“Yes,” she admitted, “I’ve just selected the name for our son.”
“Great jumping balls of fire! Aren’t you being just a little premature? You know damned well we aren’t ever going to have children.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“Hummph! What name have you picked for this hypothetical offspring?”
“Theobald — ‘Bold for the People,'” she answered dreamily —
“‘Bold for the — ‘ better make it Jabez.”
“Jabez? What does it mean?”
“‘He will bring sorrow.'”
“‘He will bring sorrow!’ Filthy, you’re filthy!”
“I know it. Why don’t you forget all this business, give that noisy nursery a miss, and team up with me?”
“Say that slowly.”
“I’m suggesting matrimony.”
She appeared to consider it. “Just what do you have in mind?”
“You write the ticket. Ortho-spouse, registered companion, legal mate-any contract you want.”
“To what,” she said slowly, “am I to attribute this sudden change of mind?”
“It isn’t sudden. I’ve been thinking about it ever since…ever since you tried to shoot me.”
“Something’s wrong here. Two minutes ago you were declaring that Theobald was impossibly hypothetical.”
“Wait a minute,” he said hastily. “I didn’t say a word about children. That’s another subject. I was talking about us.”
“So? Well, understand this, Master Hamilton. When I get married, it will not be to a man who regards it as sort of a super-recreation.” She turned her attention back to her dinner.
A thick silence followed for several minutes. He broke it.
“Sore at me?”
“No. Filthy, you’re such a rat.”
“Yeah, I know that, top. Finished?”
“Yes. Coming home with me?”
“I’d like to, but I can’t tonight.”
After he left her he went straight to the Hall of the Wolf. A full round-up had been ordered for that evening, no reason given but no excuses accepted. It happened also to be his first meeting since he had been promoted to the minor dignity of section leader.
The door of the clubroom stood open. A few members assembled inside were being moderately noisy and convivial, in accordance with doctrine. It was even possible that a stranger, or two, was present. Such presence was desired when nothing was going on. Later, they would be gently dismissed.
Hamilton wandered in, said hello to a couple of people, drew himself a stein of beer, and settled down to watch a dart game taking place in one end of the lounge.
Some time later, McFee bustled in, checked over the company by sight, picked up two section leaders by eye, and signalled them with a jerk of his head to get rid of the one remaining outsider. The stranger had been well lubricated; he was reluctant to leave, but presented no real problem. When he was gone and the doorway had relaxed, he said, “To business, brothers.” To Hamilton he added, “You attend conference tonight, you know.”
Hamilton started to acknowledge the order, when he felt a touch on his shoulder and a voice behind him. “Felix. Oh, Felix!”
He turned around, half recognizing the voice. Nevertheless, it was only his animal quickness which enabled him to cover up in time. It was Monroe-Alpha.
“I knew you were one of us,” his friend said happily. “I have been wondering when — ”
“Get to your section room,” McFee said sternly.
“Yes, sir! See you later, Felix.”
“Sure thing, Cliff,” Hamilton responded heartily. He followed McFee into the council room, glad of the brief chance to get his raging thoughts in order. Cliff! Great Egg-Cliff! What in the Name of Life was he doing in this nest of vermin? Why hadn’t he seen him? He knew why, of course-a member of one section was extremely unlikely to meet a member of another. Different instruction nights and so on. He cursed the whole system. But why Cliff? Cliff was the gentlest, kindest man who ever packed a gun. Why would he fall for this rot?
He considered the idea that Monroe-Alpha might be an agent provocateur, like himself-and amazed to find him there. Or perhaps not amazed-he might know Hamilton’s status even though Hamilton did not know his. No, that did not make sense. Cliff didn’t have the talent for the deception required. His emotions showed on his sleeve. He was as pellucid as air. He couldn’t act worth a damn.