The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 5)

(Waldon Sias) “Mr. Dolet, we’ll cut the review short today under th’ circumstances ‘n all. I’ll work on this myself and make sure nothin’ more serious happens.”

(Altman Dolet) “Thank you, Waldon. I’d better go check on Dawson, and see if Claver’s condition has improved any.”

(Waldon Sias) “Dolet, I’m glad I ran inta you. The men, they’re growin’ fearful. It’s gettin’ hard t’get ‘em workin’.”

(Altman Dolet) “I wish I could blame them.”

(Waldon Sias) “I know you don’ hold with all th’ talk ‘o superstitions an’ bad luck ‘n all, but if this goes on as it is, we’ll be left with a valley full ‘o land and nobody to build it up.”

(Altman Dolet) “… Yes, I know. You’re right. Of course you’re right. I’m doing what I can to investigate the cause, but I promise, if I don’t find answers soon, I’ll hire guardsmen in from Holdswaine.”

(Waldon Sias) “Could be that’ll help a bit. Jus’ hope it’s enough.”

(Altman Dolet) “It’ll ha—”

(Waldon Sias) “Altman!”

(Altman Dolet) “I’m okay, it missed! What in the … Where did that come from!”

(Waldon Sias) “Wind-fall branch. Heavy ‘un too. From that tree behind the buildin’, less I miss my guess, fell to the roof and came down nearly on top of us.”

(Altman Dolet) “From the roof … yes, that does seem to be the commonality, doesn’t it.”

(Waldon Sias) “Wha’?”

(Altman Dolet) “I have an idea, my friend. Let’s keep quiet about this incident if you don’t mind … I don’t think anyone saw this happen, so no need to spread the panic further. Would you round up two of your most trustworthy men and meet me out where the rocks run red with iron? I think I may just be able to get to the bottom of this.”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 4)

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(Workman) “Mr. Dolet! Come quick, an’ bring the medics! There’s been another accident, sir!”

(Altman Dolet) “Ms. Cranford! Bring your assistants! Quick man, what happened?”

(Workman) “He was workin’ on the roof, finishin’ it off when down he came, I saw it clear as day! He landed bad, shoulder’s broke, an’ his leg … like I said, it’s bad.”

(Medic Cranford) “He’s lucky t’weren’t his skull. No time to waste, let’s move.”

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(Waldon Sias) “Medic Cranford, ‘e’s over ‘ere.”

(Medic Cranford) “Let’s get ‘im looked at first, then we get ‘im back to the wing if it’s safe. Mr. Dolet, if you could stay out of the way?”

(Altman Dolet) “Of course. I need to inspect the area, and the roof he fell from.”

(Waldon Sias) “Somethin’ the matter? Aside from th’ obvious, I mean.”

(Altman Dolet) “I couldn’t say. This accident, it just strikes me as similar to the last.”

(Waldon Sias) “You do what you need to. I’ll get the rest o’ these louts back on th’ job. You men! This ain’t no time for dawdlin’! The rest ‘o you can get back to it, and do it like I told you this time! I’ll ‘ave no more careless accidents on my watch or there’ll be hell to pay.”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 3)

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(Altman Dolet) “I’m jumping to conclusions. I should know better. I’m a little unsettled, that’s all.”

(Waldon Sias) “Yer not the first I’ve heard muttering to himself today, y’aren’t. Nobody’s feelin’ right after yesterday. But the tower’s up, and on schedule.”

(Altman Dolet) “And a fine job, Sias. The men have been quick on their feet; the scaffolding’s all down already? Everything packed up and moved to the new market project site?”

(Waldon Sias) “It is, aye. They didn’t want to linger by the tower more’n they had to. Can’t say as I blame ‘em. Work’s likely to progress faster now, but not for the reasons I’m lookin’ for.”

(Altman Dolet) “If they start getting careless, they’ll only make all this ridiculous talk of so-called ‘bad luck’ worse.”

(Waldon Sias) “Aye. Let’s be off then. I’ll show you what we’ve got for the market. The ground should be cleared for the levelin’, an’ the first temporary barracks is finished.”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 2)

(Altman Dolet) “I wish we had a proper inspector here to investigate the scene of the accident.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “There’s lots of things it’d be nice t’have, but for now we just ‘ave to make do.”

(Altman Dolet) “I suppose you’re right. There’s only so much a student of geoscience can do though. I … Interesting.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “What’s interesting?”

(Altman Dolet) “These stone bricks. They bear the characteristic marks of stone cutting, just as one would expect, as well as the signs of the fall off the tower, but … Several here bear scratching, and look here at the pitting that this one displays.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “You doubt yourself too easily, husband. When there’s trouble with a stone, a master of geoscience is exactly what you need.”

(Altman Dolet) “You’re too kind, my love. I’ll be forever a student, there’s more to learn than I’ll ever master. But as for trouble with stone, I think these were pushed; their fall was no accident.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Could Claver have brought them down with ‘im when ‘e fell?”

(Altman Dolet) “No, I was here at the time, and saw him fall. He didn’t bring them down upon himself. Of that I’m certain.”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 1)

(Workman) “Oi, Sias, here we are!”

(Waldon Sias) “I want that southern wall built up by mid-day. You’ll double-time it today, and if I catch you sluggards lazing around you’ll wish you were in the army, I’ll come down on you so hard!”

(Altman Dolet) “Good morning, Sias. Your men are making good progress.”

(Waldon Sias) “Altman Dolet, a good morning t’yeh as well. Aye. They’ll ‘ave the rest of ‘er up by sun-fall, you can be sure of that.”

(Altman Dolet) “I’m glad to hear of it. I’ll need you to begin working on the foundry in three days’ time, and we still have the market—”

(Waldon Sias) “Oh— Medic! Man down, north-east tower! MEDIC!”

(Waldon Sias) “Of all the rotten, stinkin’ luck …”

(Altman Dolet) “The medics will be here in moments, Sias. I’ll look into the accident if you could assist them when they arrive?”

(Waldon Sias) “As sure as rain I will, Mr. Dolet. A’right men, back to it! And don’t let me catch any ‘o you bein’ as careless as Claver there! If he thinks a rest in the medics’ tent’s gonna save his sorry hide for long, he’s got a long, hard lesson ahead! You, get tha’ …”

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(Altman Dolet) “Ridiculous! Nonsense superstition. Luck, indeed.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Another accident, husband?”

(Altman Dolet) “Yes. Even Waldon’s starting to lose his nerve. We’re going to have to move forward faster than I’d like, I’m afraid.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “If we get a crew in to build the road now, the travel and trade it brings in will help to lift the men’s spirits, but what if someone learns of the electrite deposits? Once word gets out …”

(Altman Dolet) “I know, my love. But we can’t afford to let this place gain a bad reputation. The Holdswaine labor union’s already difficult enough to deal with. That insufferable Mitchell character they chose as their leader jumps all over every chance he can get to deny us workers.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “There’s people there need work, Altman, he can’t be denyin’ ‘em that.”

(Altman Dolet) “He can, if he can declare the area unsafe, and he doesn’t seem to need much provocation to do it. If he does, we’ll never be able to attract anyone trustworthy to mine the deposits, and I don’t intend to do it myself forever, I can tell you! We need the road in a hurry, we need forest cleared by the river, and we need the river-way cleared to allow water-borne shipping up to the coastal cities in the north.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Why d’you think he has it in for us out here? We pay dear enough for their services. You’d think the man’d be the least bit grateful.”

(Altman Dolet) “Unless he has some personal stake in hindering us.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “The Conclave?”

(Altman Dolet) “Perhaps. They certainly haven’t been happy with me since I settled here instead of working for them.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “And if the Conclave gets wind of the electrite …”

(Altman Dolet) “They will, eventually at least. For now, we’ve done all we can on our own to protect it; the deposits we know of are all well-disguised with run down, ‘abandoned’ buildings. The work crews don’t get too close to them, except for one part of the road. Nobody should so much as spare the area a glance.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “With the luck we’ve had here lately, it’s just a matter of time before someone finds it.”

(Altman Dolet) “Not you too!” The tired smile playing at his lips kept the words from seeming harsh.

(Kaylene Dolet) “You may not believe in luck, my husband,” she said with an answering smile, “but can bet they do, an’ I wish you’d learn to understand that. If luck is a part of it, it’s bound to run out at some point. Even if it’s not involved, they’ll go an’ get spooked if things like this keep happening.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “How is he doing?” Kaylene’s voice was concerned, but betrayed no anxiousness.

(Medic Cranford) “He’s in rough shape, but he’ll live. That arm, though … I’ve got the bones set, but that was a right nasty piece of work. Muscles are all torn up. If I can keep infection at bay, he’ll keep the arm. Whether it’ll work right again, well it’s just too early to say.”

(Altman Dolet) “Can we see him?” Altman’s voice was a bit gruff; he couldn’t help feeling a guilty pang. It’d been many hours since the accident and his only thoughts of it so far had been of how it impacted him and his plans. When had he become so cold?

(Medic Cranford) “No point. I ‘ave him on the poppiate. He’ll be out till afternoon tomorrow if not later. I’ll let ‘im know you came by though; I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

(Altman Dolet) “I hope our luck turns soon.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Apparently, anything can happen.”

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NaNoWriMo 2011 Day 7

Kaylene was moving now, whisper-quiet, holding the hem of her long dress inches above the ground so it wouldn’t betray her by dragging over leaves or rocks. Altman held his breath. Mitchell seemed to have forgotten she was there.

“You needn’t worry about my dealings with the Conclave; let me worry about—” And that was as far as he got with that thought as Kaylene tackled him from behind. Her arm crushed round his throat, choking him, while the other grabbed his gun arm, swung it to point harmlessly into the treetops above. A jerking motion caused him to let out a strangled cry and the pistol flew from his fingers to land against a rock on the ground. It fired, a sharp, cracking report that scared off every bird in the canopy.

Altman rushed forward as Mitchell pitched forward and Kaylene pinned him to the ground. The faint, distant footsteps became the pounding of many running feet. Seconds later Waldon Sias burst onto the scene, followed by a good half dozen of his men. Mitchell, red-faced with rage, growled out “Get them!”

In less time than Altman could process, 2 of the workers accompanying Waldon had pulled pistols of their own, larger than Mitchell’s had been. They stepped back out of the group and spread to either side of them. Everyone froze, Waldon and his men too shocked to do more than stare in disbelief and growing anger at supposed friends.

Mitchell spat out a mouthful of dirt. “You couldn’t be so stupid as to think I was here alone? Now, release me!”

Kaylene reluctantly backed off; Mitchell rubbed his jaw and awkwardly got to his feet. “And now Mr. Dolet. I will have that location, or people will start dying, not just having … accidents.”

“Accidents?” Waldon’s face had turned a deep red at the words. His voice could have come from the darkest of storm clouds in the sky. His remaining men’s faces had darkened dangerously.

“Keep your eyes on them.” Mitchell spared Sias a contemptuous glance and grabbed his fallen pistol before returning his gaze to Altman. “So what is it? You’re in an awful hurry to build the road and get the docks and market up. Is it a merchant, then? I’ll have the name, or—”

Waldon Sias chose that moment to decide he’d had enough. One huge arm rocketed out, catching the nearest traitorous workman square on the jaw. He was a huge man himself, but Waldon’s blow felled him like a tree. Taking their cue from their leader, the four workmen turned their attention to the second gunman. He quickly fell under a few well placed blows without a shot fired.

Mitchell growled and shifted his pistol’s aim straight at Waldon. Altman didn’t think, he just reacted, taking several quick running steps to the side. Kaylene’s eyes widened and mouth opened in a shout, or a scream. Mitchell’s gun sounded far louder this time as it went off, Altman’s shoulder exploded in pain, and the ground twisted itself up to slam into his head.

A few moments later, after the world failed to dissolve around him, he felt hands helping him up. Mitchell was … was … “Wh … Where’d he go? Can’t let him …”

“Don’t you worry none about him, Mr. Dolet.” Waldon’s voice was hard, but as reassuring as the arm he had supporting his uninjured shoulder. “We gotta get you back to the medics again. Mitchell ain’t gonna be a problem, believe me. My boys don’t take too kindly to people playin’ with their work like that, let alone their lives. They’ll see to it he don’t try anythin’ else.”

Altman thought about that just long enough to decide it was probably better not to think about it too hard. “Good.”

With Kaylene on one side and Waldon on the other, he retraced his steps back to the medic’s wing of the house, stopping just outside the doors. It was the spot on which Altman had been struck by the stone.

“Altman.” Waldon looked very pale; Altman saw a dark, glistening patch on his shirt. The stain spread over a good part of his body. “I heard some of what Mitchell was goin’ on about. You got somethin’ to hide here.”

Altman nodded slowly. “Yes. There’s not much point in denying it, is there?”

“Nope. Just wanted to say you don’t have to worry ‘bout my boys ‘n me. We don’t know much, and what we do know, we’ll help you protect. Most men … They’d expect a man in his pay to take a bullet, not risk ‘imself like you did. You tell us what needs doin’, we’ll see it done.”

“So, my dear, you learn to relate to the men in your employ at last. There’s hope you yet!” Kaylene opened the doors, and the three disappeared inside.