Araminta Station Read Free Page B

told himself, “Perhaps it will not go so badly, after all. Still, I’d be relieved if my SI turned out to be a point or two lower than what I fear it will be.”
    The scrape of footsteps. broke into his thoughts. A bulky shape appeared at the end of the dock. Glawen sighed. It was the person he least wanted to see: Arles, two year older than himself, taller by a head and heavier by fifty pounds. His face was large and flat, with a snub nose and a ripe heavy mouth. A smart cap with a stylish slantwise visor today confined his black curls.
    At the age of eighteen and an SI of 16, by reason of his direct lineage through Spanchetta and Valart, her father, to Past Master Damian, who was father to the current Master, Fratano, 6 only serious malfeasance or failure at the lyceum could cause Arles difficulties.
    Coming into the cool dimness from the sunlight, Arles stood blinking. Glawen quickly picked up an abrasive block and, jumping aboard the sloop, busied himself at the taffrail. He crouched low; perhaps Arles would not see him.
    Arles strolled slowly along the dock, hands in pockets, peering right and left. At last he took note of Glawen.  He stopped and stared, puzzled by Glawen’s activity.  He sauntered close.  “What are you up to?”
    Glawen said evenly: “I am sanding the boat, to prepare it for varnish.”
    “That’s what I thought you were doing,” said Arles coldly. “After all, my eyes are in very good condition.”
    “Don’t just stand there; get busy. You’ll find another sanding block in the locker.”
    Arles gave a snort of derisive laughter. “Are you serious? That’s work for the Yips!”
    “Why haven’t they done it, then?”
    Arles shrugged. “Complain to Namour; he’ll put them right. But don’t involve me; I have better things to do.”
    Glawen continued to work, with a sober concentration that at last caused Arles exasperation.
    “Sometimes, Glawen, I find you absolutely unpredictable. Haven’t you forgotten something?”
    Glawen paused and gazed dreamily out over the water. “I can’t think of anything. Of course, if I’d forgotten it, that’s what one would expect.”
    “Bah! More of your larky talk! Today is your birthday! You should be up in your chambers, making preparations - that is, if you want to cut any kind of a figure. Do you have white shoes? If not, you should get some in double-quick time! I tell you this out of kindness; no more.”
    Glawen darted a side glance at Arles, then continued his work. “lf I came to supper barefoot, no one would notice.”
    “Hah! That’s where you’re wrong! Never underestimate fine shoes! It’s the first thing the girls look for!”
    “Hm . . . That’s something I didn’t know.”
    “You’ll find that I’m right. Girls are clever little creatures; they can size up a fellow in no time at all! If your nose is dripping or your fly is open or if your shoes aren’t truly sporting, they’ll tell each other: ‘Don’t give that turnip-head the time of day!’”
    “Those are valuable tips,” said Glawen. “I’ll keep them in mind!”
    Arles frowned. One could never be sure how to take Glawen’s remarks; often they verged upon the caustic. At the moment Glawen seemed sober and respectful, which was as it should be. Reassured, Arles continued, even more grandly than before. “Perhaps I shouldn’t mention this, but I have taken the trouble to work out a manual of foolproof methods for getting along with the girls, if you know what I mean.” Arles gave Glawen a lewd wink. “It’s based on female psychology and it operates like magic, every time!”
    “Amazing! How does it work?”
    “The details are secret. In practice, one needs only to identify signals which instinct enforces on the little darlings, and then make the response recommended in my manual, and so forth.”
    “Is this manual generally available?”
    “Emphatically not! It’s top-secret, for the use of Bold Lions only.” The Bold Lions included six of