"Not long at all. I am Captain Scharde Clattuc of Bureau B at Araminta Station. Please inform Titus Pompo that I want a few words with him on an official matter, at his earliest convenience; in fact now, if possible."
The clerk glanced at his colleagues; the three, after quick curious glances to gauge Scharde's seriousness, or, perhaps, sanity, returned to their work, disassociating themselves from so bizarre a problem. The clerk who had come forward spoke carefully: "Sir, I will see that your message is immediately disposed for the Oomphaw's attention."
A nuance in the clerk's phrasing caught Scharde's attention.
"What does that mean?"
The clerk smilingly explained: "The message will be expedited to the Oomphaw's offices. No doubt an appropriate member of the staff will deliver to you, probably today, an application form upon which you may freely explain your needs."
"You don't quite understand," said Scharde.
"I don't care for an application form; I want a few words with Titus Pompo, as soon as possible. Now would not be too soon."
The clerk's smile became strained.
"Sir, let me use an open vocabulary. You do not seem an impractical visionary, with eyes raised to the glory of the ineffable. Still you apparently expect me to run to the Oomphaw's bedchamber, shake him awake and say: "Up, sir, and out of bed quickly! A gentleman wants to talk with you." I must inform you that this is not feasible."
Scharde nodded.
"You express yourself well. May I have a sheet of hotel stationery?"
"Of course. Here you are, sir."
"What is your name?"
The clerk raised his eyebrows in wary perplexity.
"I am Euphorbius Leiiantho Jantifer."
Scharde wrote on the paper for a moment, then said: "Please dateisi and sign this document and ask your associates to sign as witnesses';;
and participants." | The clerk, now concerned, read the document aloud in muttering:!
tones: "I, Euphorbius Leiiantho Jantifer, affirm that on the morning of this date, I refused to notify Titus Pompo that Captain Scharde Clattuc of Bureau B, Araminta Station, had arrived to speak with him on urgent and official business. I admit that Captain Clattuc notified me that he could not wait upon formalities and must immediately return to Araminta Station, and that the penalties ensuing upon my act would include cessation of ferry service for an indefinite period, or until a fine of one thousand sols was paid over."
He looked up with a sagging jaw.
"Just so," said Scharde.
"Sign the paper, then I will go.
There will be a final ferry to pick up persons now at the hotel, then no more. Sign, if you please--though of course it is not necessary, since there are witnesses to your conduct."
The clerk pushed the document away and managed an ironic grin.
"Come, come, sir. This document is ridiculous, as you well know."
"I am going out upon the terrace for breakfast," said Scharde.
"When I am finished I will return to Araminta Station, unless you bring me a definite response from Titus Pompo."
Euphorbius the clerk, now somewhat crestfallen, said: "Sir, you are truly most importunate. But I will see what can be done."
"Thank you." Scharde went out on the terrace, selected a wicker table under a pale green parasol and made a breakfast upon the piquant foods of Yipton.
Toward the end of his meal three members of Titus Pompo's elite Oomps marched out upon the terrace and approached his table. The officer in charge of the detail halted in front of Scharde, performed a crisp bow.
"Sir, you are summoned by Titus Pompo the Oomphaw to an audience, at this moment."
Scharde rose to his feet.
"Lead the way."
The Oomps marched from the terrace, with Scharde coming a few paces behind: across the lobby and into a fastness of corridors, dogleg halls, creaking bamboo stairs; past ranked doors and apertures giving into unlit spaces, up creaking bamboo stairs and down, high under the roof, where chinks in the palm fronds showed glints of light, low to where he could hear the plash of lagoon water around bamboo posts, finally through a bamboo door into a room furnished with a pink rug patterned in dark red and blue, a couch upholstered in deep rose-pink, with a pair of small side tables, each supporting a shaded lamp casting a subdued glow about the room.
Scharde advanced slowly into the room, looking right and left and not liking what he saw. He studied the couch a moment, then turned to examine the opposite wall, which was constructed of bamboo rods
woven into a mesh, with interstices two inches square opening into dark space, or so it seemed.
The Oomp captain indicated the couch.
"Be seated; make no disturbance."
The Oomps departed; Scharde was left alone. He stood listening. No sound could be heard, save a far faint all-pervading noise.
Scharde again examined the couch and the wall behind. He turned away and went to stand by the side wall. He was obviously under surveillance: possibly through the mesh.
There seemed no reason, however, except for the joy of deceit for its own sake.
