"I want much more than that. You must clearly inform Kirdy of my authority, and you must reduce his rank to sergeant."

"I can't do that! I have already confirmed the appointment."

"Explain that you have made a mistake. Further, I will take custody of his two thousand sols. He shall carry only a hundred sols pocket money. Next, instruct him to change from his uniform into less conspicuous clothes."

"All this is impossible! The ship leaves in an hour!"

"There is time. If necessary, the ship can wait. In any case I will not be aboard unless I am relieved of Kirdy's therapy. I would a thousand times prefer to go alone."

Bodwyn Wook shook his head.

"You are a willful young devil!

If insolence were bricks and insubordination mortar you could build a great palace for yourself."

"Not so, sir! You would never have given in so easily if I were not right!"

Bodwyn Wook laughed.

"Don't try to psychoanalyze your super visor; that is the most flagrant act of all! Hilda! Where is Kirdy?"

"Here in the outer office."

"Send him in."

Kirdy entered the office. Bodwyn Wook rose to his feet.

"I

tried to handle this affair by mishandling it. I was wrong, and now I must put things right. There is no animus in my judgment; I am fond of both of you. But there can only be a single commander to any operation, and it will be Glawen.

Kirdy, you will obey Glawen in all lawful orders. I must reduce your rank to sergeant, temporarily, I hope, and you must change from the uniform, since essentially this is a secret investigation. If you have grievances against Glawen, you must here and now put them aside, or resign from the mission. What is it to be?"

Kirdy shrugged.

"Whatever you say."

"I will take that to signify acquiescence. Finally, I will take custody of the money Hilda issued to you this morning."

Kirdy stood motionless, his face white, only his eyes alive.

Slowly he reached into his pocket, brought out the packet of money and placed it upon the table.

Bodwyn Wook said: "You must not consider this a defeat or a setback; your career is open before you. What have you to say?"

"I have heard your commands."

"Will you try to work on amicable terms with Glawen?"

"I will work with him, for the good of Araminta Station. My feelings are my own."

Glawen said: "You are certainly not the ideal associate, but it seems that we must work together. Let us be altogether forthright. You are now convalescent but you still suffer a disability which you described to me yesterday. Will not this disability make full cooperation difficult for you?"

Kirdy stood silent. Bodwyn Wook and Glawen stared at him, as did Hilda from the back of the room, all prepared for the qualified or ambiguous reply which would irrevocably remove Kirdy from the operation.

Kirdy said tonelessly: "Yes. We shall work together."

Glawen spoke curtly: "Then go change into ordinary clothes and go directly to the spaceport. I'll see you aboard the ship."

Kirdy departed. Glawen waited ten seconds, then came forward, took the money from the table.

"We will do our best." He left the room.

Bodwyn Wook sighed.

"Clattuc or not, he's got plenty of good Wook blood in him. I truly admire that proud young rascal.

He's quick-minded and hard as nails, but there's a sweetness about him that makes all right. I could wish he were my own son."

Hilda gave a soft snort.

"I'm long past the age of wishing.

Still, once in a while, I wish. If there had been a Glawen when I was young, things might have gone differently for me."

CHAPTER 7

Glawen, stepping up into the hulk of the Sagittarian Ray, felt a pleasant excitement; never before had he traveled off-world. Kirdy, on the other hand, had toured far and wide with Floreste's Mummers, up and down Mircea's Wisp. The worlds of the present itinerary, Natrice, Soum and Tassadero, were of no novelty to Kirdy, and his mood, as he boarded the spaceship, was glum. Several times he paused to look back over his shoulder as if ready to abandon the entire venture.

A steward conducted the two to their cabins. Glawen delayed only long enough to slide his luggage into a rack and hang up his cloak, then went out upon the promenade, which gave him a view of the spaceport observation deck. There stood his father and Bodwyn Wook, who had come to see them off and to issue final instructions. Bodwyn Wook had been emphatic on several points: "Never mind that you sac a Clattuc and snort fire through your nostrils! This is a delicate case and wants delicate handling. Neither curt language nor sarcasm speeds the efficiency of off-world police; they have not had your advantages, so deal with them gently. In fact, obey all local laws, whether you understand them or not! You are Bureau B agents, with IPCC affiliation, but local police often neglect such niceties." ;

Scharde augmented Bodwyn Wook's remarks.

"On Tassadero you| will wear local clothes as a matter of convenience. Hawkers will meeV you at the spaceport, and urge you to buy from their barrows. Despite their outcries, insults and ridicule, wait till you arrive in Fexelburg,| then go to a shop with posted prices. Otherwise, you will be swindled.! The spirit of Zab Zonk the Pirate survives in many forms on Tassadero."

Bodwyn Wook issued a further warning: "Avoid politics every-* where! The factions are particularly angry on Natrice, which will bcfl your first stop. There is little chance that you would become embroiled;|B still, guard your opinions!" U "I hope I can keep all this straight," said Glawen.

"On Natrice|j avoid politics. On Tassadero, dress to the fashion, but do not be swindled. What should we fear on Soum?"

"Marriage," said Scharde.

"If you take a girl to bed, insist that she first sign a specific repudiation of marital intent. These forms are available at kiosks and sweet shops

"I suggest that you go aboard," said Bodwyn Wook.

"The ship might leave while you stand here listening to our final instructions."

Standing by a window along the promenade, Glawen waved toward Scharde and Bodwyn Wook, but they failed to see him.