“Well, how long is this going to take?” Daneh asked. “I mean the negotiations. Port down, port back and a week or two there.”
“One problem,” Edmund grimaced. “Sheida says that it’s important, but not important enough to port us. She’s working on some sort of device that will reduce porting power drain; she has an experimental one up and running so she can get in and out of her house. But even that will be point to point. In the meantime, we’re still down to the speed of horse and wind.”
“How long?” Daneh repeated.
“A month? Two? Possibly more if the weather turns against us.”
“I know my responsibilities,” Daneh sighed. “And there’s Charles to consider; I’m not sure I want to be away from him for that long. I’ll stay.” Daneh’s son had been born as the result of her rape, shortly after the Fall, by Dionys McCanoc and his men. When the child was born it was clear who had bestowed the male genes. Just as clear as the fact that the father was no longer living. Herzer rather liked the kid who, except for a tendency for mischief, appeared to have gotten nothing but his looks from his father.
“I want you to consider carefully what I said,” Edmund replied. “I would prefer you to go and Rachel to stay. Including taking you away from Charles.”
“Why?” Daneh asked and was rewarded with a blank stare. “Edmund, quit being mysterious.”
“I’m not being mysterious. I have my reasons and I have reasons not to give them.”
“That’s just Edmund’s way of saying ‘I’m being mysterious,’ ” Daneh said with a chuckle.
“I’ll give you one that’s up front,” Talbot replied after a moment. “We want an alliance with them, a military alliance certainly and a trade agreement by preference. We need to know what they need, that we can supply, for that to happen. I won’t say that I want you to go talk with the women while I do the ‘men talk’…”
“Good!” Daneh said with a smile.
“… But I will say that we have different strengths and areas of knowledge. I’d take Myron if I thought agriculture was going to be important, but I think that areas having to do with… lifestyle are going to be far more so.”
“I’m a doctor, not an anthropologist,” Daneh said. “For that matter Rachel has a firmer grasp on preindustrial cultures.”
“You have a point. But I trust your judgment more than Rachel’s.” He turned to his daughter and shrugged. “That wasn’t meant to be offensive, it’s just Daneh is…”
“Older and wiser?” Rachel said, then shook her head. “I’m really not offended, because I understood what you meant.”
“I can turn over control of the local power system to Emily,” Daneh suggested. “She’s up to just about anything that Rachel would be. And I assume that if something major comes up, we can consult. She’s certainly up to deliveries and small repairs. Dr. Beauharnois is up in Hotrum’s Ferry if something serious occurs.”
Talbot thought about it for a moment then shrugged. “I guess you’re in, Rachel.”
“When do we leave?” Herzer asked.
“Not for at least a week or two,” Edmund said. “I didn’t think you’d make it back this fast and it’s going to take at least that long for the rest of our party to get here.”
“And who is that?” Daneh asked.
“You’ll see,” Edmund replied. “It’s a surprise.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Joel was surprised to see Harry practically hovering outside Sheida’s office.
Sheida used what had once been her mountain home as her central headquarters. Since she often hosted parties and other functions it had been large enough to support the minimal staff that she needed.
But since it was now surrounded by bubbling lava, getting anything in and out required porting, which was extremely high in energy use.
The answer, as he had discovered on his way in, was a permanent portal. Step through the arch and you were suddenly “elsewhere.” He wasn’t sure what the energy level to the portal was, but it couldn’t be high; he had been only one of a dozen or so people who had passed through it while he was there.
Instead of heading for the portal, Harry waved him in another direction. Joel noted that he had a slight limp.
“I’ve set up your transportation,” the aide said, leading him to a small office. It had, apparently, once been a bedroom. There were now three desks in the room, along with boxes of paperwork. There were no external windows so it smelled dank and musty.
Harry pulled out a sheaf of papers and a small bag that clinked when he set it down.
“Gold has, again, become the international currency,” Harry said with a sarcastic smile. “Make sure you’re not set upon by ruffians.”
“I’ll try,” Joel replied, smiling amiably. He opened up the pouch and dumped it out. “I take it I sign for this?”
“And we’ll need expense records,” Harry replied. “Did you know Sheida before the Fall?”
“Yes, we were acquaintances,” Joel said, piling up the square chunks of gold. “I’d studied the history of management and business before the Fall. She wants me to look at logistics at Washan and other facilities along the East Coast.”
“Mind you don’t step on Edmund’s toes,” Harry replied. He slapped his thigh and grimaced. “He gave me this.”
“The limp?” Joel asked. He pulled over the receipt and signed it, apparently without reading it. In fact he’d read it upside down while the aide was holding it and while the total was close it wasn’t exactly the same. He’d just signed for a chunk of gold, the equivalent of two months wages for a field hand, that wasn’t there.
“Happened right after the Fall,” Harry said. “Drove a sword through my mail and tore a hole right into my thigh. He always said that the only way to fight was to intend to kill the other person; I never thought he was serious until then.”
“Didn’t he know what would happen?” Joel asked, widening his eyes in horror. “And haven’t you gotten it fixed? I mean, power is short, but…”
“Well… we didn’t know the fields were down,” Harry admitted. “And, yes, Sheida fixed it. But it’s still not quite right.”
Nannites either fixed something or they didn’t, at least when it came to gross tissue damage. They didn’t just stitch things back together but reformed them to the cellular level. Which meant that any remnant injury was psychosomatic.
“I’ll try not to get my legs chopped out from under me,” the inspector said. “How am I getting back?”
“Sheida wants you to fly on a wyvern that’s headed that way,” Harry said, looking at him oddly. “Apparently she’s really worried about this logistics problem.”
“Just a good use of resources.” Joel shrugged. “How do I find this wyvern?”
“Not worried about riding on one?” Harry asked, frowning slightly.
“Looking forward to it, actually,” Joel smiled. “Better than the coaches.”
“Well… take the portal then ask around for Robert Scott, he’s the travel coordinator. He’ll know where you’re supposed to go.” Harry stood up and offered his hand. “Good luck.”
“Same to you,” Joel replied. “I’m sure we’ll be meeting again.”
“Oh?”
“Sure, the logistical issues around here are just amazing.”
“There are several issues that I’d prefer to set aside,” Chansa said, looking over at his new assistant. “They’re taking up my time and energy; time and energy I need to devote to the invasion plans.”
“Understood,” Conner said. He had a very old-fashioned writing stylus and pad of paper and nodded as he took notes.