"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.
They worked in a combination! studio-storage room under the west wing ofVeder House, with sunlight! entering through a line of high windows. Sessily wore soft pink trousersi and a gray pullover shirt: garments which failed to disguise the contpurs| of her body, of which Glawen became ever more conscious. At last,| he came to stand beside her, where she bent over the table. She felt| his nearness and looked up, half smiling. Glawen caught her in his arms and kissed her with an intensity she could not fail to understand, and to which she responded. At last they pulled apart and stood facing one another. :.
Glawen said huskily: "I don't know whether it's because of ideas Aries put into my head or because I've begun thinking them of and own accord. Either way I find it hard to stop."
Sessily, smiling ruefully, said: "To blame Aries because you wai to love me that's not very flattering."
Glawen said hastily: "I didn't mean it that way. It's just that " "Hush," said Sessily.
"Don't explain. Talk is always a distraction. Think, instead."
"Think? Of what?"
"Well ... Perhaps of Aries."
Giawen was puzzled.
"If you like. For how long?"
"Only an instant. Just long enough to realize that I have feelings too, and Aries said nothing to me." She took a step back.
"Giawen, no. I shouldn't have said that. My mother might be looking in at any moment... In fact, listen! I hear her coming now. Get busy."
Footsteps approached, certain and brisk. The door opened and it was indeed Felice Veder who came into the room: a pretty woman of early maturity, not much larger than Sessily, characterized by an innate decisiveness, as if her conduct were controlled by patterns of absolute validity which needed no attention.
Felice paused a moment to appraise Giawen and Sessily. Her gaze took in Glawen's uneasy posture and Sessily's flush and somewhat tumbled brown curls. She came to the table and inspected the wings.
"Oh, how beautiful! Those will be truly spectacular, especially when they glow in the light! Am I wrong, or is it a trifle warm down here? Why don't you open the windows?"
"Yes, it's a bit warm," Sessily agreed.
"Giawen, would you please-but no! If the wind blows in, it will shift all the patterns."
"True," said Felice.
"Well, I have much to do. Keep up the good work!"
She departed. A few minutes later another set of footsteps sounded in the hall. Sessily listened.
"It's Squeaker.
Mother decided that we need supervision." She glanced sidelong at Giawen.
"With good reason, perhaps?"
Giawen grimaced.
"Now she'll make sure that we're never alone."
Sessiiy laughed.
"Small chance of that ... Although sometimes I want things to go on forever, just as they are."
Into the room came a girl: a slight little creature about ten years old, with Sessily's snub nose and brown curls.
Sessily looked up.
"Hello, Squeaker. What are you doing down here among the rats and vermin and jumpy bugs?"
"Mother says that I am to help you, and that Giawen must work very hard so that his mind does not wander off among the flowers. Isn't that a strange thing for Mother to say?"
