Araminta Station (51 page)

Bodwyn Wook looked at the third list. “These are the gentlemen from Soum, whom we have in custody. There seem to be no surprises here.” Bodwyn Wook put the lists aside and leaned back in his chair. “We seem to make some small progress. Let me explain my thinking. The excursions depend upon three elements: Titus Pompo, the customers and the organizer, sometimes known as Ogmo Enterprises. He is now the only unknown element in the case, but we cannot let it rest there. He is possibly the worst scoundrel of the lot; also, he may well be someone already known to us. I will not, at this time, hazard any guesses or put forward any names, not even in idle speculation. Suffice to say, he must be tracked down, identified and taken into custody. What do you say to that?”

“Nothing, sir. I agree.”

“Quite so.” Bodwyn Wook raised his eyes to the ceiling. “I will point out that, in order to conduct an investigation, one needs investigators. Your name has been mentioned in such a connection. You would be required to travel off-world, to Natrice, Tassadero and Soum, and on each of these worlds make appropriate inquiries. Does the program interest you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“This person - for lack of a better name I shall call him Ogmo - has certainly left traces. He has dealt with travel agencies and issued a brochure. Money must have been paid to the travel agencies, then transferred to Ogmo. Such transactions must have left further traces: all of which, if properly followed, should lead to Ogmo. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Aside from these general points, I can offer no further guidelines. You and your colleague must use your notable ingenuities and develop your own lines of inquiry. Now, then: do you have questions?”

“Yes, sir, I surely do. You used the word ‘colleague.’ I have already had one bitter experience of working with a colleague, namely Kirdy, and I don’t want to repeat the mistake. All in all, I am sure that I can work to better effect alone.”

Bodwyn Wook frowned and cleared his throat. “I fear that, in this case, we must regretfully give second priority to your personal preferences. For various reasons, all of considerable importance, I think it best that you work with an associate.”

Glawen sought for words, framing and discarding a number of remarks, while Bodwyn Wook watched him with owllike imperturbability. Finally Glawen asked: “And whom do you have in mind as this associate?”

“Working with an associate is not the end of the world,” said Bodwyn Wook bluffly. “Perhaps your previous experience with Kirdy was not fully successful, but we must learn from our mistakes. You will definitely be in charge, and I’m sure that extra eyes, extra hands and the extra force of a keen Wook mind will often prove of value. And - as I indicated - there are other reasons why the arrangement is important.”

“You mean that I must work with Kirdy - again?”

“Responsible work is essential to Kirdy’s recovery. He must bring his mind down from the clouds and focus it on reality.” Bodwyn Wook spoke into his communicator. “Is Kirdy on hand?”

Kirdy entered the office. His eyes fell upon Glawen, and instantly seemed to become round and glassy.

“Here you are, the two of you: back together again!” So called out Bodwyn Wook in fulsome tones. “Since that Yipton dustup Kirdy has been a bit off his feed, but now he’s as right as rain, and ready for action. What he needs is stimulation and good hard work, to exercise the talents which are his Wook birthright. This investigation is exactly the proper prescription and an opportunity which we can’t neglect! Especially since the two of you have worked together before.”

Kirdy smiled: a slow cool twisting of the mouth. “So we have.”

Glawen said anxiously: “For this reason alone, Kirdy might not be comfortable working as my subordinate. It might be better if -”

“Nonsense!” declared Bodwyn Wook. “By this time you two know each other’s foibles and fancies, and you should be able to cooperate in full harmony.”

Kirdy nodded ponderously. “I find this truly a wonderful opportunity.”

“Then it is settled,” said Bodwyn Wook. He spoke into the communicator: “Hilda, if you please!”

Hilda entered the office. Bodwyn Wook said: “Prepare travel credentials for Glawen and Kirdy. I now promote them both to the rank of sergeant; use that designation.”

“Wait!” cried Glawen. “If I am required to deal with off-world police, I would prefer higher credentials, if only for this particular assignment; I suggest the rank of captain, at the very least.”

“The point is well-taken! Hilda, that shall be the way of it!”

Hilda sniffed and cast a sour glance toward Glawen. “What of Kirdy? Is he only to be a sergeant? He might also have to deal with policemen.

Bodwyn Wook made an expansive gesture. “Just so! Both, during this assignment, are to be captains of the Cadwal Police! Probably the youngest captains in the history of Bureau B!”

Hilda said: “Glawen doesn’t even command full Agency status, and the way things look, he never will. Isn’t this something of an extravagance, making him a captain?”

“Not at all,” said Bodwyn Wook. “Neither law nor common sense debars a collateral from whatever rank he is able to earn.”

Again Hilda sniffed. “I’ve heard it said that for three diseases - pride, pomp and Clattuc birth - a strong dose of humility is the best medicine.”

“Aha!” cried Bodwyn Wook. “These trifles of folk wisdom often conceal nuggets of pure truth! . . . What is that you are saying, Glawen?”

“I cited another nugget of folk wisdom. It’s just as well that it went unheard.”

Kirdy spoke in a flat voice: “He said: ‘A cow that has never been bred yields very sour milk, if any.’”

Bodwyn Wook rubbed his chin. “Quaint, yes; relevant, no. Hilda, you are going?”

“I have work to do.”

“Call the travel office and discover the next departure for Soumjiana on Soum.”

“I can tell you at this moment,” said Glawen. The
Sagittarian Ray
departs at noon tomorrow.”

“Very good. Captain Clattuc and Captain Wook, go at once to the travel bureau and procure passage vouchers, then pack for the voyage. I urge that you make do with one small valise apiece. Tomorrow morning come here for your credentials, money and final advisements.”

Glawen and Kirdy departed the office. In silence they descended the stairs. on the ground floor Glawen said: “Let us sit a moment in the rotunda.”

“Why?”

“I have something to say to you.”

Kirdy turned aside and followed Glawen to a bench near the central fountain. Glawen seated himself and indicated that Kirdy should also be seated.

Kirdy stiffly refused. “I will stand. What do you want of me?”

Glawen spoke in a neutral voice. “We must resolve the issues that lie between us, here and now. They can wait no longer.”

Kirdy laughed: a husky grating sound. “I am in no hurry. I can wait - until the proper time.”

“The proper time is now.”

“Really?” Kirdy chuckled. “Is it for you to call the tune to which I must dance?”

“It is for me to ensure that this mission goes smoothly. Under present conditions, it is not possible.”

“That is a fair statement. What, then, must we settle?”

“Your antagonism. It is not justified.”

Kirdy frowned in puzzlement. “You are not talking sensibly. After all, it is my antagonism, not yours. How can you know on what basis it is founded?”

“Your sufferings at Yipton were severe. I did not share them, and for this reason you are resentful. Am I correct?”

“In some degree.”

“Your own blunders and bad judgment brought on your troubles. It is not rational to blame me. It is the work of your subconscious mind, which does not want to admit a fault. You must bring yourself under control.”

Kirdy laughed once more. “Spare me your platitudes. I will use the mental processes I find most convenient.”

Glawen studied Kirdy’s face. The large blunt features, once so easy, pink and mild, now seemed to be formed from rigid cartilage. Glawen asked uneasily: “Why not use your ordinary old conscious mind? That seems a good plan to me.”

“Ah, little do you know! That mind was smashed into twittering little gobbets; they fly blindly back and forth through my head like bats in a dark room. I find them a source of annoyance, since another mind is now in charge, and the annoyances will be” - here Kirdy pinched his thumb and forefinger together – “so. And thus . . .” Kirdy stopped short.

“And thus what?”

“Nothing.”

“Do you want advice?”

“I will listen, whether I want it or not. I thereby learn!” Kirdy gave Glawen a knowing leer. “Advise on, Glawen! Let us learn how you would assist me in my career.”

“First, why be in such a hurry to expunge your old mind? Maybe it will join together again. Second –”

“I already know the second. Stay at home. Rest, enjoy life, read some amusing books. Let Glawen advance his career in peace.”

“Call it what you like, but the facts are real. We cannot work together if every time I turn my back you pick up an ax. That makes for uncomfortable conditions.”

Kirdy considered. “Only from your point of view.”

“But you fail to grasp the central point! You have no reason for this attitude!”

Kirdy looked off across the rotunda and spoke in boredom: “Oh, I have reason! Several reasons! Many reasons! You will never know them! Perhaps they could not be put into words! Perhaps they are even irrational. If so, who cares? I feel them, nonetheless.”

“If you recognize these reasons as irrational, can you put them aside?”

“If necessary.”

“Do you agree that it is necessary?”

“I will give the matter thought . . . Where are you going?”

“Back up to Bodwyn Wook’s office.”

“I will come with you.”

Hilda wordlessly ushered the two back into the inner office. Bodwyn Wook looked up in irritation. “What is it now?”

“This situation is impossible,” said Glawen. “Kirdy is not in good mental health! He won’t even promise not to kill me!”

“Of course he won’t!” snapped Bodwyn Wook. “Why should he? Have I promised not to kill you? Has Hilda? Has anyone? You are on the verge of hysteria!”

Glawen strove to keep his voice calm. “Let me put it this way. A team cannot function if its members do not trust each other. Kirdy is not sane and I don’t see how I can work with him.”

Bodwyn Wook turned to Kirdy: “Let us settle this once and for all. Are you sane or not?”

“I consider myself sane.”

“Can you work with Glawen?”

“The question more properly should be: ‘Can he work with me?’”

Glawen started to speak but Bodwyn Wook waved his arms high in the air. “Glawen, you may go! I will talk to Kirdy and put this affair into perspective. Not another word! I will see you in the morning.”

Glawen marched from the room, through the outer office and down the stairs. In the rotunda he walked back and forth, inclining first toward one desperate plan, then another. At last, cursing under his breath, he went into the travel office and picked up his vouchers for passage aboard the
Sagittarian Ray
.

During the evening he kept his problems to himself, and Scharde asked no questions. In the morning, Glawen walked down to the Bureau B offices and along the way met Kirdy, turned out in a spanking-new Bureau B uniform, with the captain’s red piping prominent. Kirdy looked Glawen up and down in disfavor. “Why are you not in uniform?”

“Because I don’t choose to be, and because it is not at all appropriate to the mission.”

“That is not for you, but for me, to determine.” Kirdy turned away and strode off to the Bureau B offices, with Glawen coming behind more slowly.

Arriving at Bureau B, Glawen reported to Hilda, who placed a folder containing his documents in front of him. Glawen glanced through them; all seemed in order. “Now, then, where is my money?”

With hands trembling in reluctance, Hilda tendered him a packet. “Count the contents. You will find a thousand sols. It is a great deal of money. Be very careful with it; you will be issued no further sums.”

Glawen counted the money, tucked documents and packet into the inner pocket of his jacket. Hilda watched with cold amusement. “If you carry your money in that pocket, it will be stolen immediately. Have the seamstress sew pockets on the inside of your trouser legs. This is where you should carry your funds.”

“These pockets are already in place, but I delayed using them,” said Glawen. “I feared that removing my trousers in your presence might offend you.”

“Pish,” sneered Hilda. “What do I care, one way or the other?” She jerked her head toward the inner office. “You may go in; the Supervisor is expecting you.”

Glawen went through the door to find Bodwyn Wook standing by the window. “Sir, it is I, Glawen.”

Bodwyn Wook turned and slowly came to his desk. He seated himself and at last deigned to take note of Glawen. “You are ready to go?”

Glawen looked at him sharply; was he mistaken, or did Bodwyn Wook’s demeanor seem constrained? Glawen said firmly: “No, sir. I am not ready to go. I can only reiterate that Kirdy is incapable of conducting sensitive work. I just met him dressed in a new uniform, advertising to all the Reach that he is employed by Bureau B. What is worse, he chided me for being out of uniform.”

“Ah yes! Poor Kirdy is perhaps a trifle distrait. I rely on your sturdy common sense to even the balance. You have received your documents? And your money? Also your rectification pills?”

“I picked up a kit at the pharmacy.”

“Throw away the stuff called Erythrist; it’s useless, especially against Soumian itch. They’ll give you a specific at the Soum spaceport; you’ll get it as you pass through the wicket. So then: you are all ready.”

Glawen began to feel desperate. “Sir, I cannot work with Kirdy under present conditions.”

“Come, now, Glawen! We must take the long view. The experience will not only help Kirdy but may well expand your own capacities.”

“What, then, is my mission? To investigate the Thurben Island case or to provide therapy for Kirdy?”

Bodwyn Wook’s voice sharpened. “Come, Glawen! Your anxieties are fast becoming tiresome. Does your question truly need an answer?”