Clearly he has abdicated his responsibility, while agents of Bureau B range the continent capturing, killing, deporting and who knows what else? In short, I am appalled!"

Warden Ballinder turned to Egon Tamm.

"There you have it, Conservator! How do you answer these extremely blunt charges?"

Egon Tamm gave his head a dour shake.

"The Warden Vergence speaks with gusto! If her charges were accurate, they would be a serious indictment of me and my work. Luckily they are balderdash. The Warden Vergence is an estimable person, but she has a selective comprehension which notices only what fits her preconceptions.

"Contrary to her fears, I monitor the work of Bureau B with care. I find that the personnel faithfully administers Conservancy law, as defined by the Charter. It is as simple as that."

Julian Bohost stirred himself.

"But in the end it is not so simple,

after all. The law you mention is clearly obsolete and very far from | infallible." | Warden Ballinder demanded: "You are referring to the Charter?" | Julian smiled.

"Please! Let's none of us be truculent, or irrational, | or even hysterical! The Charter is not divine revelation, after all. ItI was designed to control a certain set of conditions, which have changed;| the Charter remains:

a stark moldering megalith, glooming over the 3 past." I Dame Clytie chuckled.

"Julian's metaphors are perhaps a bit exaggerated, but he speaks to the right effect. The Charter, as of now, is moribund, and at the very least must be revised and brought into phase with contemporary thought." | Again Glawen tried to speak, but Dame Clytie's ideas seemed to i have a momentum of their own.

"We must come to an accommodation ', with the Yips; this is our great problem.

We cannot continue our abuse s of these submissive folk:

killing them and sending them away from their homes. I see no harm in allowing them the Marmion Foreshore; there is still ample space for the wild animals."

Milo spoke in wonder: "My dear Dame Clytie! Have you forgotten? The original franchise to the Naturalist Society established Cadwal as ;

a Conservancy forever, and specifically prohibited human residency, except as specified by the Charter. You can't contravene this state of affairs. "I "Not so! As a warden and a member of the LPF party I can and I will; the alternate course means war and bloodshed." ,1 She would have spoken on, but Wayness interrupted.

"Glawen, ^ have you something to say? What is your opinion of all this?"

Glawen looked at her sidewise; she vas smiling quite openly. Something cold clamped at his brain. Had she brought him here only so that he might put on an amusing performance? He said stiffly: "I am, in a sense, an outsider; it would be presumptuous for me to enter your discussion."

Egon Tamm looked from Glawen to Wayness and back to Glawen.

"I for one do not consider you an outsider and I would like to hear your opinions."

"Speak, Glawen!" called Warden Ballinder.

"Everyone else has I brayed his best; let's hear your performance!" ' Sunje said silkily: "If you fear that you might be chased from the house by an angry mob, why not make your farewells now, before you begin your speech?"

Glawen paid her no heed.

"I am puzzled by a conspicuous ambiguity which the rest of you seem to ignore. Or perhaps I am ignorant of an accommodation, or a special convention, which everyone else takes for granted."

Milo called out: "Speak, Glawen! Your misgivings are of no interest;

you have us hanging in midair! Break the suspense!"

Glawen said with dignity: "I was trying to introduce a ticklish subject with a certain degree of tact."

"Never mind the tact; get to the point! Do you want a gilded invitation?"

"We are ready for the worst," declared Egon Tamm.

"I ask only that you do not question the chastity of my wife, who is not here to defend herself."

"I could go call her," said Wayness, "if that is what Glawen has in mind."

"Don't bother," said Glawen.

"My remarks concern Dame Clytie. I notice that she has been elected to an office which derives directly from the Charter, with duties and responsibilities denned by the Charter, including unqualified defense of the Conservancy against all enemies and interlopers. If Dame Clytie demeans or diminishes or in any way seeks to invalidate the Charter, or despoil the Conservancy, she has instantly removed herself from office.

She cannot have it both ways. Either she defends the Charter in whole and in pan or she is instantly expelled from office. Unless I misunderstand her, she has already made her choice, and is now no more Warden than I am."

The room was silent. Julian's mouth had sagged open to show a pink gap. Wayness' grin had faded to a shadow. Egon Tamm pensively stirred a bit of hard-cake into his brandy. Warden Ballinder stared at Glawen under lowering eyebrows. Sunje said in a husky whisper: "If you are going to make a run for it, the coast is clear."

Glawen spoke: "Have I gone too far? It seemed to me that this question needed clarification. If I have been rude, I apologize."

Warden Ballinder said dryly: "Your remarks have been sufficiently polite. Still, you have said to Dame Clytie's face something which no one has cared previously to point out, even from an appreciable distance. You have gained my respect."

Julian said carefully: "As you yourself surmised, there are complications and subtleties here which you, as an outsider, could not be expected to perceive. The paradox you cite is only apparent; Dame Clytie was duly elected Warden and is as secure in office as any other, despite her progressive philosophy."

Dame Clytie drew a deep breath and addressed Glawen: "You question my right to office. But I claim my franchise, not from the

i Charter, but from the votes of my constituency. What do you say to| that?" I Egon Tamm said: "Allow me to answer that question. Cadwal isl a Conservancy, administered by the Conservator through Aramintal Station. It is not in any sense a democracy.

Governing power is drawn;

from the original grant to the Naturalist Society. That power flows toj the Conservator through legitimate Wardens and may only be used in the interests of the Conservancy.

This is my reading of the situation.:

In short, the Charter may not be invalidated by the votes of a few disgruntled residents."

"Do you call a hundred thousand Yips a few?" snapped Dame Clytie.

"I call the Yips a very grave problem which we surely cannot solve at this moment."

Glawen rose to his feet.

"I think that I must take my departure. It has been a pleasure to make the acquaintance of you all." And to Egon Tamm: "Please convey my thanks to Dame Cora." And to Wayness:

"Don't get up; I'll find my own way out."