"Very well. When you have some free time, I'll show you how to use that gun. There's the right way and the wrong way. It never hurts to be ready; the folk who turn their backs on trouble only get their arses kicked."

"I'd appreciate that very much." Glawen departed.

Scharde was not on hand when Glawen returned to their chambers in Clattuc House. Glawen flung himself wearily down on the couch and immediately fell asleep.

He awoke to find that Syrene had set and dusk had come to Araminta Station. Scharde still had not returned: an unusual circumstance.

Glawen washed his face and hands, brushed his hair and went down to the refectory for his dinner. A few minutes later Aries appeared. He took note of Glawen, who looked away, but in vain. Aries marched across the room and settled into the seat beside Glawen. He asked:

"What's behind all this uproar? Why did you cause such a dustup?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Aries uttered a bark of laughter.

"Do you expect me to believe that? You took Sessily out in the flyer and landed where you could go hard at it, in peace and quiet. Then, as I hear it, you lost the gun, and when you got back blamed the Yip, so that he got in trouble for nothing."

Glawen stared at Aries in indignation.

"Where did you hear such absolute nonsense?"

"No matter where I heard it! And that's not all!"

"You mean there's more?"

"Of course! Chiike, who passed you on the flyer but wouldn't pass me on a technicality, believed you again and started to abuse the poor Yip. Namour wouldn't allow it and told Chiike where he stood! There were words, and in the end Namour discharged Chiike from his position. And that's the outcome of your little expedition."

Glawen spoke in a contemptuous voice: "You are wrong in every detail. Sessily and I went to Maroli Meadow for butterfly wings, not to go hard at it, as you elegantly put it."

Aries uttered another unctuous laugh.

"More fool you, then!

I've seen the way she acts whenever there's a fellow around:

don't tell me she's all so innocent!"

"I'm telling you only the truth. I lost no gun; I merely discovered that Sisco had stolen the ammo, and so informed Chiike."

"Hmf! Namour doesn't believe it, because he fired Chiike.

That's that, and that's what counts."

Scharde came into the refectory. He settled into the chair across from Glawen and asked: "Where have you been during the excitement?"

"I've been asleep. Aries says that Namour has fired Chiike from his job. Is that the excitement?"

Scharde looked at Aries in surprise.

"Namour has no such authority. He's in charge of the Yips, no more. Where did you pick up that choice bit of nonsense?"

"From my mother," growled Aries.

"She said that Namour was supervisor of all outside labor."

"She is quite incorrect. Both Namour and Chiike work out of Bureau D, at about the same level. Secondly, there never was any question of discharging Chilke. If anyone, Namour has the explaining to do. Bureau B has been looking into the matter all afternoon, and I'll be going back as soon as I get something to eat."

Aries said in a surly tone: "That's not the way I heard it.

But I suppose you know what you are talking about."

"I can tell you this," said Scharde.

"There is more to the matter than meets the eye. I'll say no more now, but you'll hear about it tomorrow."

The following afternoon Glawen went to Veder House, to help Sessily construct her butterfly wings. As they worked, he reported the events subsequent to his return of the Mitrix.

"I saw Chilke this morning," said Glawen.

"According to him, I missed all the fun. He says it was like a trained-animal extravaganza, with one dramatic deed following hard oh the one before. Namour started out automatically defending Sisco, without any concern for the facts. He said to Chilke:

"Of course they purloin an oddment now and again! We all know it! What do you expect of them? It's an unspoken perquisite of the job!"

""No longer!" said Chilke.

"That perquisite stopped the moment I took over as manager."

"This is when Namour fiftd Chilke. He-said: "In that case, you're relieved of the job here and now! det-yaur gear together and get off the planet, because you're definitely not going to change the way we do things at Araminta Station."

"Chilke just laughed at him. He said: "Stealing charges of ammo isn't just a prank. If you think it is, maybe you better leave instead of me. It's a very serious matter.

Let's go right now and look in Sisco's room. Anything from the airport I want back, right now. That's my responsibility."

"Namour refused to make a move. Chilke said in that case he was going to look into Sisco's room, regardless. Namour seemed to lose his head. He told Chilke that if he made a move the Yips at Namour's orders would pitch him out of the compound.

"Chilke got bored with wrangling and telephoned Bureau B from the dispensary. Namour suddenly cooled off and began to make reasonable noises. While they were waiting, Sisco sneaked off to his room, evidently intending to hide the loot. Chilke had been watching for just that and followed Sisco into the room. He found an amazing hoard: a gun, many charges of ammo, tools, flyer pans: all stuff that Sisco had stolen from the airport.

"Spanchetta had appeared on the scene. She became very excited, and asked Chiike: "How dare you threaten poor Sisco on such paltry grounds?" And: "Don't you think that this is an intolerably arrogant act, to be taking the law into your own hands, especially after you have been discharged from your post?"" Sessily asked in fascination: "What did Chiike say to that?"

"He said: "Madame, I was not discharged, and I was not taking the law into my own hands. I was taking airport property into my own hands. It represents a considerable sum of money."

"Spanchetta said that principles were more important than money, but now Bureau B arrived: my father, Wals Diffin and old Bodwyn Wook himself. No one agreed with Spanchetta, not even Namour."

"And what will happen to Sisco?"

"He'll be sent back to Yipton without wages; that's about all that can reasonably be done to him. But the case isn't closed yet. Everyone is down at the compound now, making a tour of inspection, and even 3 the new Conservator has been notified. I should be there too, but I:'| won't be missed and I'd rather be here with you." ^ "Thank you, Glawen. I'd hate to miss Parilia because of Sisco's.;

crimes, as I might if these wings don't get done." | "I think we're coming along quite nicely." ^ "I do too." Already they had built four frames of bamboo withe,|| over which they had stretched transparent film; now they glued wings if to the film, in accordance with a pdttem.