"Well, then: who was it?"

Aries had been told that the most proficient liars used as much truth as possible.

"If you must know, it was Wayness Tamm, from Riverview House. She's just a bit of trollop, if the truth be known--very selectively, of course."

"Hmf," said Spanchetta.

"So selectively that she beat you and gave you that awful black eye when you made advances?"

"Of course not! When I went out on the beach, I found that a couple of drunken tourists had accosted her and were giving her trouble. I piled into them and set them right, but in the process I took a blow or two myself. I think I'll stay home from school until the black eye is better and my face is less swollen."

"Absolutely not!" declared Spanchetta.

"You can't afford to miss any more school."

"I look a fright! What shall I say when people ask questions?"

Spanchetta shrugged.

"Apparently you intend to tell no one the truth. Just say that you fell out of bed. Or that you were playing whack-doodle with your grandmother."

So in the morning Aries willy-nilly went slouching off to the lyceum, where, as he had feared, his appearance aroused attention. When asked questions, he followed Spanchetta's advice and said: "I fell out of bed."

Wayness and Milo came to school as usual, but paid no attention to Aries. After the social anthropology class, Aries waited for Wayness in the hall. She walked wordlessly past, but he called out to her.

"Wayness, I want to say something to you."

"As you like, but make it short."

"You didn't take me seriously last night, did you?"

Wayness clamped her lips and turned her face away. She said softly:

"If I were you I'd be ashamed even to bring the matter up."

"I am, in a way. It seems that I became overexcited, so to speak." Aries attempted a lame grin.

"You know how it is."

"I think that you intended to kill me."

"Nonsense!" scoffed Aries.

"What a fantastic idea!"

"So it is," said Wayness with a shudder.

"I don't want to talk anymore."

"One question! Last night somebody hit me. Who was it?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Hah! Need you ask? It was a cowardly thing to do! Look at me, with this ridiculous black eye!"

"You can express your indignation to my father. You'll be seeing him shortly."

"I don't want to see your father," growled Aries.

"So far as I'm concerned, the matter is closed."

Wayness merely shrugged and turned away.

Two days later, during the noon recess, Aries emerged from the cafeteria to be met by four Naturalists in military uniform. Aries, turning pale, looked from one to the other.

"What do you want?"

"You are Aries Clattuc?"

"What of it?"

"Come with us."

Aries hung back.

"Just a moment. Where? And why?"

"You are going to Riverview House, where you will be dealt with according to law."

Aries took a step back and tried to bluster.

"This is Araminta Station! Your law is no good around here."

"Society law controls all of Cadwal. Come."

Protesting and struggling, Aries was placed into a power wagon and conveyed to Riverview House. Spanchetta, when apprised of the event, first called Housemaster Fratano, then Bodwyn Wook, only to learn that both had been called to Riverview House.

The two Araminta dignitaries returned during the middle afternoon. Both spoke with Spanchetta and assured her that Aries could consider himself lucky; he had been stopped short of a capital crime.

During the late afternoon Aries was returned to Araminta Station and released into the Quadrangle. He looked pale and crestfallen, and smelled of antiseptic ointments. As chance would have it, a group of Bold Lions came past as Aries was thrust from the power wagon.

Cloyd Diffin called out: "So where have you been, and what did they do to you?"

Kiper said critically: "My word, what a state of Bedragglement!"

Shugart bleated: "And all for waxing a pair of drunken tourists? Hard lines, I call it."

"It's a bit more complicated than that," muttered Aries.