movement."
"But no longer?”
Kathcar spoke in measured terms. "I differ with him on several important points."
“What of Lewyn Barduys? And Flitz?"
"I am not acquainted with either. And now, if you will excuse me, I too will try to rest." Kathcar crawled away.
A few moments later the rain stopped, leaving a silence broken only by the splash of drops falling from the trees. Imminence charged the air.
Purple-white dazzle fractured the sky. A second of tense silence and another – then an explosion of thunder, dying in a sullen rumble. Across the jungle came a response of grinding chatters, angry roars and bellows.
Silence again, and the pressure of imminence then a second burst of lightning, and for an instant every detail of the compound was illuminated in brilliant lavender light, followed as before by another clap of thunder. After a moment the rain started again, in a new torrent.
Glawen asked Chilke: “What happened in the shed that was so peculiar?”
“I live a very peculiar life,” said Chilke. “If you think of it like this, the business in the shed is just a typical incident, even though the average man might be astounded.”
“What happened?”
“First, a Yip in a black uniform took the bag from my head. I saw a table with some documents arranged in a neat pile. The Yip told me to sit down, which I did.”
”It seems that I was under surveillance from a lens across the room. A voice came from the speaker ‘You are Eustace Chilke, native to Big Prairie on Earth?’ “
“I said, yes, that was the case, and to whom was I talking?”
“The voice said: ‘Your single concern at the moment must be the set of documents you see in front of you. Sign them where indicated.’ “
“The voice was harsh and distorted, and not at all friendly. I said: ’I suppose it is pointless to complain of the outrage represented by this kidnapping.‘ “
“The voice said: 'Eustace Chilke, you have been brought here for good and sufficient reason. Sign the documents and be quick about it!' “
“I said: ’It sounds like Madame Zigonie talking, but not in a kindly voice. Where is the money you owe me for six months work?’ “
“The voice said: 'Sign the papers at once, or it will be the worse for you.' “
“I looked the papers over. The first deeded all my property, without exception or reservation, to Simonetta Zigonie. The second was a letter to whom it might concern authorizing the delivery of my property to the bearer. The third, which I liked the least, was my will, bequeathing everything I owned to my friend Simonetta Zigonie. I tried to protest. ‘I'd like to think things over, if you don't mind. I suggest that we go back to Araminta Station and settle the matter like ladies and gentlemen.’ “
“ 'Sign the papers,' said the voice, 'if you value your life!' “
“ I saw that there was no reasoning with the woman. I said: ‘I'll sign if you like, but it’s all a great puzzle, since I own little more than the shirt on my back.’ “
“ 'What of the articles you inherited from your grandfather?’ “
“ They don’t amount to much. The stuffed moose is a bit shabby. There is a small rock collection, with bits of gravel from a hundred planets, a few oddments of bric-a-brac including some purple vases, and probably more junk of the same sort out in the barn. I seem to remember a rather nice stuffed owl with a mouse in its beak.”
” ‘What else?’ “
“That's hard to say, since the barn has been so thoroughly burgled that I almost feel ashamed offering the stuff to you.”
“ ‘Let us have no more delay. Sign the papers, and be quick about it.' “
“I signed the three documents. The voice then said: 'Eustace Chilke, you have saved your life, which henceforth shall be spent repenting your fleering and cavalier attitudes, and your disregard for the sensitivities of those who might have wished to befriend you.' “
“I decided that Madame Zigonie was referring to my
"But no longer?”
Kathcar spoke in measured terms. "I differ with him on several important points."
“What of Lewyn Barduys? And Flitz?"
"I am not acquainted with either. And now, if you will excuse me, I too will try to rest." Kathcar crawled away.
A few moments later the rain stopped, leaving a silence broken only by the splash of drops falling from the trees. Imminence charged the air.
Purple-white dazzle fractured the sky. A second of tense silence and another – then an explosion of thunder, dying in a sullen rumble. Across the jungle came a response of grinding chatters, angry roars and bellows.
Silence again, and the pressure of imminence then a second burst of lightning, and for an instant every detail of the compound was illuminated in brilliant lavender light, followed as before by another clap of thunder. After a moment the rain started again, in a new torrent.
Glawen asked Chilke: “What happened in the shed that was so peculiar?”
“I live a very peculiar life,” said Chilke. “If you think of it like this, the business in the shed is just a typical incident, even though the average man might be astounded.”
“What happened?”
“First, a Yip in a black uniform took the bag from my head. I saw a table with some documents arranged in a neat pile. The Yip told me to sit down, which I did.”
”It seems that I was under surveillance from a lens across the room. A voice came from the speaker ‘You are Eustace Chilke, native to Big Prairie on Earth?’ “
“I said, yes, that was the case, and to whom was I talking?”
“The voice said: ‘Your single concern at the moment must be the set of documents you see in front of you. Sign them where indicated.’ “
“The voice was harsh and distorted, and not at all friendly. I said: ’I suppose it is pointless to complain of the outrage represented by this kidnapping.‘ “
“The voice said: 'Eustace Chilke, you have been brought here for good and sufficient reason. Sign the documents and be quick about it!' “
“I said: ’It sounds like Madame Zigonie talking, but not in a kindly voice. Where is the money you owe me for six months work?’ “
“The voice said: 'Sign the papers at once, or it will be the worse for you.' “
“I looked the papers over. The first deeded all my property, without exception or reservation, to Simonetta Zigonie. The second was a letter to whom it might concern authorizing the delivery of my property to the bearer. The third, which I liked the least, was my will, bequeathing everything I owned to my friend Simonetta Zigonie. I tried to protest. ‘I'd like to think things over, if you don't mind. I suggest that we go back to Araminta Station and settle the matter like ladies and gentlemen.’ “
“ 'Sign the papers,' said the voice, 'if you value your life!' “
“ I saw that there was no reasoning with the woman. I said: ‘I'll sign if you like, but it’s all a great puzzle, since I own little more than the shirt on my back.’ “
“ 'What of the articles you inherited from your grandfather?’ “
“ They don’t amount to much. The stuffed moose is a bit shabby. There is a small rock collection, with bits of gravel from a hundred planets, a few oddments of bric-a-brac including some purple vases, and probably more junk of the same sort out in the barn. I seem to remember a rather nice stuffed owl with a mouse in its beak.”
” ‘What else?’ “
“That's hard to say, since the barn has been so thoroughly burgled that I almost feel ashamed offering the stuff to you.”
“ ‘Let us have no more delay. Sign the papers, and be quick about it.' “
“I signed the three documents. The voice then said: 'Eustace Chilke, you have saved your life, which henceforth shall be spent repenting your fleering and cavalier attitudes, and your disregard for the sensitivities of those who might have wished to befriend you.' “
“I decided that Madame Zigonie was referring to my
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