åDELIGHT å

The Defenseman frowned, and motioned to his Warden. Whispers passed between them. Then, the Warden returned to the center of the room, by Marlene, as the Slacks held their tongues in fear of being singled out for violation. He called out to his troops.

"It's time for inspection! Hines and Barlow... take the dining room and library, basement and kitchen. Rest of you, upstairs! We're late! Get moving!"

Then the Warden gathered up the forms from all the guests and dropped down into Waldo's armchair, propping his feet up on the coffee table. He lit a cigarette and Marlene brought him a watery Scotch and a cracker with something white and green atop it. "Why don't you take off your helmet?" she suggested with a matronly concern. "You have obviously had a beast of a day!"

"Well the Area Commander wouldn't like it, but as long as you're the one extending the invitation..." and he removed his helmet, clicked his heels against the coffee table and sipped at some of his drink. "Delicious, ma'am," he waved at her, dribbling an arc of burning ashes over Waldo's carpet.

"You fellows do a very thorough job," said Ferdie, tentatively.

The Warden was hawk-nosed, beginning to bald under his helmet, and Howard tried to think whether he'd seen him somewhere - behind a counter at the hardware store, maybe, or standing outside a factory. He gave Ferdie a cursory nod, riffling through the completed forms. "We try to do our best."

"What do you do with those?" asked Mimi.

"These?" the Warden asked, holding up the forms. "The Area Commander has to stamp them... then they'll be sent to Hartford. You'll be contacted in ten days, two weeks on the outside, if you've been singled out for counseling."

The Defensemen returned with their clipboards.

"Boxes in the master bedroom someone could fall over," the Corporal reported. "Loose toys and driveway gravel in the child's bedroom. Toothpaste cap unscrewed. Bottled antiseptic less than one third full."

The Defenseman Howard knew as Barlow looked up from his clipboard. "Library was locked, sir. Visible electric cord and other minor hazards in the basement, some of which may be attributable to electricians at work. Smell of animals, standing water beneath the kitchen sink. And dishes and ice trays in the kitchen."

The Warden inspected these lists and initialed them. He pulled out a copy for Marlene's signature.

"They'll be corrected promptly," she averred. "Those things in the kitchen are for the buffet. By midnight, everything here will have been consumed!"

"Much obliged," the Warden said with evident relief. "Well, we had best be on our way, it's always a pleasure with responsible civilians. Well, most of you, at any rate," he added, glaring at Wayne. "Company..."

The Defensemen, nodding their farewells, departed. Marlene closed the door behind them.

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