Lilo said tonelessly: "Do as he orders. It will be for the best."
Silently vowing a dozen revenges, Glawen sat like a stone while Mutis, with rude efficiency, clipped away his hair.
"Now, then!" said Mutis.
"Off with your breech clout or whatever you call it, and into the bath!"
Glawen was forced to wash in acrid de contaminant fluid," then shower in cold water, and at last was allowed to dress in standard seminary garments which he selected for himself from bins.
Mutis had now gone off about his affairs. Lilo told Glawen:
"I will now take you to your chamber, for a period of meditation."
"One moment." Glawen made a bundle of his old clothes, which he tucked under his arm. Lilo watched without comment.
"Come."
She led him along the corridor, meanwhile reciting a list of admonitions for Glawen's guidance.
"For a certain period, you must refrain from visiting the town or walking about the countryside. Dismiss all such inclinations; they will be strongly disapproved."
"I won't be here long enough to feel the need. Or so I hope."
Lilo spoke more quickly.
"In that case, you will find no reason to attempt the stairs, since they are extremely dangerous."
"They sound not only dangerous but ominous," said Glawen.
"You are perceptive! So, be guided! Remember, the earnest student finds life easier than one who frets and shirks.
Plainly, you are not one of this latter sort; am I correct?"
"I am a Clattuc ofClattuc House! Does that answer your question?"
Lilo glanced at him sidewise.
"What is a "Clattuc'?"
"This will be made clear: sooner, I hope, than later."
Lilo was silent for a period, then asked, almost wistfully:
"You have traveled far and wide across the Reach?"
"Not as far as I might like. In fact, I have visited only a few worlds along the Wisp."
"It must be interesting to travel," said Lilo."
"I have only a few memories of the creche at Strock, and then the seminary." She halted before the door.
"This is to be your chamber." She opened the door, and waited. Glawen stood back obstinately. Lilo said: "Truly, you gain nothing by inflexibility. Mutis loves nothing more than intransigence."
Glawen sighed and entered the room. Lilo said: "We shall talk more later. I am pleased that the Ordene selected me to be your instructor;
usually the task falls to Bayant or Hylas. Meanwhile, for your convenience and protection, I will lock the door."
"Protection against what?"
Lilo made a vague gesture.
"Sometimes, when students finish their work they hope to gossip with others who might prefer to rest or meditate. By locking the door I will spare you this nuisance."
The door closed. Seething with fury all the more poignant for his feeling that he had been swindled and fuddled and fooled, Glawen took stock of the chamber. The dimensions were adequate: twenty feet to the far wall and a width of about twelve feet. The chill of the stone floor was relieved by a mat of woven withe; the walls were washed a nondescript buff. A wooden table and chair stood against
the far wall under a high window. To the left was a crude cot, to the right a tall wardrobe and storage case. A door opened into an austere bathroom.
Glawen threw his bundle of clothes upon the cot and went to sit in the chair.
The room was chill; Glawen still felt half numb from the shower. His teeth began to chatter, which caused him new annoyance. He rose to his feet, swung his arms, walked back and forth, jumped up and down and presently felt more comfortable.
Glawen looked up at the window. A center vertical post divided the opening into halves, each too small for egress.
Each segment of glass could be swung open to provide ventilation if need be; both segments were now closed against the vertical center post.
Glawen climbed up on the table and looked out the window. He was provided a view across the steppe and down along the eastern fringe of the town, where stood a scattering of ramshackle cottages. Zonk's Star could not be seen, but judging from the dim light and the length of the black shadows, the time was close upon sunset. The omnibus might already have left for Fexelburg, and to his sorrow he was not aboard.
Glawen stood on tiptoes and looked down. The wall dropped a hundred feet sheer to the rocky hillside. Glawen opened one of the windows and tested the rigidity of the center post.
