Aries departed the Old Arbor, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence. Shugart finally said: "Not a nice scene, at all. I can't imagine what he's talking about."
"Whatever it is, I don't like it," said Uther in a troubled voice.
"It's downright sinister."
Cloyd Veder said: "When he gets into this kind of mood he's unpredictable ... I wonder what he had in mind when he said he wanted the Bold Lions in the lead."
Kirdy Wook drained his goblet and collected his books.
"Aries is just full of big talk."
"And what does he mean 'the group is getting worse'? That's not a proper thing to say."
Kirdy rose to his feet.
"He can't get used to seeing Glawen in the group ... Where is Glawen? He was here the last time I looked."
Kiper said: "He left a minute ago--slipped away like a shadow, just after Aries went. He's another odd one."
Kirdy said: "That applies more or less to all of us... I'll be getting along too."
"And I," said Uther.
"The meeting, such as it was, is adjourned."
Glawen unobtrusively departed the Old Arbor and went out into Wansey Way, where he paused to look and listen ... He heard only a muffled murmur of voices from the Old Arbor.
The Quadrangle lay
quiet and empty in the starlight. Wansey Way went off toward the | beach between patches of dappled starlight and heavy shade. But nowhere could be seen the dark moving shape which might indicate the present location of Aries: a fact which suddenly had become a matter of grave importance.
Where, then, was Aries? At the meeting he had seemed edgy and preoccupied, as if something were gnawing at his mind.
Glawen thought that he might be able to guess what was troubling Aries.
Where was he now?
The first and obvious place to look was Clattuc House.
Glawen turned and ran up the avenue. He pushed open the main portal and looked into the foyer. The footman on duty gave him a polite salute.
"Good evening, sir."
"Has Aries come in just recently?"
"Yes, sir: about five minutes ago."
The response took Glawen by surprise.
"And he hasn't come down again?"
"No, sir. Dame Spanchetta met him here on her way out and gave firm instructions in regard to schoolwork. Master Aries went up to his chambers but without enthusiasm."
"Hmmf," muttered Glawen.
"Most peculiar ..." Upstairs, his own rooms were dark and silent; Scharde was gone. Feeling puzzled and dissatisfied, Glawen flung himself into a chair and sat staring into space.
A new concept entered his mind. He went to his bedroom, opened the window and clambered out upon the roof. Nearby a great oak tree grew close to the roof, affording a secret route to the ground when, in years previous, the mood had so inclined him. Now he went quietly around the roof until he could see the windows giving upon Aries' bedroom. The window was open, but the room behind was dark.
Glawen returned across the dank old tiles to his bedroom.
Verifi cation was necessary. He called Aries on the telephone. There was no answer.
Cursing under his breath, Glawen now struggled to resolve a new predicament. If he telephoned Riverview House, while precautions might be taken, he inevitably would be made to seem the source of an overexcitable clamor and probable false alarm, to his helpless embarrassment.
Furious with himself for worrying over such paltry considerations, Glawen turned away from the telephone. Now:
every minute was important; Aries had a goodly head start.
Glawen left his rooms, descended the stairs and departed Clattuc House at best speed. He ran down the avenue to Wansey Way, out to the Beach Road, then south toward Riverview House: at all times peering ahead lest he overtake Aries--assuming that Aries were, for a fact, hunching along the road ahead.
Glawen stopped to listen. The ocean was still. A pink flush at the horizon signaled the imminent appearance of Lorca and Sing. He heard the soft sound of the surf and occasionally the hushed call of a night bird in the palms and tanjee trees beside the road.
Glawen proceeded, but more slowly and cautiously. If Aries were also traversing the road on his secret business, he could not be far ahead, and it would not be comfortable to come hard up on Aries out here in the dark. Glawen gave a grimace; he should have brought a weapon.
Glawen trotted soundlessly ahead ... Aha! He stopped short. At the edge of his vision: a lurching shadow which could only be Aries, and Glawen felt a grim satisfaction that his intuition had been confirmed.
Reality also brought a thrill of fear. Glawen had no illusions regarding his ability to cope with Aries, and again he wished he had brought a weapon.
