Lurulu (27 page)

Myron leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know. If I look in the mirror, I see someone quite ordinary, only lucky enough to have Dame Hester Lajoie for an aunt.”

Schwatzendale amended the statement: “Better to say, for a dead aunt.”

Myron nodded. “Just so. In any case, it is not so easy as you might think. Half the time I feel guilty, as if I had been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.” Myron looked from face to face. “You are laughing at me.”

“Such qualms are hardly surprising,” said Maloof. “I shouldn’t worry about them overmuch.”

Myron agreed. “But sometimes another mood comes on me. I feel nervous, or restless, and I have a dim intuition as to the cause.” Myron leaned forward and stared into the fire. “I would feel more secure if the three of you were always to share this lurulu with me.”

For a time the four sat in silence, gazing into the fire. Then Maloof said quietly: “Your intuition is correct. Transience cannot be altered. Your program, for all its idyllic qualities, never has been feasible. I am not a natural sybarite, content to live in an enchanted dream; I am restless, and possibly Wingo and Schwatzendale as well. The
Glicca
has been totally overhauled — it gleams with fresh enamel and new metal; the galley flaunts some splendid new equipment. At the moment it sits at the side of the yard like an abandoned waif.” Maloof laughed. “Could the
Glicca
be lonely? It is a point I must take up with Wingo — although I can see by his face that he has doubts.”

“Not necessarily,” declared Wingo. “It is a tantalizing thought.”

Schwatzendale yawned, and rose to his feet. “At this moment I still enjoy decadence, and I am trying to break several records in the field. The life of a full-fledged epicurean, dancing with flowers and smelling beautiful ladies, requires more strength than I can deploy at this time! I am off to bed — goodnight, all.” He departed the library, and was presently followed by Maloof and Wingo, and finally Myron, leaving the fire to flicker to a smoulder in the silent library.

6

On several occasions Myron visited his father and mother at the family home in Lilling. The visits were never wholly comfortable, since his parents had never abandoned the hope that Myron might be induced to remain at Lilling and take up a position at the Exchange, where he could work in association with his father. Such a step could be the basis for a most creditable career, and would certainly enhance Myron’s reputation. Myron politely rejected these proposals, citing his commitments at Salou Sain.

Once Myron urged his parents to spend some time with him at Salou Sain. The invitation was accepted, and in due course the parents travelled to Salou Sain to spend two days at Sarbiter House. During this time the elderly Tanys used the utmost propriety and irreproachable good manners, but were secretly perturbed by the casual conduct of Myron and his companions. They thankfully returned to Lilling convinced that Myron’s friends were vagabonds, intent upon infecting him with their own deplorable standards.

Weeks passed, and departure from Salou Sain began to be openly discussed. Finally, during one dreary dinner a definite date was fixed upon, a date a week and a half hence. The days now took on a different character, each with its distinctive identity. Captain Maloof, Wingo and Schwatzendale visited the
Glicca
, and were occasionally joined by Myron, but more often Myron remained alone at Sarbiter House, thinking dismal thoughts.

A day and a half before departure, Myron was galvanized by a sudden impulse. He visited his bank and his legal representative, made arrangements with an estate agent, dismissed the domestic staff, hired caretakers and packed his personal gear. On the appointed day, at the specified hour, the
Glicca
departed the Salou Sain spaceport. Aboard were Captain Maloof, Schwatzendale, Wingo and, to no one’s surprise, Myron Tany.