"What is the line on Wayness?"
Uther frowned.
"In this case, I am not satisfied with my figures. She puts out too many contradictory signals. At first I thought she was prim; now I find her strangely attractive."
"It's not strange at all," said Kiper.
"In those tight pants she's practically edible."
"Quiet, Kiper," said Shugart.
"You curdle the moral atmosphere."
Kirdy Wook addressed Kiper: "I thought that you were a proponent of the 'twitching finger' theory."
"I looked at her fingers first," said Kiper.
"Then I changed."
"I wish you chaps would talk of something else," grumbled Kirdy Wook.
"I came down here to study."
"So did I," said Aries. He looked down at his books with disfavor.
"This stuff is dry as dog bone. Uther, you're a mathematical genius;
work out these problems for me! They're due tomorrow, and I've only just started."
Uther smilingly shook his head.
"I refuse to start down a long, futile road. Face the facts, Aries. To pass the course, you must be able to solve such problems."
Aries spoke in a voice of reproach: "Is this the brave Grand Pouncer, Sage of the Pride, who dispenses such bleak mercy to a pack member with a sore paw?"
"I am the Grand Pouncer and a roaring true Bold Lion! If I solved your problems tonight, tomorrow you would stare even more blankly at the next set. In the end I would drudge through all your work until the examination, which you would fail, with gratitude for no one, least of all me."
Shugart Veder said: "I thought you were working with a tutor."
Aries grunted.
"He was inept in every respect! First, he tried to put me through a lot of meaningless drills:
elementary stuff! What I needed was a clear and easy way to solve the problems, and all he would say was: "In due course!" and "First things first!" Finally I told him either to teach me properly or to stand aside for someone who could."
"Those were strong words! What did he say?"
"Nothing much. He knew I'd caught him out fair and square, so he just gave a hollow laugh and walked away. Curious chap."
"So who worked your last problem-set, when the tutor refused to do so?"
Kirdy Wook murmured: "Could it have been Spanchetta, noblest of lion mothers?"
Aries scowled blackly and slammed the book shut.
"She might have given me a hint or two. What of it?"
"Face facts, Aries! Spanchetta can't take the examination for you."
"Bah!" muttered Aries.
"You sound like my tutor." He pushed back his chair and rose to his feet.
"I'm not worried. I know how to deal with these so-called facts, if the need arises!"
All around the table faces looked blankly at Aries. Uther Offaw said coldly: "I don't understand what you are saying.
Do you care to explain?"
"Certainly I'll explain, if you're too dense to catch on for yourself. Changes are coming around here! Some will be pushed forward; others will get left behind. I wanted the Bold Lions to be in the lead. Now I don't know. The group is getting worse instead of better. Now do you understand?"
"I do not, but I must say that I don't like the tone of your words."
Aries grinned.
"Don't be such a tame little lap-pussy! Maybe we'll have to vote in a new Grand Pouncer after all! Someone who'll get things properly done." Aries gathered his books together.
"I'm leaving; there are things I'd rather be doing elsewhere."
