For all of Obreduur’s words about other possible attackers, Dekkard just couldn’t see why anyone else besides the New Meritorists would want to invest so much effort into destroying the building—and especially the records. Then he thought about what Baartol had said about the reorganization of the New Meritorists. The fire had destroyed a great deal of information about them, and with their new structure it would be far harder to track down individual members of the group.
He was still thinking about that when Karola handed him a large envelope, already opened, along with its contents.
“The councilor would like you to draft the transmittal to the guild and a polite reply to the minister.”
Dekkard took the sheets from her, his eyes taking in the letterhead of the Ministry of Health and Education. “Did he say anything?”
“Just that you were to handle it.”
“Thank you.” As Karola returned to her desk, Dekkard immediately read the response, signed by the Assistant Minister of Health for Sanitation, his eyes focused on one section near the bottom of the one-page letter.
… in conclusion, the Ministry finds the proposed changes to the job position as suggested to be acceptable with a few minor changes in several phrases. Those changes are embodied in the attached revision to the original …
Dekkard took a deep breath. Sometimes “minor” changes were anything but trivial. He dug out the file copy of the original proposal and began to compare the two documents, word by word. When he finished he could find only one change. He went through them both again, with the same result. The only change had been to clarify that the probationary period began on the first day of actual work and not the day of hire. Dekkard nodded. He could see that. Someone could be hired, but not begin work for weeks or months, and even if not paid, would serve a much shorter probationary period.
He began to draft the response to Guildmeister Hadenaur, hoping that the new description would provide some help in obtaining better shovelmen who could be promoted.
The thought crossed his mind that it was likely to be much longer before Obreduur received a response from Treasury Minister Munchyn and that the response would say little, something to the effect that the ministry was looking into the matter, because Ulrich would want to weaken the Artisans Guild as long as possible, and by stalling until just before the Summerend recess, Munchyn could prevent Obreduur from bringing it up before the Council until the Council returned to meeting the first week in Fallfirst. Dekkard also felt that Obreduur wasn’t in a hurry to press the issue because, although the councilor had wanted to inform Guildmeister Carlione quickly that he was looking into the matter, since the meeting with Carlos Baartol, Obreduur had scarcely mentioned the art tariffs.
But then, it had been only two weeks since Obreduur had sent off the inquiries, so Obreduur might feel that Munchyn hadn’t had enough time to reply … or that pressing Munchyn so soon would be useless. Or maybe he doesn’t want a quick answer so that he can attack Munchyn’s delay as misfeasance in office.
In any event, there wasn’t anything Dekkard could do about the art tariffs, while he could get on with drafting a favorable transmittal letter to Guildmeister Hadenaur.
35
THE rest of Furdi and all of Quindi dragged out, and everything in the Council Office Building office and at the house was routine, including the warm rain that started on Furdi afternoon and did not stop until late on Quindi night. Obreduur spent most of the days in midyear budget hearings at either the Waterways Committee or the Workplace Administration Committee, and occasionally at brief sessions of the full Council. There were two sets of visitors, one apparently a family friend of Obreduur’s from Malek, and the other the legalist from the Stevedores Guild of Machtarn, who met with Macri and Obreduur. Dekkard did manage to find time to get to the Council Banque and withdraw a hundred marks, since he was down to fifteen in his wallet.
On Findi morning, Dekkard had just skimmed the newssheet and found little of interest in it, except for a short article noting that Guldoran Ironway had closed down its textile manufactory in Oersynt, idling more than four hundred workers.
Because the new plant in Noldar is now operating and can provide fabrics cheaper?
He poured his café and sat down alone at the table in the staff room.
Several minutes later, Ysella entered and poured her café. She did not look at the newssheet before she sat down across the table from him, an envelope in her hand.
“Good morning,” Dekkard finally said, pleasantly.
“Oh … good morning.” An apologetic smile appeared on her face.
“Is the letter or message that bad? Or thought-provoking?”
“It’s from Emrelda. She’ll be here in less than a bell.”
“You didn’t mention that last night. Is there a problem?”
“The message was here last night, but I wanted to think about it. Her message just said she has to drive to Point Larmat, and she asked me to go with her. Markell will meet her there. He had to go to Siincleer because of some problems at the facility his firm is building. She’d like to spend a few days with him. She wanted to know if I’d consider accompanying her there and then driving her steamer back here. She’d pick it up on Tridi. I asked Obreduur if I could park it in back, and he said yes.”
Dekkard frowned. “Point Larmat is almost a hundred fifty milles. She’d be better off taking the train, and if Markell is in Siincleer … that’s another hundred and fifty milles.”
“A hundred and seventy. She’s bringing him three heavy cases of expensive equipment. If they split the difference, it saves him a day in getting the equipment.”
“Why didn’t he take the equipment with him?”
“It might be because he took the ironway to Siincleer and didn’t think he’d need it.”
Dekkard frowned. If Markell doesn’t have a steamer, how did he get to Point Larmat? He pushed away the question, since it was clear that Markell had transportation, and said, “You’d be driving back alone. It might be better if I went with you … if she agrees.” Before Ysella could object, Dekkard added, “Yes, I know you can take care of yourself … and others, but it’s a lot harder if you have to drive at the same time.”
“Would you mind?”
“I’d mind a little. I’d mind a whole lot more if I let you drive back alone.”
“Thank you for being honest about it. I’d appreciate it very much.”
Another thought occurred to Dekkard. “She just thought you’d do it?”
“She said she’d do it alone and drive back, but Markell will be down there for at least another week and she has a few days left that she can use. She’ll take a train back and a steamhack from the station to pick up the steamer. She said I could tell her if I could do it when she gets here.” Ysella paused. “You really don’t—”
“I’m doing it,” replied Dekkard with a smile.
“You see me all day, every workday.”
“And we’re fortunate if we have a bell to talk without someone else being around.”
“I can’t dispute that. You’re sure?”
For a moment, Dekkard wondered why Ysella kept asking that, one way or another, but then he realized. She saw her tentative request as an imposition, and unlike dealing with a normal person, where she could sense their feelings, she couldn’t sense his, and she worried. “I’d much rather take a long drive with you than do anything else I might consider doing without you. I also won’t have to worry about you.”
“It’s a very long drive.”
“The drive back will be shorter.”
Ysella dropped her eyes for just an instant, before saying, “Then we ought to start eating breakfast.”
Dekkard agreed and reached for the croissants.
Two-thirds of a bell later, he stood in the shade of the portico, waiting for Ysella. He wore one of his new light gray summer suits, and a white shirt, but without the cravat, which was folded carefully in a jacket pocket. The jacket concealed his b
attered personal truncheon and his brace of knives.
Ysella appeared, in a pale maroon linen suit, with a matching headscarf, if one slightly heavier than the translucent ones she’d often worn. She also had a gray leather purse with a shoulder strap, one considerably larger than the ones she’d carried when they’d gone out together. “I’d hoped you’d wear one of those suits.” Her eyes went to his neck.
“The cravat’s in my jacket pocket, just in case.”
“That makes sense, and so does the truncheon.”
“Do you think we’ll need it?”
Ysella shook her head. “But there’s no reason not to be prepared.”
Dekkard was about to reply when he caught sight of Emrelda’s teal-colored Gresynt coming east from Imperial Boulevard. “Here comes Emrelda.”
The two walked down the drive and out through the pedestrian gate. As the steamer glided to a stop, Dekkard took in the three leather cases firmly strapped to the rear luggage rack. All three had locks and the words ENGAARD ENGINEERING branded into the smooth, golden brown leather.
Very expensive cases.
Emrelda got out of the steamer hurriedly. “Avraal…”
Dekkard stepped forward and smiled. “It wasn’t her idea, but mine. I thought it would be better if I accompanied you two, particularly since Avraal would be alone on the return trip, and that would hamper her use of her full abilities, if she encountered difficulties.”
For just a moment, Emrelda, who wore a pale green linen traveling suit, appeared startled. Then she laughed. “Markell will be surprised that I managed to get a full security team to safeguard his precious instruments.” She turned to Dekkard. “I know you’re a trained driver, but it’s one of my pleasures. I would appreciate it if you drove back, though.” She looked to her sister. “If that’s acceptable to you.”
“Perfectly,” replied Ysella pleasantly.
Dekkard managed not to wince, but he wasn’t about to get between the sisters. “If you two don’t mind, I’ll sit in back. That way I can stretch out my legs.” He looked to Ysella. “Unless you’d rather have more space.”
“If I feel cramped, I’ll let you know, and we can change places.” Ysella nodded to her sister. “The harbor ferry operates more often on Findi than the river ferry.”
“I’d thought to take the harbor ferry.”
Dekkard walked to the passenger side of the Gresynt and, while Emrelda got back into the driver’s seat, he opened the front door for Ysella.
Ysella looked up at Dekkard and mouthed, “Thank you.” Then she eased into the steamer.
Dekkard opened the rear door and got in, keeping a pleasant expression on his face.
Neither sister said much on the short drive to the ferry slip, located just to the east of where the Rio Azulete emptied into the harbor. Nor did either say much during the half-bell wait for the ferry. The slip attendant finally motioned for Emrelda to move forward and pay the toll, ten marks, then directed her toward the ramp. In the end, the crew directed her to the front, just behind a battered black Realto. Most of the other vehicles that drove onto the iron deck of the ferry were lorries, which wasn’t surprising, given that anyone on a holiday would have left earlier. The big Voltan lorry beside the Gresynt bore an ornate presentation of the name ERISTO PRODUCE in green and silver.
“We might as well get out and stretch our legs,” said Ysella. “It will take close to a bell to get to the south shore slip.”
“I’ll stay with the steamer,” replied Emrelda.
“We’ll stay close,” said Ysella. “I know you worry about the cases. But we’ll be better able to act if we’re outside the steamer.”
“Preferably standing beside the luggage rack.” Dekkard got out of the Gresynt and would have opened the door for Ysella, except she had exited as quickly as he had. So he walked to the rear of the steamer, positioning himself behind the luggage rack.
Emrelda opened the driver’s door, and turned in her seat, but did not leave the steamer.
“Do you have any idea what equipment is in those cases?” Dekkard murmured to Ysella. “The cases look expensive, but they’re not new.”
“I have no idea what might be inside, except that it has to be valuable.” She lowered her voice even further. “We can speculate later. We just need to get the cases and Emrelda safely to Point Larmat and Markell.”
Dekkard nodded, then glanced past her toward the wharves for the oceangoing steamships, most of which were occupied, mainly by cargo carriers. He could make out the intertwined-“T”-and-“S” logo of Transoceanic Shipping on the funnels of two ships, but didn’t recognize or couldn’t make out the emblems on other vessels. Even on Findi, the commerce of Guldor scarcely slowed.
A third of a bell passed before the ferry angled toward the west harbor slip. Dekkard and Ysella waited another five minutes before getting back into the Gresynt. Even so, it was another ten minutes before the bow ramp dropped, and Emrelda drove over the ramp and turned the Gresynt westward on the street leading to the southwest highway that ran all the way from Machtarn to Surpunta, passing through Point Larmat, Siincleer, and Sudaen on the way.
Dekkard hoped the next few bells were pleasantly quiet.
36
WHILE the air was hot and muggy, the drive from Machtarn along the southwest coastal highway was relatively pleasant. Emrelda and Ysella exchanged observations on how various areas had changed since their childhood, usually not for the better, discussions sometimes expanded to answer questions from Dekkard. The road was of smooth and hard bitumen, and Emrelda kept the Gresynt at a speed of close to fifty milles per bell, providing a warm breeze inside the steamer with the windows down little more than a few digits.
By the time Dekkard could make out the lighthouse that dominated the rocky tip of land that gave the small city of Point Larmat its name, the coolness between the sisters had abated. Dekkard could hear a slight reservation on Ysella’s part, which likely had always been there, but which he had not recognized earlier, possibly because of their more formal conversational style, doubtless from their familial background.
“Where are you meeting Markell?” Dekkard asked.
“At the Cleft House,” replied Emrelda. “Near the beginning of the Cliff Road next to one of the overlooks. It’s popular. You two could eat there before you start back.”
“It sounds as though Markell doesn’t want anyone to know that he’s bringing in special equipment.” Dekkard kept his tone casual.
“He’s concerned that the building isn’t being built to specification, and that the specifications insisted on by the Navy may not be adequate. He needs the equipment in the cases to make certain.”
“Because he doesn’t dare bring up the matter without solid numbers?”
“Would you?” returned Emrelda.
“In dealing with government, you need solid numbers or figures. Whether the minister or his bureaucrats will do anything is another question.”
“They won’t do anything without hard facts,” said Emrelda, almost defensively.
“You’re right,” added Ysella. “Even with facts, sometimes it’s hard to get them to do the right thing.”
“Unless the Premier supports the matter,” said Dekkard. Or unless the newssheets make an issue of it. And that, he knew, didn’t happen often.
He looked out the window to his left at the marshlands east of the road, and then at the dark green water of the ocean, before looking ahead toward the buildings that marked the northern edge of the city.
Rather than continuing on the main road, Emrelda turned off to the left onto another well-bitumened road that followed the contours of the point and climbed gradually until it leveled off some thirty yards above the rocky beaches below.
Before that long, Dekkard caught sight of what had to be the Cleft House, a sprawling two-story yellow brick structure perched between the edge of a cleft that dropped almost straight down and the steep rocky decline of the north edge of the point. The road curved around the c
left and then back to a large parking area in front of the Cleft House.
Emrelda eased the Gresynt into a vacant space beside a large white Kharlan touring car.
“That’s one of the corporacion steamers. Markell should be here somewhere.”
Dekkard nodded. He opened the rear door and stepped out of the Gresynt. No sooner had he done so than he spotted Markell walking toward them from the covered front porch of the Cleft House. The older man wore a white linen suit, but without a cravat.
“I see someone persuaded you to accompany them,” offered Markell cheerfully when he neared Dekkard.
“I volunteered.”
“I appreciate your concerns,” replied Markell, before turning to Emrelda and saying, “You made good time. I’ve been here less than a third of a bell.”
“The road wasn’t crowded, and I had good company.”
“No one followed us,” said Ysella, “but wasn’t that the point?”
“It was,” admitted Markell.
“What exactly is in those cases?” asked Dekkard pleasantly.
“Oh, yes. The cases. If you’d help me load them in the back of the Kharlan. It does have a capacious trunk. That will prove most useful.”
“Markell…” offered Ysella, her voice even.
Markell stiffened momentarily, suggesting to Dekkard that Ysella had offered an empie jolt of some sort. “Ah … can we load the cases, and then I’ll explain?”
“That would be good,” said Ysella.
In minutes, Markell and Dekkard had the cases unstrapped and in the trunk of the Kharlan, along with a smaller suitcase for Emrelda that had been in front of and hidden by the larger cases. Dekkard couldn’t help but notice that Markell seemed relieved once the cases were in the trunk.
“The cases?” prompted Ysella.
“They contain precise measuring equipment, for wall and material thicknesses, tolerances of machine parts, angles and arcs. Also equipment to measure hardness and other properties.”
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