“There is work for us to do,” said Wayness. “It’s urgent that we draft a temporary Charter and by-laws to protect the new Conservancy until the work can be done properly.”
“It is a sound idea,” said Pirie Tamm. “At this moment, I can see how the Conservancy could be snatched away from you, and without any great difficulty although it would be necessary to mitigate or even cancel your testimony by killing you."
“If Benjamie were alive, I'd feel more vulnerable,” said Wayness. “He killed with no qualms whatever. I don’t think Julian has killed anyone yet.”
“The prospect of working here is pleasant,” said Glawen. “Still, I am concerned about Cadwal and what might be going on. I'm sure that it can't be good.”
The telephone rang. Pirie Tamm went to the screen. “Yes?”
“Julian Bohost here," said a voice.
“Well, Julian, what do you want?”
“I would like to call at Fair Winds, to discuss a matter of some importance. What time would be convenient for you?"
“One time is as good as another.”
“I will be there in half an hour, with my associates."
Half an hour later Julian Bohost arrived at Fair Winds, with an entourage of two men and two women. Julian wore a suit of pale blue and white stripes, a white shirt with a teal blue cravat and a white broad-brimmed hat. The other four persons were about Julian’s age or a few years older, and were without notable distinction.
Pirie Tamm ushered the group into the drawing room. Wayness and Glawen were seated on the couch. Julian pretended surprise but his efforts were unconvincing. He introduced his companions: “Mr. and Mrs. Spangard, Mr. Fath, Miss Trefethyn. Over here is Mr. Pirie Tamm; then Wayness Tamm and Glawen Clattuc, from Cadwal."
Pirie Tamm asked: “Can, I offer you coffee? Or tea?”
“No thank you,” said Julian. "We are here not on a social occasion, but on serious business.”
"I hope to our mutual profit.”
“As to that, I can't say. Mr. and Mrs. Spangard are accountants; Mr. Fath and Miss Trefethyn are attorneys-at-law. All four, I might add, are new members in good standing of the Naturalist Society, as I am myself.”
Pirie Tamm performed a perfunctory bow. “I congratulate all of you. Be seated then, or stand, as you like. I think there are chairs enough to go around.”
“Thank you. “Julian selected a chair, settled himself into a casual attitude and surveyed the group. He spoke in a slightly nasal voice: “By way of preamble let me state that we have studied the Naturalist Society by-laws in great detail.”
“Excellent,” said Pirie Tamm heartily. “That is a good example for us all.”
“No doubt,” said Julian. “In any case, I believe that recently you have enrolled a number of new members into the Society.”
“Quite so. Twenty-two during the last month, so I believe. It is both surprising and a good portent for the future."
“The total membership now numbers how many?”
"Counting associate members and non-voting members?"
“Just voting members.”
Pirie Tamm gave his head a melancholy shake. “Not too many more, I am sorry to say. There is Wayness, myself, and two others. We have had three deaths in the last six months. Twenty-two plus you plus this four adds up to twenty-seven.”
Julian nodded. “That is my count. I have here the proxies for the members not present at the moment. Except for the two elderly members you have mentioned, the entire membership is represented in this room. Do you care to examine the proxies?”
Pirie Tamm smilingly waved away the proffered envelope. “I am sure that they are correct.”
“They are eminently correct,” said Julian. “We have, therefore, assembled a quorum.”
“So it would seem. What do you wish to do? Raise the dues? I would argue against this step, at least for the present.”
“The dues are adequate. Please be good enough to declare this an official meeting of the Naturalist Society, as stipulated in the by-laws.”
“Very well. As Secretary and ranking officer, I declare this an official meeting. Now you must wait for a moment or two until I find the minutes of the last meeting, which, as is customary, I will read to you. Let me think. What did I do with the official record?"
Julian rose to his feet. “Mr. Chairman, I move that the reading of the minutes be eschewed on this occasion.”
“I second, “said Mr. Spangard.
Pirie Tamm glanced around the room. “All in favor? All opposed? The ‘ayes’ have it; the minutes will not be read, which is something of a relief, I must say. Is there old business to be transacted?”
The room was silent.
“No? Is there new business?"
“Yes,” said Julian.
“Chair recognizes Mr. Bohost.”
“I wish to indicate paragraph Twelve of the by-laws wherein it is stated that the secretary may be removed from office at any time, by a two-thirds vote of the membership."
“Thank you, Mr. Bohost. That is an interesting point. Your remarks have been noted. The chair recognizes Mr. Fath.”
“I move that Mr. Pirie Tamm be removed from his office as secretary and replaced with Julian Bohost.”
“Any second to the motion?”
“I second,” said Miss Trefethyn.
“All in favor raise their hands.”
Julian and his four friends raised their hands. Julian said: The proxies vote aye. There are eighteen votes here.”
“The motion is carried. Mr. Bohost, you are now the new Secretary of the Naturalist Society. You may take charge of the meeting forthwith. I congratulate you and I wish you a long and happy tenure. As for myself, I am old and tired; I am delighted to witness this influx of new energy into the grand old Society.”
“Thank you,” said Julian. He darted a suspicious glance toward Glawen and Wayness. Why were their faces so mild and bland?
Pirie Tamm said: “The Society files are in my study. Please remove them at your earliest convenience. Assets are approximately nil. I usually make up the short-fall from my own pocket. Mr. and Mrs. Spangard will no doubt study the accounts in detail, once you have installed them in your own offices.”
Julian cleared his throat. “Now then! After a small piece of business; The Society’s principal asset is the deed to Cadwal planet. As we know, it has been missing for a very long time.”
“True. We have not publicized this fact for obvious reasons.”
“You will be happy to learn that the loss may be remedied. Mr. Fath and Miss Trefethyn tell me that the Society may petition the Gaean Court of Planetary Affairs to declare the old grant lost, irretrievable and invalid, and to issue a replacement. This is standard practice, so I am told, and can be accomplished without difficulty. I mention this principally for the benefit of Miss Tamm and Mr. Clattuc, inasmuch as they have long taken an adversarial position to the Life, Peace and Freedom party which now will conduct a thorough reconstruction of the so-called Conservancy.”
Glawen shook his head slowly. “Wrong again, Julian. If the Peefers want to loot a planet, they must look elsewhere.”
“Don't call us 'Peefers'!” snapped Julian. You have no more legal standing. As soon as the new Grant is executed — “
“But it won’t be executed.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Because we have found the original.”
Julian stared, his lower lip trembling. Mr. Fath muttered into his ear. Julian said sharply: “In that case, the Grant is part of the assets of the Naturalist Society. Where is it?”
Glawen reached to the shelf at his back, sorted through papers, selected one and tossed it to Julian. “There you are.”
Julian, Mr. Fath and Miss Trefethyn bent their heads over the document. Mr. Fath suddenly jabbed at the document with his finger. “So that is your game!”