Ecce and Old Earth Read Online Free PDF Page B

incline begins. The ground is still barren except for a few large trees. These are evidently where the prisoners sleep. Below the jungle begins. If Floreste is correct, the prisoners reside around the strip, and are free to escape across the swamp whenever they like.”
    Glawen studied the image in silence.
    “We must scout the terrain with care, and only then proceed,” said Bodwyn Wook. “Are we agreed?”
    “Yes,” said Glawen. “We are agreed.”
    Bodwyn Wook went on. “I am puzzled by Floreste’s references to Chilke. It appears that he is here at Araminta Station only by reason of Smonny’s scheming to find and control the Charter. I wonder too about the Society on Old Earth: why are they not taking steps to locate the lost documents?"
    “There are not many members left, so I am told.”
    “Are they indifferent to the Conservancy? That is hard to believe. Who is the current Secretary?”
    Glawen responded cautiously: "I think that he is a cousin of the Conservator, named Pirie Tamm.”
    “Indeed! Did not the Tamm girl go off to Earth?”
    "So she did.”
    “Well then! Since-uh, what is her name?”
    “Wayness.”
    “Just so. Since Wayness is present on Old Earth, perhaps she can help us in regard to the missing documents from the Society archives. Write her and suggest that she make a few inquiries into this matter. Emphasize that she should be absolutely discreet, and give out no clue as to her objectives. For a fact, I can see where this might develop into an important issue.”
    Glawen nodded thoughtfully. “As a matter of fact, Wayness is already making such inquiries.”
    “Ah ha! What has she learned, if anything?”
    “I don’t know. I have had no letters from her.”
    Bodwyn Wook raised his eyebrows. “She has not written you?"
    “I’m sure she has written. But I have never received her letters."
    “Odd. The doorman at Clattuc House has probably tucked them behind his wine-cooler.”
    “That is a possibility, though I'm beginning to suspect another person entirely. In any event, I think that as soon as we deal with Shattorak, I should take advice from Chilke, then go to Earth to look for these documents.”
    “Hmf yes. Ahem. First things first, which means Shattorak. In due course we will talk further on the subject.” Bodwyn Wook picked up Floreste's letter. “I will take charge of this.”
    Glawen made no complaint, and departed the New Agency. He ran back to Clattuc House at a purposeful trot and pushed through the front portal. To the side were a pair of small chambers occupied by Alarion co-Clattuc, the head, doorman, together with an antechamber where, if necessary, he could overlook comings and goings. Alarion’s duties included receipt of incoming mail, sorting and delivering parcels, letters and inter-House memoranda to the designated apartments.
    Glawen touched a bell-button and Alarion appeared from his private rooms: a white-hatred man, thin and bent, whose only vanity would seem to be a small goatee. “Good evening, Glawen! What can I do for you this evening?"
    “You might enlighten me regarding some letters which should have arrived for me from Old Earth.”
    “I can only inform you as to what I know of my certain knowledge,” said Alarion. “You would not want me to fabricate tales of non-existent parcels and messages engraved on gold tablets delivered by the archangel Sersimanthes.”
    “I take it that nothing of that sort has arrived?"
    Alarion glanced over his shoulder toward his sorting table. "No, Glawen. Nor anything else."
    “As you know, I was away from the Station for several months. During this time I should have received a number of letters from off-world; yet I cannot find them. Do you remember any such letters arriving during my absence?"
    Alarion said slowly: “I seem to recall such letters. They were delivered to your chambers, even after Scharde met with his accident. As always, I dropped the letters into the door-slot. Then, of course, Arles