"Still, it's only decent to be diplomatic."
"It makes no great difference, one way or the other."
"Wrong!" declared Kirdy.
"The Bold Lions are supposed to be your cover."
"It's far more placid here. Kiper has been drinking, which means growls and roars."
Kirdy gave his head a dour shake.
"He wanted three great roars for Pussycat Palace, but the lounge steward told him to quiet down, and he's been out of sorts ever since."
"Oh, very well," said Glawen.
"I suppose it's proper tactics to join them."
"One moment," said Kirdy.
"There's something we must discuss."| He frowned and turned his round blue eyes toward the ceiling.
"Iri| regard to this mission, I conferred with the Supervisor yesterday. Hfe| emphasized that we must work together as a team." 1J Glawen heaved a sigh. At times Kirdy could be most tiresome.
He| wondered how best to detach himself from a close association. He said:;
"I've had rather definite instructions myself, and " ;
"These instructions have been superseded." Kirdy turned his bright blue gaze on Glawen.
"It's been decided that, since I have an edge on you in both seniority and experience, I should be in command of the mission."
Glawen sat stock-still for a long ten seconds.
"I have not been notified of this."
"I'm notifying you now," snapped Kirdy.
"That should be sufficient. Do you believe me or not? We'd belter have an understanding." here and now."
"Oh, I believe you well enough," said Glawen.
"Only " "Only what?"
"I should think that Bodwyn Wook would have notified me in person."
"Well, he told me and that should be quite enough. If you don't like it, complain when we get back. If the truth be known, Glawen, this is exactly what is wrong with you in a professional sense. You think too much. For instance, let's say that there's a pile of something nasty in the walk and you've been ordered to remove it. Well, you'd dither and sniff and wonder whether to use a shovel or a shingle, and meanwhile an old lady comes along and steps in it. I don't wish to be unkind but that's the sort of thing we've got to avoid, in favor of decisive leadership. I pointed this out to Bodwyn Wook and he agreed in every respect. So that's how it is. Perhaps I'm coming on a bit stronger than might be tactful, but in an operation like this, there can't be any slipups."
"I see. What were your precise instructions?"
Kirdy said in a measured voice: "I was told that you had what information we would need. You might as well brief me now."
"You've memorized the map of Yipton?"
"What map?"
"This."
Kirdy took the map and examined it. His mouth drooped in distaste.
"What a mess. I'll look it over after a bit."
"It's to be destroyed before we go ashore. Notice this gray outline?"
"What of it?"
"That's the area we're supposed to investigate."
"And what are these other markings?"
"This is the dock and this is the hotel."
Kirdy studied the map.
"The gray area seems to be down the dock from the hotel."
"Correct."
"And what exactly are we looking for?"
"I guess we'll know when we see it."
"Hmf. It's rather a disorganized way of handling an operation of this sort."
"As I understand it, we're supposed to do the best we can without taking chances."
"That's my own appraisal of the situation. I don't see any great tactical challenge. This road runs right past the structure, and we're sure to find clues everywhere."
"If you say so."
"Of course I say so. Let's go join the others."
"And the map?"
"I'll take care of it for now. Have you any other papers I should have?"
"No."
Early in the afternoon fishing boats appeared: light craft little more than rafts formed of bundled bamboo poles, lashed into the shape of a boat; and larger vessels with hulls of laminated bamboo strips. At the same time a smudge appeared on the northeast horizon, which in due course became, first, a floating crust, then a line of rickety structures among tufts of bamboo and coconut palms. At this time the first intimation of the Big Chife reached the Faraz, and passengers looked from one to the other with bemused expressions.
