by Chris Hechtl
“You do that. Like I said, let me know when you've got that fixed,” Max said over his shoulder as he headed for the door. He had two other factories to check on and then he was supposed to check in on his little loco locomotive team.
<==={}------------>
Ryans looked up at the sound of the soft knock. He cleared his throat and then nodded. “Enter,” he said. The guard stationed at his door opened it and a maid was there. She was pretty, black wavy hair, a prim maid's gown and apron, carrying a brightly colored feather duster. She had an hourglass figure and a set on her that must be a terrible strain on her back. She was young, in her twenties, and had a nice dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. “I'm here to clean the room Dominus,” she said huskily curtsying. The guard snorted, eying her from behind.
He nodded. “Just, okay, fine. It's a little dusty,” he said. She nodded and closed the door behind her as she entered. He opened his mouth to object but then turned away. He tapped at his tablet and frowned at the report he was reading.
The maid busied herself around the room, frowning prettily, and sneaking him glances to test his attention. Apparently the gaijin was rather distracted, the perfect situation for her. It had taken a great deal of effort to get his page out of the way, distracted by errands and the princess timed to come in, in less than an hour. Yet the gaijin didn't seem interested in her.
Ryans frowned, looking over the top of the tablet to see the woman bending over to dust the same area in front of him again. She'd dusted it three times, each from a different angle. He wasn't sure what she was playing at but if it was what he thought it was he wasn't sure if he should be amused or appalled.
After her fourth bend, this time to give him a look down the front of her dress he came to a decision and got up and stretched. He then turned to the door. “Let's get some air in here shall we?” he asked. He opened the door and toed a brass gargoyle doorstop into place to keep it open. The guard looked at him in surprise. He smiled politely and then turned to the window.
The woman was scowling; he could see it out of the corner of his eye. He hid a smirk as he opened the shutters and then windows and then propped them open with a stick. “There,” he said, going back to his desk and sitting. He propped his feet up on the stool and then went back to reading.
Deidra came in ten minutes later and scowled at the maid immediately. The maid curtsied, instantly subdued. Deidra jerked her head to the door and then waited, hands on her hips as the maid ducked her head and scooted for the door. When she was out Deidra looked at the door. Ryans looked up and craned his neck to the open door. “Is she gone?” he asked.
“Yes,” Deidra replied, seething with rage. The slut! The two timing bastard! One moment was all that was needed for him to get with the servants like mother said! Damn him! Damn the man... She felt the hurt, the distant pain and fought it down with anger and riotous wrath.
“Oh thank god!” he said, rolling his eyes and putting the tablet down. “Gah! At first I thought she was thorough but no one is that thorough! What a flirt!” he said. “If anyone gives her a French maid outfit I swear I'll....” he shook his head in disgust.
Deidra froze, eyes glittering. Her fingers drummed on her belt. “And you of course...” she asked, voice icy.
He spread his hands apart, taking in her rage but ignoring it for now. “Who do you think propped the door open? I figured out what she was up to after the third artful bend and sigh,” he said shaking his head as she turned to look at the door. The guard standing on the other side of it looked at her. She frowned and kicked the gargoyle aside to slam it shut. “No. Thank. You,” Ryans said firmly. “Hey why'd you shut it!” he demanded.
“Because I don't want an audience,” Deidra growled. He spread his hands again.
“Look honey, nothing happened. Honest.”
She scowled. “You wanted...”
“Um, no you're putting words in my mouth,” he said, rising and trying hard to get a lid on his own growing temper. She glared up at him. He glared right back. “I did no such thing. I just told you I was the one who opened the door!”
“Why didn't you kick her out!” she demanded, chin out.
“Because I was having fun watching her get nowhere and get all pissed off about it!” he said, throwing his hands up in disgust. She blinked at him as his voice rose.
“Watch your tone,” she growled.
“Hey you started it. Well, technically the little trollop did. I sure as hell didn't!”
“I...” Storm clouds raced through her body. She was enraged, enraged by what she'd seen and yet not seen. That little slut and her...
“Why are we fighting over this?” he demanded. “I did nothing wrong. I sat there,” he pointed behind him to his chair. “And minded my Ps and Qs while she worked. I kept three feet away from her at all times.”
Doubt began to creep into Deidra's thoughts. Still she wasn't done. “And you didn't think for an instant of how lovely she was, or what she would be like in bed...” she asked sarcastically.
“Well, come to think of it, I was wondering what you'd look like in that dress,” he said, turning away. She gasped, eyes flickering in rage and then in doubt and finally confusion. He turned to her and snorted. “Though a French maid outfit would definitely look better on you than that thing. That thing was a tent even though someone tailored it to supposedly look sexy. Maybe for your culture but definitely not mine.”
She blinked at him and then her eyes narrowed. “So you weren't attracted to her...”
He shook his head. “I told you. No. Thank...”
“You. I get it,” she said, not quite sounding like she believed it, but starting to lighten up.
“About damn time,” he growled. Her eyes glittered again. She lifted her chin to him, now ready for battle once more.
“Want to tell me again why we're arguing about nothing?” he asked. She looked at him. When he didn't break his intent gaze she looked away and bit her lip. “This a trust issue? Jealousy? What? Did you set me up with her? See if I'd stray?” he demanded. “I did. Nothing. Wrong,” he growled. “Hell, okay yeah, I looked but that's it. I couldn't help it but when I realized what she was up to I immediately put a stop to it!” he said, voice rising in anger.
She shook her head, but suddenly another thought came to her. Did the wench think of this on her own or did someone put her up to it? Who? She could now think of why. She turned to her intended. “I, no, I didn't though someone else may have,” she said.
“Right,” he drawled.
“I'm telling the truth!” she said, suddenly hurt. Didn't he trust her?
He glared. “Shoe's on the other foot now huh?” he asked softly. She bit her lip. “Kind of hard to feel like someone's telling the truth, to trust them when all you have is their word. Of course I made certain I had a witness, though I'm curious as to what he'll say about all this...” He shook his head. “I can imagine all sorts of stories getting around right about now,” he sighed.
Finally Deidra broke down, sitting in the chair. She hid her face, trying hard not to cry. He sighed and reached out and rubbed her shoulders... After a moment she turned and hugged him. He sighed and hugged her back. “Yeah, trust,” he said. “I told you, I'm not the type to stray. Though if you want a threesome...”
She gasped. He chuckled and then laughed. She glowered up at him. He grinned down at her in a not too serious leer until she poked him, blushing.
“Better,” he said. She snorted softly. “You're sure though...” His voice changed to a teasing note.
“I'm sure,” she snarled. He chuckled again, softer this time.
“Pity, I was looking forward to sitting back and watching you two go at it,” he said. “Two falls out of three? Winner gets all?” he asked ingeniously. “I'm sure you'd take her in a fair fight... but from the look of her the little slut is experienced and might go both ways. I bet she's got a talented tongue she could use on you...” She growled and then finally chortled a lau
gh and hit him to shut him up. He hugged her again.
“You're sure? What about the French...”
“Oh shut up!” she said, laughing and dashing tears. He chuckled. “Okay, maybe the maid outfit,” she finally said. He rumbled a surprised laugh. Finally she pulled him down to kiss her.
“All forgiven?”
“Nothing to forgive,” she admitted. “Just don't let it happen again,” she growled. He nodded. He made a mental note to leave the moment a maid arrived from now on.
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The maid Ezmerelda scowled at her mistress and shook her head. Serena's lips thinned in a disapproving frown as the maid continued past her. The maid looked over her shoulder briefly. She caught her mistress's slight glower and immediately bit her lip, paling slightly, head down, hands together. She curtsied slightly and then continued on her way.
Serena gathered up her dress and followed. The maid would pay for not getting the male, she thought darkly. Ezmerelda was usually efficient about such things; she'd never failed her before. She'd have to make it up to her mistress and she'd better do it properly, the duchess thought grimly. She'd need her riding crop or the whip to ensure that, she thought, turning in place to return to her quarters. It had been some time since Rojer had pleasured her. The maid would do. Yes, after she was suitably punished for her failure, yes she'd be pathetically eager to make up for her transgression and would be ready. A little pain always did inspire the little slut to greater efforts after all. Yes she'd do indeed.
<==={}------------>
Perry grimaced and rolled his shoulders. The Gunny hid a smile. “Penny for your thoughts Lieutenant?” It was getting damn cold outside at night. This was supposed to be early fall, they were just starting the four month season. He wasn't looking forward to winter now, not at all. He wasn't looking forward to going outside at all for perimeter walks.
“No I wasn't thinking I was getting to old for this,” Perry said shaking his head. The Gunny smirked. “Just that sitting in that chair is damn uncomfortable,” Perry growled, rubbing the small of his back.
The Gunny snorted. “Try lying in muck for hours on end, picking branches and creepies out of your shorts, hHoping a predator doesn't think you'd make a tasty enough lunch.”
“Um...”
“Or out with the road crews bustin' your ass,” Paris waved. “In the snow to boot.”
“Yeah well, pass,” Perry grinned and then sobered. “Any more drug related issues?”
Paris shook his head, glad that had passed. “Not in a week. It looks like things have run their course, making an example out of some of the worst offenders probably did it.”
Perry nodded. He hated drumming good kids out of the service but it had to be done. “That it did. I hope.” He indicated the seat next to him.
“Yeah,” The Gunny sighed, sitting down next to the lieutenant. “We've got them so busy they don't have the time to screw around or cause trouble.”
“You hope,” Perry retorted, shaking his head. “Never underestimate someone's ability to get into trouble.”
“Yeah. They're building up a head of steam for their off time. Hope the shore patrol and the bailiffs are up for it.”
“Me too,” Perry said shaking his head. They'd let the kids go on leave a few times over the summer and each time had been worse than the last. At least no one had gotten killed. Some of the bar fights had been pretty spectacular he'd heard, the gaijin trained soldiers had done well to hold their own in the brawls. Not that he was going to pat them on the back for their lack of discipline. “Then again, since they were in the field building roads and bridges, they were building up quite a nest egg. I'm curious if some will save it or blow it in the taverns.”
“Bit of both for the good ones. Everyone needs to blow off steam now and again,” the Gunny shrugged. He looked around then leaned over. “We're counseling some of the smarter ones and I think it's taken here and there. Ticundus has figured it out. Lad's a sharp one, he's invested well.”
Perry nodded. “Good for him.”
The Gunny leaned over to him. “Are we on track for going home sir?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah,” Perry breathed. “We hope.” He was seriously tired of being here now.
“What the hell is Ryans going to do when we leave?” Paris asked.
“Hope for the best plan for the worst?” Perry answered, shaking his head.
The Gunny grunted. “He'll have a tiger by the tail you know.”
Perry gushed a sigh, slumping. “Yeah, I know.”
<==={}------------>
“I see the border lords are wasting no time exploring,” Deidra scowled, tossing a paper she had been reading down onto the desk. Jericho was after her mother to make good on a greenhouse for his vineyards. Pemerson had raced home to get his men moving on expanding the border before anyone else. Pemerson was a fool, and the people who he had sent out were double fools. Many would perish with little food when the snows came and they had poor shelter. She laid even odds that the baron would be begging for support come midwinter or early spring. Fat lot of good it would do him or his people, they were too far out and there wasn't a decent road to send a relief convoy to them until the spring. And then the spring thaw would flood the rivers and possibly make some of the bridge crossings inaccessible for weeks.
“Interesting news?” Ryans asked.
“Gold has been found in a mountain stream.” She shook her head. “They didn't waste any time. Snow is coming soon,” she said. By her reckoning in less than two months. Perhaps sooner if this cold weather held.
“Gold in them thar hills!” Ryans said. She blinked at him in confusion. “Sorry, old Earth reference.”
“Ah,” she shrugged it off.
“You know, it wasn't the miners that got rich off finding gold,” he said looking out the window.
“It wasn't?” she asked, now thoroughly confused.
He shook his head. “No. It was the people who sold the dream. The outfitters and riggers. They charged an arm and a leg to set up each miner with the basics, and even with luxury stuff. And don't get me started on the service economy in the mining towns! They robbed the miners blind!” He shook his head.
“Bad?” she asked.
He wrinkled his nose. “Oh yeah, everything cost like crazy. Miners would pay for drinks in the taverns and the barkeeps would spill the gold dust, and then sweep it up later. But one of the biggest problems were the bandits.”
“Ah. I hadn't thought of that,” she replied and then grimaced. She toyed with that idea, she'd have to get on to mother about sending more sheriffs or even guards if they started receiving reports of theft. Perhaps they should do so now? She thought about it and shrugged.
“Yes, with the potential for easy money comes the grifters and thieves. They'll swarm to mining towns. They'll cheat people out of their hard earned money, or rob them.”
“So security's an issue,” Deidra sighed.
He nodded. “And justice as well,” he grimaced. “I'd suggest the local lord set up a sheriff and a roving judge with roving marshals in each area right off.”
“Ah. Yes, I'll bring that to their attention later,” she frowned. He came behind her and rubbed her shoulders. She dropped her head and sighed in contentment.
“Rough day?” he asked softly.
“No, the usual, I just hate the thought of my people preying on the innocent like that.”
“Me too,” he rumbled a sigh. “It's how the world works though.” He grimaced.
Chapter 26
Max grimaced at the din as the door opened. “Please tell me they have ear protection,” he half yelled.
“WHAT?” the foreman yelled back.
Max sighed. “Later,” he said waving. Belts were running everywhere. They ran from pulleys attached to drive shafts running the length of the building. The leather belts ran to pulleys behind each machine.
“Must be a bitch to splice those if one gets broke,” he said. He shook his
head. He watched as a teenager used a pole to knock a spinning pulley off a gear on the drive shaft. It came off and then slowly spun to a halt.
“Well, least you don't have to shut the entire line down.” He nodded in approval. They had really taken the concept of mechanization up from the simple water gears they had been using before. This was one of the factories that didn't have electric power or motors. It ran on water power, but like all the other factories they would be shut down once the river froze.
One man nearby was using a lathe to carve a table leg. Another woman beside him had one almost complete. She was using a piece of what looked like sand paper to sand it smooth. A young black girl further along was wiping stain on her spinning piece. He was glad to see that they had not only adapted to the techniques but also changed their clothing. No one wore loose fitting clothing and all wore improvised goggles and leather aprons. The aprons were covered in wood shavings though.
“Neat,” Max said nodding. “Still need ear protection though. And better eye glasses. I guess safety is an issue?” he asked turning to the foreman.
The foreman grimaced and waved his hands, he couldn't hear. Max grimaced and waved to the doors.
Outside he sighed as the doors closed. “It's an infernal racket isn't it?” the foreman asked, rubbing his ears then clearing his nose on a handkerchief.
“That it is. Look, the docs sent me over to give you a hand on safety. From the looks of things we're going to need to make some changes.”
“Ah?” the foreman asked warily.
“Well, this plan was only temporary, till we get the power grid up and sorted out. But Doc's right, the noise is a problem, let alone safety. She said you sent her a couple of people that were hurt?” Max asked. Sue had called him in after getting a couple of people in all torn up. One was a kid and that had pissed Sue off.
The foreman grimaced. “The belt broke,” he replied looking angry. “There wasn't anything to do.”
Max nodded. He'd heard that happened. “Ah. Well, we can see if we can prevent it, or if not shield against it.”
