"So much is clear. I think that we can guarantee full and total discretion. What do you say, Tanaquil?"
"I am of the same opinion."
"In that case I will speak freely," said Glawen.
"We learned that six Zubenites from Lutwiler Country went to Thurben Island and there were involved in absolutely remarkable activities."
Barch gave an incredulous laugh.
"Zubenites? That is astonishing indeed! Are you sure of your facts?"
"Quite sure."
"Extraordinary! Zubenites are not prone to erotic excess, and that is an understatement! Tanaquil, have you ever heard the like?"
"I am in a state of shock! What will they do next?"
Barch said by way of explanation: "We are fairly well acquainted with the Zubenites, who come in from Lutwiler Country to do their marketing. They are considered stolid folk, the next thing to torpid;
hence our perplexity."
"Nevertheless, Zubenites were involved. They might have been subjected to a form of coercion, and for this reason, I hope that they will agree to tell us what we want to know."
"Which is?"
"Who sold them the tickets? How were the tickets delivered?
Who took their money? Some member or members of Ogmo Enterprises were Cadwal residents; who might these persons be? In short, we want to find out what went on."
"It seems straightforward enough. Am I correct in this, Tanaquil?"
"I think so. Still: a cautionary point! I doubt if the Zubenites will choose to be informative, if for no other reason than sheer inertia."
"That would be my own guess," said Barch.
"What, then, are your options? They are sadly limited. You cannot threaten criminal proceedings; no such law exists in Lutwiler Country."
"What of your own authority? Here is where your cooperation might be indispensable."
Barch and Tanaquil both laughed.
"In Lutwiler Country? Or in Vamoose Country? In any of the Far Countries?" Barch jerked his
thumb toward a nearby table.
"See that old lady in the fancy green hat?"
"I see her very well."
"She has exactly the same authority in Lutwiler Country as I. In short, none. We keep the peace in Fexel Country, but no farther; in the absence of both means and inclination, we refuse to spread our selves thin."
Tanaquil held up his finger.
"We make one exception!
Tourists base themselves at Fexelburg for their explorations and treasure-hunting;
we regard them as our responsibility. If nomads molest a tourist caravan, we punish the nomads severely. But that is hardly police work, and it happens rarely nowadays."
"Quite so," said Barch.
"The tourist trade is important to us, and the nomads ingest this knowledge with their mother's milk."
"What of the Zubenites? Surely they live by some sort of law."
Barch smilingly shook his head.
"They live in the shadow of Pogan's Point, and the Monomantic seminary exerts all necessary authority. Away from Pogan's Point and across the steppes the only justice is what happens when you get caught. Those are the rules of life on Tassadero."
"In bad situations I suppose that the IPCC will impose order," suggested Glawen.
"After all, Gaean law operates everywhere, including Lutwiler Country. We are IPCC affiliates ourselves, incidentally."
Barch shrugged.
"The IPCC at Fexelburg is unpredictable. Commander Plock is sometimes a bit hard to deal with. He is, let us say, set in his ways."
Tanaquil spoke.
"A certain person, whom I will not identify, has even used the word 'arrogant' in this connection."
"I'm sorry to hear this," said Glawen.
"Since we are IPCC agents, we must pay the office a courtesy call, and we will certainly keep your remarks in mind."
Barch said thoughtfully: "There is another matter, rather delicate, upon which I must take advice. Please excuse me a moment, while I telephone my superiors."
Barch crossed the lobby to a telephone.
Kirdy asked Tanaquil: "What is suddenly so delicate?"
Tanaquil rubbed his chin.
"The Zubenites can be surly when they are ruffled. The folk at the Monomantic se.-ii nary are downright strange. We take pains never to cause annoyance, since we don't want them becoming obnoxious and taking revenge on the tourists."
"How would they do that?" asked Glawen.
"There are ways: petty annoyances for the most part. For instance, dozens of tourist caravans search Lutwiler Country for Zonk's Tomb, or pass through on the way to the Far Countries. The Zubenites need only put a gate across the road and charge toll, or require that each tourist must climb up Pogan's Point to the seminary to have entry documents signed, and return the next day for countersignature, at a fee of twenty sols. Or they might insist that the tourists learn Monomantic Syntoraxis, or any of a dozen other nuisances, and soon the tourist trade, at least through Pogan's Point, would be a thing of the past."
