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.
Glawen swallowed the lump in his throat and pretended that he felt no forebodings or fears.
A few late arrivals came running from the terminal and thankfully boarded the ship. Imminence grew heavy in the air. A chime sounded. Glawen felt the dull impact of ports thudding shut. A thin whine from no apparent source rose in pitch and passed beyond audibility. Without sensible acceleration the ship rose from the soil ofCadwal into the sky.
Glawen looked along the promenade. Kirdy was nowhere to be seen. Glawen turned back to the outside view. Kirdy had known terrible events, and deserved whatever compassion as might conveniently and practically be extended.
Cadwal became a ball, bright in the lemon-white shine of Syrene. Far to the south Throy was a black-green wedge.
Glawen tried to find the site of Stroma, without success.
Wistful thoughts of Way ness entered his mind; when would he see her again? And what would she have to tell him?
Kirdy came slouching along the promenade, face somber, eyes unfocused. Glawen saw that he would walk wordlessly past.
Despite his previous pang of sympathy, he was now a trifle nettled. He called out: "Kirdy! Over here! Look at me! I'm Glawen!"
Kirdy halted, pondered a moment, then joined Glawen by the window.
"Let me propound a syllogism," said Glawen. ""The world is real. I am part of the world. Hence I am real."" Kirdy reflected.
"I am not sure that the logic is totally rigorous. You should have phrased the first premise thus:
"The world is made of real parts." Or: "Every part of the world is real." And next: "I am one of these parts." In the latter case you leave unresolved the question as to whether an aggregation of real parts necessarily constitutes a real whole."
"I'll give the matter some thought," said Glawen.
"Meanwhile, you and I are both aboard the ship. We cannot avoid each other--at least not altogether. These are the facts."
Kirdy only shrugged and looked off along the promenade.
With great politeness Glawen asked: "Do you still enjoy the view? I suppose you have seen it many times."
Kirdy glanced out the window, as if only just now taking note of the spectacle.
"As you say, I've seen it before. It doesn't change much. Sometimes Lorca and Sing hang out there like a pair of carrion birds, sometimes not. Floreste never liked to see them; he thought they brought bad luck. He had dozens of such quirks and fancies, which we ignored at our risk."
Glawen asked: "How long were you with the Mummers?"
"Seven years. I started when I was ten. I was one of the original Tumble-bugs."
