Glawen said mildly: "You quite misunderstand my remarks."
"Be that as it may. I am as of now inviting you on the tour, and no more need be said. As for Pussycat Palace, it would be better for tomorrow, but I was outvoted. Cloyd, Dauncy, Kiper, Jardine-they're in a state of ferment."
A thought arose from the back of Glawen's mind.
"No doubt Aries is also pawing the ground?"
"For a fact Aries has been almost subdued," said Kirdy.
"We had a party last night and he's probably still under the weather." He arose.
"We'd better join the others. Give me four sols; that's the fee for the tour."
Glawen paid over the money; the two crossed the lobby. The full complement of Bold Lions was now on hand: a group brash and bumptious, exchanging banter in overloud voices. Kirdy asked: "Who is handling the tour money?"
"I am," said Shugart.
"Surely you can't be afraid I'll abscond?"
"Not while you're in plain sight. Here's another four sols.
Glawen is going with us."
Shugart took the money, and turned a dubious glance toward Aries, who had stepped over to the wall to examine the array of grotesque masks.
"I suppose there's no reason why not," said Shugart.
"None whatever," said Kirdy.
Aries, returning to the group, noted the presence of Glawen and stopped short. He turned to Shugart: "This is a club affair, for members only! I thought that had been made clear!"
Shugart spoke in a placatory voice: "Glawen's an ex-Bold Lion, which is close. He's paid his four sols; there's no reason why he shouldn't come."
"I should think that he could take a hint. He knows how everyone feels about him!"
Glawen ignored the remarks. Kirdy spoke sharply to Aries: "I invited him! He is my guest and I'll thank you to show him ordinary courtesy, if nothing else."
Aries could think of nothing to say and turned away.
Meanwhile their guide had entered the lobby: a young man three or four years older than Kirdy or Shugart, with the clever vivacious features of a faun, a superb physique, a cap of bronzed curls. He wore a short white turtle and a pale blue vest which barely covered his shoulders. His manner was polite and he spoke carefully, as if he were addressing a class of young children.
"I am your guide. My name is Fader Campa- sarus Uiskil. We shall have a good time, but remember! you must stay with the group! Do not straggle; do not stray. If you wander off by
yourself, you might encounter inconvenience. Is this clear to all? Stay with the group, where you will be safe." He paused to eye Aries up and down, then said: "Sir, you will not be comfortable in that cloak, and it may well become soiled. Give it to the floor boy; he will take it to your room."
With poor grace Aries followed the suggestion, Fader continued his remarks: "This is an introductory tour.
It includes passage along the canals in a boat, a visit to the Caglioro, the bazaar and other destinations as listed in the brochure. Options will be explained along the way, or they may be the theme of a new excursion tomorrow. Which of you is captain of the group?"
Aries cleared his throat, but Kirdy said: "That would seem to be Shugart, who controls all our money. Step forward there, Shugart! Exert your lion ship
"Very well," said the portly Shugart.
"If I must lead this unruly pride, so be it. You spoke of options; should we discuss them now?"
"They will be explained along the way, since we are a minute or two behind schedule. Come along; follow me, if you please. We will start out by boat, up the Hybel Canal."
The group descended a ramp to the hotel basement, where a landing ran parallel to a narrow canal. Here they found a canoe like craft, high at bow and stern, with a crew of four paddlers. The Bold Lions clambered aboard and seated themselves on cushioned thwarts. Fader went to stand aft by the steering wheel.
As soon as all were seated, the boat slid away from the landing, through an opening and out into sunlight and the canal proper.
The Bold Lions found themselves crossing the harbor, with the hotel terrace above them. Almost immediately the boat turned off into the Hybel Canal.
For half an hour the boat followed the swings and swerves of the canal, with dark and oily water below. To right and left rickety structures rose four and five stories, each supporting its sagging neighbor. The visual effect was a microscopic intricacy of windows, balconies hung with bits of cloth, green foliage trailing from brick-red pots, peering faces, braziers exuding small wisps of smoke. At odd intervals tufts of bamboo found a few square feet of soil to anchor their roots. The Big Chife pressed down as always.
The canoe proceeded at no great speed and the paddlers seemed to exert themselves very little, as if they too were enjoying the cruise. Glawen spoke to Kirdy: "See that boat with the red rag dangling from the stern? I've noticed that at least twice before. These rascals are taking us in a circle and laughing at us."
"By Balthasar's goat! I think you're right!" Kirdy indignantly called back to Fader: "What kind of games are you playing? You've circled us so many times we're getting dizzy! Can't you do better than that?"
Jardine echoed the complaint.
"You must take us for ninnies!
We've just been drifting back and forth through heat and stink!"
Fader replied with smiling candor: "The canal scenery is much the same everywhere; we were just making it easy on ourselves."
Shugart cried out: "That's not how the tour is described!
The brochure speaks of 'picturesque environs' and 'glimpses of secret Yipton' and 'naked girls bathing."" "Quite right!" called Cloyd.
"Where are the girls? I've seen nothing but old women chewing on fish heads."
Fader responded in a flat voice, evidently reciting a statement he had made many times before.
"There is a reason for everything. Ours is a very practical society, of many tiers and levels which we understand, but which I will not even try to explain. We waste nothing;
everything is planned. The tour you have selected. Number 111, provides a thought-provoking study of mature living. It documents the victory of patience and abnegation: qualities so important in the modern world. The message of the tour is truly inspiring! If you are interested in other phases of Yipton, Tour 109 provides a visit to the creches where you may examine the infants of Yipton at your leisure. Tour 154 demonstrates the techniques offish cleaning and fish scaling and the efficient use of fish by-products. Tour 105 takes you first through the sick-house, then out for an inspection of the death raft, where at sunset you may listen to traditional songs, which are said to be of high quality; and you may request your favorite upon payment of a small fee.
You also may visit the girls' area now, if you choose to do so, at an extra charge of five sols for the group."
Shugart stared in astonishment. He spoke in a severe voice:
"This sounds suspiciously as if we are starting upon the death of a thousand cuts. Please understand, Fader, that your gratuity will help defray the cost of all extras, and now, as I think of it, the specifications for this tour stipulated a visit to the girls' quarters."
"That is Basic Tour 112. This is Basic Tour 111."
"So what? The prices are the same. Tour 111, according to the brochure, caters to folk whose religion--and now I read from the brochure--'forbids them the sight of naked women or members of the female sex." We are not all that easily offended. You have jumped to conclusions."
