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Asel wondered what to do next. He needed to talk to Hal. Nothing seemed to be going well at all. He might take a nap. Hopefully, Hal would clear the whole thing up quite soon. Hal was very good at that, clearing things up. All the guests were gone. Loreli too, he supposed. White cloths fluttered about the empty dining tables on the porch. Black choppers squatted on the lawn. Asel was pleased they had carefully avoided Mother’s garden. The prize roses seemed windblown but intact. After a while, Hal found him by the trees along the road. Uncle Hal looked tired. His face seemed to sag. “This has not been a very good day,” Hal said. “It started off rather well,” Asel said. “Things seemed to go downhill.” “Sorry to see you lose Loreli.” “That girl’s defective, Hal.” “Fine knobbers, though.” He looked at Asel. “This is not simply an SEC thing, boy. I’m certain that bloodline business was a ruse. This is a takeover bid is what it is.” Asel seemed to consider all this. “You think we’ve been had?” “Good lad.” Uncle Hal seemed proud. “Ducky Du Pontiac-Heinz and his crowd, you ask me. And that lout from Disney-Dow. They had some help, too. Some of our people. Those ships got through unopposed. I’d guess Reynard. That boy is devoid of family pride. I expect he’s into dope and hard aerobics.” “I never liked him at all,” Asel said. “How’s Mother taking all this?” “Dead. Had a flunk do her in.” “I suppose that’s best. Has anyone told Father?” “No need for that. I fear he is somewhat deceased. Someone chopped his lines. Awful mess in there. Reynard’s people, I suppose. It’s clear we had several clerk snipists in our midst.” Asel fell silent. A white tabledoth blew across the lawn, and finally impaled itself on a shrub. “I think they’re going to send me to Oklahoma, Uncle Hal. I don’t care for that.” “Shouldn’t think you would. You’re an Iacola, Asel. You’ll come through fine.” “What about you?” “I’ve had it up to here,” Hal said. “Got a pill from one of those clever little Swiss. Guess I better lie down. Best of luck to you, boy.” “Thanks, Uncle Hal,” Asel said. Asel watched Hal walk unsteadily toward the house. He wondered if he should get a pill, too. How bad could Oklahoma be? Asel’s little Brit came out across the lawn. “You all right?” she wanted to know. “Of course not.” “I can’t go with you, you know.” “Who told you that?” “They said you can’t take a flunk.” “That’s ridiculous.” “Well. I’m sure you’ll be just fine, sir.” “I’m sure I’ll be nothing of the sort.” The flunk wandered off. Asel listened to the wind in the trees. In spite of the waning sun, the day was quite hot. A jacket was too much. He waved for someone to take it off. Remembered there was nobody there. He moved one arm, to see what that might do. Nothing. He shook his shoulders hard. Maybe the thing would fall off his back. Finally, he bent down until his hands touched his toes. The tail of the jacket slid down across his head. Asel stood again. “How utterly absurd,” he said aloud. “I simply cannot put up with all this.” He stood on the lawn and watched the sun disappear past the trees, past the moors, past the mountains and the river, and whatever might be beyond that...

illo: Fernando H. Ramirez