Trullion: Alastor 2262 by Jack Vance

Author:Jack Vance [Vance, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Mayflower

Chapter 12

When Glinnes arrived home late the following morning he found a strange boat tied to his dock. No one sat on the verandah, and the house was empty. Glinnes went outside to look around and saw three men sauntering across the meadow: Glay, Akadie, and Junius Farfan. All three wore neat garments of black and gray, the uniform of Fanschherade. Glay and Farfan spoke earnestly together; Akadie walked somewhat apart.

Glinnes went forward to meet them. Akadie put on a half-sheepish smile in the face of Glinnes’ scornful amazement. “I never thought you’d involve yourself in this rubbish,” snorted Glinnes.

“One must move with the times,” said Akadie. “Indeed, I find the garments a source of amusement.” Glay turned him a cool glance; Junius Farfan merely laughed.

Glinnes waved his hand to the verandah. “Seat yourselves! Will you drink wine?”

Farfan and Akadie took a goblet of wine; Glay gave a curt refusal. He followed Glinnes into the house where he had spent his childhood and stood looking about the room with the eyes of a stranger. He turned and preceded Glinnes from the house.

“I have a proposition for you,” said Glay. “You want Ambal Isle.” He looked toward Junius Farfan, who laid an envelope on the table. “You shall have Ambal Island. There is the money to dislodge Casagave.”

Glinnes reached for the envelope; Glay pushed it away. “Not so fast. When Ambal is again your property you can go to live there if you choose. And I get the use of Rabendary.”

Glinnes looked at him in astonishment. “Now you want Rabendary! Why can’t we both live here as brothers, and work the land together?”

Glay shook his head. “Unless you changed your attitudes, there would only be dissension. I don’t have energy to waste. You take Ambal; I’ll take Rabendary.”

"This is the most marvelous proposition I have ever heard,” said Glinnes, “when both belong to me.” Glay shook his head. “Not if Shira is alive.” "Shira is dead.” Glinnes went out to his hiding place, uncovered the pot, and removed the golden fob, which he brought back to the verandah. He tossed it on the table. “Remember this? I took it from your friends the Drossets. They killed and robbed Shira and threw him to the merlings."

Glay glanced at the fob. “Did they admit it?”

“No.”

“Can you prove you took it from the Drossets?"

“You have heard me tell you.”

"That’s not enough,” said Glay curtly.

Glinnes slowly turned his head and stared into Glay’s face. Slowly he rose to his feet. Glay sat rigid as a steel post. Akadie said hurriedly, “Of course your word is sufficient, Glinnes. Sit down.”

“Glay can withdraw his remark and then withdraw himself.”

Akadie said, “Glay meant only that your word is legally insufficient. Am I right, Glay? “Yes, yes,” said Glay in a bored voice. “Your word is sufficient, as far as I am concerned. The proposal remains the same.”

“Why the sudden yearning to return home to Rabendary?” asked Glinnes. “Are you giving up your fancy dress party?”

“To the contrary. On Rabendary we will found a Fanscherade community, a college of dynamic formulations.

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