by Jack Vance
“Simonetta sat staring at me. In a pleasant voice she asked if I were definitely convinced that the person in authority should be a man.”
“I answered affirmatively. This, I said, was the lesson of history. Women were valuable adjuncts to society, with unique functions and irreplaceable instinctive skills. In men however resided that peculiar quality composed of wisdom, strength, persistence and charisma necessary for leadership.”
“Simonetta asked: ‘And what function do you plan for Dame Clytie in your new kingdom?' “
“I saw that perhaps I had spoken too expansively, and had stated my case a trifle too earnestly. I replied that 'kingdom' was perhaps not quite the correct terminology, and that certainly I had full and great respect for both the ladies on hand. Dame Clytie might well be in charge of arts and crafts and Simonetta perhaps might do well as Minister of Education — both highly important posts.”
Chilke laughed. “Kathcar, you are a marvel."
“I stated what I considered to be no more than universally accepted truisms.”
“So you did,” said Chilke. “But that made the cheese no less blinding.”
“In retrospect, I see that I exceeded caution. I had assumed both Dame Clytie and Simonetta to be rational and realistic persons, aware of the fundamental facts of history. I was wrong.”
"Quite so," said Chilke. “What happened next?"
“Julian said that he thought that all of us had expressed our views, and now we must reconcile what seemed to be relatively minor differences. Our mutual goal was to throw off the dead weight of the Charter and it was not an easy task. Simonetta seemed to agree and suggested that we adjourn for lunch. We went out on a terrace overlooking the lagoon, and here we were served a lunch of mussels, fish paste, a bread of seaweed flour and kelp, along with wine from Araminta Station. Apparently I drank more wine than usual, or perhaps the wine was drugged. In any event, I became drowsy and fell asleep.”
“I awoke to find myself in a flyer. I assumed that I was returning to Stroma, though neither Dame Clytie nor Julian was on hand. It seemed a very long flight, which ended, to my utter astonishment, on Shattorak. I protested with great indignation; nevertheless, I was taken to a doghole and immured. Two days passed. I was told I could either become station cook or remain in the doghole, and I became cook. That is essentially all there is to tell.”
“Where are the flyers kept?"
Kathcar grimaced. “These are not my secrets. I am reluctant to discuss such matters."
Scharde spoke in a measured voice. "You are a reasonable man, are you not?"
"Of course! Have I not made this clear?”
“There will be an attack on Shattorak by such forces as we can muster at the station. If you have failed to provide us exact and detailed information, and any of our personnel is killed, you will be deemed guilty of murder by default, and you will be executed."
“That is not just!" cried Kathcar.
“Call it whatever you like. At Bureau B we interpret justice as loyalty to the terms of the Charter."
“But I am LPF and a progressive! I consider the Charter an archaic piece of rubbish!"
“We will consider you not only a Peefer but also a renegade and a murderer and execute you with no remorse whatever.”
"Bah,” muttered Kathcar. ”It makes little difference one way or the other. The flyers are in an underground hangar on the eastern slope of Shattorak, where a lava cave was enlarged."
“How are they guarded?”
“I cannot tell you, since I never ventured in that direction, nor do I know how many flyers are in the hangar.”
“How much staff is on hand?”
“A dozen or so.”
“All Yips?”
“No. The best mechanics are off-world folk. I don’t know much about them.”
“What about Titus Pompo's space yacht? How often does that appear?"
“Twice during my time."
“Have you seen Namour since you went with Dame Clytie to Yipton?”
“No.”
“And Barduys, what is his function?"
Kathcar responded haughtily: “As I stated, I know nothing of this person.”
“He seems to be a friend of Dame Clytie.”
“So it may be.”
“Hmf,” said Glawen. “Dame Clytie may not be quite so democratic as she would like us to believe.”
Kathcar was puzzled. “Why do you say that?"
“In this new society of equals, Dame Clytie no doubt intends to be more equal than anyone else."
“I do not altogether grasp your meaning," said Kathcar with dignity. ”Still, I suspect that you derogate the LPF.”
“Possibly so,” said Glawen.
II.
The Skyrie approached Araminta Station from the southwest, flying very low to avoid observation, and landed in a wooded area south of the River Wan.
Shortly after sunset Glawen approached Riverview House, and knocked at the front door. He was admitted into the reception hall by a maid-servant, who announced him to Egon Tamm. “You have returned in good health! How went your mission?" Egon Tamm’s welcome was almost effusive.
Glawen glanced toward the maid, who was still in the room. Egon Tamm said: “Come, we will talk in my office. Will you take some refreshment?”
“I would be happy for a cup of strong tea."
Egon Tamm instructed the maid and took Glawen into his office. "So, were you successful?"
"Yes. I rescued not only Scharde, but also Chilke and another prisoner, a Naturalist named Kathcar. They are waiting outside in the dark. I did not want to bring them in, and show them to your guests."
“They left yesterday, I am happy to say."
"I would like you to notify Bodwyn Wook and ask him to come here to Riverview House; otherwise he will be offended and sarcastic when he sees me.”
Egon Tamm spoke into his telephone and was answered by Bodwyn Wook. "Glawen is here," said Egon Tamm. "Everything seems to have gone well, but he asks that you come to Riverview House to hear his report."
“I will be there at once.”
The maid entered with tea and biscuits. She placed the tray on the table. “Will there be anything more, sir?"
“Nothing; you may retire for the evening."
The maid departed. Glawen looked after her, "She may be innocent and honest, or she might be one of Smonny's spies. Apparently they are everywhere. It is important that Smonny is not notified that Scharde, Chilke and Kathcar have escaped Shattorak.“
“Surely she knows they are gone by now!”
"But she cannot be sure that they simply did not try their luck in the jungle, or perhaps are hiding, hoping to seize one of the flyers."
“You may bring the three around the side of the house into the door at the end of the hall. I will make sure that Esme is not where she can observe them.”
Bodwyn Wook arrived and was admitted by Egon Tamm, who conducted him to the office. He looked from face to face. “Scharde! I am happy to see you alive, though I must say that you look a bit peaked. Chilke, you as well. And who is this gentleman?”
"He is a Peefer from Stroma,” said Glawen. “His name is Rufo Kathcar, and he represents a faction somewhat at odds to Dame Clytie.”
“Interesting, indeed! Well then: let us hear the news.”
Glawen spoke for half an hour. Bodwyn Wook turned to Scharde. “What, in your opinion, should we do next?"
“I believe that we should strike” as quickly as possible. If Smonny receives a hint that her secret is known, it will be too late. In my opinion, we cannot act soon enough.”
“Is Shattorak defended?"
Glawen turned to Kathcar, "What can you tell us?"
Kathcar tried to control the peevishness in his voice. “You put me in a most uncomfortable position. Even though I was treated badly by Simonetta, I cannot claim that my interests run parallel to yours. At the basis I intend to throw off the tyranny of the Charter, while you intend to prolong it as b
est you can."
“It is true that we hope to maintain the Conservancy villains that we are,” said Bodwyn Wook. “Well, I can see a single solution which is fair to all parties. You need tell us nothing, and we will return you to Shattorak and leave you as we found you. Chilke, how many flyers can we put into the air?"
“Four new flyers, three trainers, two carry-alls, and the Skyrie. Our problem is espionage. Smonny will hear of the first move we make and be ready for us. Which reminds me, I want to seek out Benjamie this very instant, and there will be one spy the less to concern us.”
Bodwyn Wook spoke to Egon Tamm: “Kathcar must also be regarded as an adversary, and he must be confined until we take him back to Ecce."
“I will lock him in the shed," said Egon Tamm. “He will be secure. Come, Kathcar this is the necessity which circumstances have thrust upon us.”
"No!" cried Kathcar desperately. “I do not wish to be locked up and I certainly do not want to return to Shattorak. I will tell you what I know."
“As you wish,” said Bodwyn Wook. "Where are the Shattorak defenses?"
"There are a pair of guns at either side of the communications shed. There are two more to either side of the hangar. If you approach the summit by the route Glawen took, flying up the river, then up the slope at very low altitude, you should escape detection and be able to destroy the communications shed with no risk of damage from the guns. That is the best I can do for you, since I know no more."
"Very good," sold Bodwyn Wook. “We will not return you to Shattorak, but you must be confined until our return, for obvious reasons."
Kathcar expostulated further but to no avail; Egon Tamm and Glawen led him away and locked him into a storage shed to the side of Riverview House.
Bodwyn Wook, meanwhile, dispatched a squad of Bureau B personnel to take Benjamie into custody, but, to Chilke's disappointment, Benjamie could not be found and, indeed, had departed Araminta Station aboard the spaceship Dioscamedes Translux, bound down the Wisp toward the junction city on Watertown, on Andromeda 6011 IV.
“Alas", said Chilke. “Benjamie has the danger tendrils of a Tancred firefox. I doubt if we shall lay eyes on Benjamie again.”
III.
During the darkest, quietest hours between midnight and dawn, four patrol flyers departed Araminta Station, armed with such weaponry as the armory was able to provide. At high speed they darted around the curve of the world; across Deucas, over the Western Ocean, then slanted down so as to approach Ecce at low altitude. Up the Vertes River they flew, barely skimming the surface of the water, the better to evade whatever detectors might be operating on the summit of Mount Shattorak.
Where Glawen had landed the Skyrie, the raiding party veered away from the river to fly low over the swamp and up the slope of the volcano, and so arrived at the summit.
Twenty minutes later the operation was over. The Communications shed had been destroyed, along with a gun emplacement. The hanger sheltered seven flyers, including the two most recently captured from Araminta Station. The base personnel offered no resistance; twelve captives were taken: nine Yips of the elite police corps — 'Oomps’, attired in black uniforms. The remaining three were hired technicians from off-world. How was it that they had been surprised and captured so easily? None of the Yips would supply an answer, but one of the off-world technicians reported that the escape of Scharde and Chilke, along with the disappearance of Kathcar, had aroused neither suspicion, alarm nor any attempt at increased vigilance; the personnel felt secure in their isolation, and the perils of escape were considered insurmountable. The raid, so he remarked, had preceded a Yip occupation of the Marmion Foreshore by only a week or two, and orders had arrived to arm all the flyers with such weapons as were at hand. In short, the raid could not have occurred at a more opportune time.
IV.
At Araminta Station the Conservator, in company with Bodwyn Wook and Scharde Clattuc, subjected Kathcar to a long and careful inquisition.
Egon Tamm thereupon summoned thee six Wardens of Stroma to Riverview House, to confer upon a matter of grave importance.
The meeting took place in the parlor at Riverview House, immediately upon arrival of the six Wardens. Also present at the meeting were Bodwyn Wook, Scharde and Glawen, at the insistence of Egon Tamm. Wardens Ballinder, Gelvink and Fergus sat to one side, facing Dame Clytie Vergence, Jory Siskinn — both LPFers — and Lona Yone, who professed neutrality, on the other.
The Conservator, wearing formal robes, called the meeting to order. “This is perhaps the most important session you will have ever attended,” he told the Wardens. “A disaster of enormous dimension had threatened us, which we have averted, but only for the nonce. I refer to an armed attack by Yips upon Ararninta Station, followed by an invasion of the Marmion Foreshore by thousands of Yips, which of course would signal the end of the Conservancy.”
“As I say, we thwarted this action, and captured seven Yip aircraft along with a quantity of weapons.”
“In this connection, I am sorry to report that one of your number is guilty of conduct which is very close to traitorous, though I am sure that she will claim that her acts are motivated by idealism. Dame Clytie Vergence is the person in question and I now expel her from the Board of Wardens.”
“That is impossible and illegal as well,” snapped Clytie. “I am duly elected by the people's vote."
"Nevertheless, the office is established by the Charter. You cannot work to destroy the Charter and derive your franchise from it at the same time. The same considerations apply to Jory Siskinn, also are LPFers, I order his immediate resignation from the Board. And now, Warden Yone, I must ask if you support the Charter without reservation, in all of its aspects. If not, then you too must resign. We can no longer afford the luxury of divisiveness and controversy. The Charter is in danger, and we must act with decision."
Lona Yone, a tall thin woman of late middle years, with white hair cut short to frame a sharp bony face, said: "I dislike the authoritarian posture you have assumed, and I resent the need for defining what I consider my private habits of thought. However I appreciate that this is not a normal occasion and that I must range myself either to one side or the other. Very well, then. I consider myself independent and uncommitted to partisan intrigue, but I state with conviction that I support the Charter and the concept of Conservancy. I believe, however, that the precepts of the Charter are not being rigorously applied, nor has this ever been more than approximately the case."
Lona Yone drew a deep breath and was about to speak further, but Egon Tamm intervened. "That is good and sufficient."
Dame Clytie spoke with scorn: “You can issue as many fiats as you like. The fact remains that I represent a large constituency of Naturalists, and we defy your harsh and ultimately inhumane principles. "
“Then I must warn you and your constituents that if you attempt to interfere with, or circumvent, the implementation of Conservancy law, you all will be considered criminals. This includes consorting with
Simonetta Zigonie, and any facilitation of her activities."
“You cannot dictate my choice of companions."
“She is a kidnapper and worse. Scharde Clattuc, who sits yonder, is one of her victims. Your associate Rufo Kathcar is another."
Dame Clytie laughed. “If she is such a villain, why do you not apprehend her and bring her to justice?”
“If I could extricate her from Yipton without violence or bloodshed, I would do so on the instant,” said Egon Tamm. He turned to Bodwyn Wook: “Do you have any ideas on the subject?”
“If we start deporting Yips to Chamanita Planet where their labor is in demand, sooner or later we will come upon Smonny.”
“That a heartless statement,” said Dame Clyde. “How will you persuade the Yips to leave Yipton?”
"Persuasion perhaps is the wrong word,” said Bodwyn Wook. Incidentally, where is your nephew? I expected to find him among those present.”
“Julian is off-world, on important
business.”
“I advise both of you to obey the Charter," said Bodwyn Wook. “Otherwise you too will be persuaded off-world.”
“Bah! sneered Dame Clytie. First you must demonstrate that this decrepit old shibboleth has a real existence, and is not merely a rumor."
“Eh? That is easy enough. Look over at the wall yonder. That is a facsimile of the Charter. There is one in every household."
“I will say no more."
V.
Evening had come to Riverview House. The Wardens and ex-Wardens had made departure for Stroma. Rufo Kathcar had wished also to return to Stroma, but Bodwyn Wook was not yet satisfied that Kathcar had revealed all he knew, and certainly not all of what he suspected. In the dining room Bodwyn Wook, Scharde, Glawen and The Conservator lingered at the table over wine, discussing the events of the day. Bodwyn Wook mentioned that Dame Clytie had shown no great agitation at the turn of affairs. "And, certainly, very little remorse."
“The position of Warden is a largely symbolic honor," said Egon Tamm. "There are few real benefits. Dame Clytie was one of the Stroma Wardens because she seemed to define the post; also, it regularized her penchant for meddling into everyone else’s affairs.”
"She made a rather curious remark,” said Scharde.” I have the impression that she said more than she intended, but could not resist the thrust."
Egon Tamm frowned in puzzlement. "Which remark was this?"
"She implied that the Charter was imaginary: a rumor, a legend, a disembodied shibboleth — whatever that might be.”
Bodwyn Wook grimaced and poured wine down his scrawny throat with a grand flourish. "This extraordinary woman seems to believe that she can expunge the document rom existence by the sheer exercise of her will."
Glawen started to speak then fell silent. He had undertaken to reveal nothing of Wayness’ discovery that the Charter had disappeared from the Society vault, but now it appeared that the knowledge was not as secure as Wayness had hoped. Smonny’s efforts to gain control of Chilke’s property and now Dame Clytie’s angry remarks suggested that the news was secret only from the loyal conservationists themselves.