Business For the Lawyers

Bump-Arch had to complete his experiment or spend five more years as an apprentice Scientist—and if successful, his feat would provide plenty of
By Ralph Robin
Illustration by Sam Kweskin
Bump-Arch had to complete his experiment or spend five more years as an apprentice Scientist—and if successful, his feat would provide plenty of
Time, said the Grandmaster of the Guild.
It was the formal word, and the scientists were silent; except Proudwalk, a biologist, who laughed at something whispered in her ear by a physicist named Snubnose, her brother.
Time, the Grandmaster repeated, and in a moment even Proudwalk was quiet, and Snubnose folded his arms.
I do not need to tell you that today is the Day of the Candidate, said the Grandmaster, supporting himself with an air of great age on his ceremonial staff of polished copper.
But he will tell us—in many words, Snubnose whispered now. Next winter solstice I am going to propose we double the offering.
Proudwalk sniggered.
It was the practice in the Guild of Scientists that a grandmaster, once elected, served for life or until he voluntarily retired. Every year the body formally offered its grandmaster a lump sum to retire. Popular incumbents were offered one tilsin, an obsolete unit worth less than the smallest real coin. Others were sometimes offered large amounts.
This system did not encourage elderly grandmasters to be laconic.