wager. Don't let him be kept in detention!"
Aries growled: "If he stole my best cloak and tore it to pieces, it serves him right!"
Uther said: "It was a joke! We'll straighten it out later!
But for now, tell them it was a mistake!"
"Are you all against me?" cried Aries.
"So now I'm forced to be kind Aries, good magnanimous Aries, when it doesn't suit me at all!"
"He's a Bold Lion! Does that mean nothing?"
Grudgingly Aries called up to the Oomps: "I remember now; I gave that cloak to Kirdy. He did not steal it after all. I retract the charges."
"Very well, sir. If you'll just step back through the wicket--totally free this time, sir; no taxes--we'll go over to the office and formally rescind the complaint. Are you coming, sir?"
Aries asked dubiously: "How long will it take?"
"Not long, sir, if all goes well."
"Why can't you just take my word from here? That's more convenient."
"It's not the way we do things, sir. You'll have to come to the office."
Aries backed away toward the saloon.
"I'm not going ashore.
I told you that it was a mistake, and that's enough!" He turned and went into the saloon.
The Oomps turned back to Kirdy.
"If you'll be good enough to come along, sir, there are still certain points we want to clear up."
Kirdy looked longingly across to the Faras, then, with an Oomp at each elbow, he walked away with shoulders sagging.
CHAPTER 5
Glawen ran up to the bridge of the Faraz and made radio contact with Bureau B at Araminta Station.
"Glawen Clattuc here. Put me through to the Supervisor, on urgent business."
A few seconds later a rasping voice sounded through the mesh:
"Bodwyn Wook here."
Glawen spoke with care; almost certainly the call was being monitored.
