The Clocks

Saturday May 6th, of The Year 724 After the Founding

Mario had arisen early that morning. The previous afternoon they'd somehow managed to arrive three hours ahead of the time he'd expected, and he'd thoroughly enjoyed a rare, full-night's sleep. Having Aldus Ringvold working as The Company's local agent, as well as being part owner of the Mule's Tale Inn, made this city one of Mario's favorites. And it wasn't just that his workload was essentially nil once the mules were unloaded, the merchandise inventoried, and put into storage.

Even though he'd eventually figured out that Miranda was probably getting the lion's share of the value from their exchanges over the past five years, he still looked forward to them. To be honest, he enjoyed her company and her conversation.

As he'd realized, or subtly been steered to the realization of, the kinds of information she valued the most were a bit more, what was the word...comprehensive...than what a banker's wife would normally need in order to be of help to her husband. From that point on, he'd poked and prodded a bit more than the average merchant would have done, and he'd also begun to build up a loose network of informants.

It wasn't that he asked for anything in particular. That might have drawn attention. What he told his people to do was get back to him with any gossip about interesting financial dealings, or anything else that caught their attention. None of what he collected was, of itself, anything a good merchant wouldn't be on the lookout for. After all, information is what drives trade. The difference in his case was that the quantity he amassed was far beyond what most merchants would seek.

He made no secret of his "work." He dispensed coppers, and occasionally a silver grosso, to anyone who came to him, even it what they told him was obviously false. His general description in most cities was basically: "That fool who throws his money away." When the people who had information of real value sought him out, they were dismissed by any onlookers as just another person leeching money from a "sucker."

When he'd first told Miranda what he had done, she stared at him then muttered, "Stupid boy," and had followed her comment with a purse containing what he had spent so far along with enough extra to easily double his network. Then she'd said, "Put nothing in writing. Just tell me how much you need after each trip."

He knew that she was manipulating him again. He'd been taught almost from the beginning of his apprenticeship that trust buys loyalty much more effectively than money. He didn't really care though. He was having far too much fun. Not that he disliked being a merchant -- far from it. He found it fascinating. It wasn't "fun" though.

All of that was behind the spring in his step as he walked up the hill. He'd stop and have coffee at his favorite shop along the way and then present himself at Miranda's door as close to 9:30 a.m. as he could manage. Her husband would be at work, and her children should be off visiting friends by that time. Either that or they and their friends would be busy in their rooms. Either way his arrival would likely not be particularly remarked upon.

That morning, as he gave his report, there was something he couldn't quite put his finger on that was making him uneasy. Eventually he asked, "Mrs. Donetti, I apologize in advance, but I've grown a bit tired of sitting after being on a horse every day for the past week. Would you please allow me to walk back and forth a bit to stretch my legs?"

Miranda waved her consent with a smile. She'd been saddle sore a time or two in her youth, and, although it had been a while, she still recalled how uncomfortable it had been.

"Thank you ma'am." Mario slowly walked back and forth, speaking all the while so as to not interrupt his report. Then, as per their agreement, he began to ask questions about the valuation of various objects Miranda had added to the decorations in her office since his last visit.

It was his tone that started her whiskers twitching. She began to pay a bit more attention, not to what he was saying, but where he was walking. Eventually she recognized what he was doing. He was walking in such a way that he would, in time, cover every square foot of exposed space. There wasn't much left, so, rather than saying anything, she concealed her smile and waited. Someone, or, more probably, two someones were about to be very surprised.

Mario had bent slightly forward to look at a rather fine mask from Africa when he suddenly whirled to his right, stepped forward, and threw his arms wide. When he closed them, he found himself holding a thoroughly embarrassed and angry Eugenia. First she tried to knee him in the groin, but he blocked. Then she tried to stomp on his foot, but he'd pulled it back far enough that she couldn't. Her arms were pinned to her sides, so she tried to bite him. All that got her was a mouth full of leather vest as he was a good 25 centimeters taller than she was.

Throughout the process, which took about 20 seconds, Mario never loosened his grip. What infuriated Genie was that Mario had continued to speak to her mother. "Pray tell Mrs. Donetti, how should one value something like this? It's a most lifelike automaton. It also seems to be substantially stronger than any other I've encountered, not to mention that I don't believe I've ever run across one that was bespelled to be unseeable."

Miranda responded in a neutral tone, "Such creations are misleading. While their initial price is not all that high, maintenance costs can be astronomical. Not to mention that they, at times, appear to manifest a great deal of willfulness. Alltogether, though I've had this one for seventeen years now, I'm still not sure if the value has outweighed the cost."

Mario pondered briefly. "Ah. I see. I'd not factored that into my evaluation. As always I see that I still have a great deal to learn from you." He looked down at the furious Eugenia. "As I suppose this little one does as well."

He loosened his arms slightly, then tightened them again. "Though I must admit that holding it is surprisingly comfortable."

By then Genie had had more than she could tolerate. She hissed from between clenched teeth, "Either let me go or suffer the consequences."

Mario looked surprised. "By the gods! It talks! However I see that it speaks without meaning."

His voice lost its teasing tone as he looked directly at Eugenia and said softly, "One shouldn't make threats that one cannot carry out. It could end up getting you badly hurt if you're talking to the wrong person."

He looked at Miranda, who nodded. Mario unwrapped himself from Eugenia and stepped back, putting himself in a guard position.

Eugenia looked at him and was thoroughly disgusted. The ease with which he was standing spoke of years of practice and a skill much greater than her own, at the present at least. There was no way she could do anything to him even now that she was unencumbered.

Miranda cleared her throat, to get Genie's attention and drawled, "He's been one of Hiroshi Macklin's students for four years now. As he's on the road most of the year, and is often in places devoid of entertainment, I imagine that he's had about 10 times the hours of practice that you have."

She pointed at a chair to the left of her desk. "Sit Eugenia. Mario is about to tell us how he spotted you."

Mario bowed. "As you wish ma'am. The first thing I noticed was a very faint scent that I've not encountered at our previous meetings. Also, whenever a breeze blew in through the window, based upon where you were sitting, it should have temporarily blown it away from me were it a perfume you were wearing, yet it was stronger each time.

"That's why I asked permission to stand and walk. Oh, by the way, I'm years past the point where riding causes any discomfort.

"At any rate, I was eventually able to localize the source to one side of the room. For a while I thought perhaps one of your pieces was scented in some way, or maybe you had stored incense on a shelf. At the end though I heard breathing, which led me to grabbing this pretty young lady, who is I presume, given the resemblance, your daughter?"

"You presume correctly."

Miranda turned to Genie. "Tell me."

"Yes Mother. First of all, I need to find a way not to have any scent remain after bathing, washing my hair, or even on my clothing. Secondly, when near another person, there's no telling how good their hearing is. Just freezing won't work. I need to hold my breath as well."

"Very good Genie. You left out only one thing. You're going to have to find a deodorant that is scentless. Otherwise your stink will alert anyone within 20 meters to your presence."

Eugenia jumped to her feet. "I do NOT stink!"

Mario didn't, quite, smother his snicker in time. Eugenia spun and glared at him then asked testily, "Mother, may I have your permission to withdraw and take my smelly self to my room?"

Miranda pondered then replied, "I think not. Today is clear and will be neither chill nor excessively warm. Abide here a while."

She faced Mario. "If I recall correctly, your company has a storage facility along Warehouse Row, does it not?"

Marion nodded. He often was unsure of the direction of her questioning, and this was one of those times where he had not a clue.

Turning back to Eugenia she went on, "We know the safe, and not so safe, range of the others. I think it's time we found out if you are likewise restricted, and, if so, how much."

Mario was even more confused, but he looked on attentively. He'd learned that Miranda always explained herself when she wanted something. She didn't always explain fully, but she did explain.

"Mario, you'll take Eugenia here with you. It's time you did an inspection of the facility and discussed security with the guards, don't you think?"

Mario bowed. "I do believe you're right."

He turned and bowed to Eugenia, though to a lesser degree. "Miss Eugenia, would you care to accompany me on an inspection tour of our warehouse facilities?"

She plastered a totally false smile on her face. "But of course. I would be pleased to. I'm sure that we can find something to discuss."

Miranda clapped her hands. "There you go. All settled. Genie go change into your riding clothes. You can rent a horse at the Mule's Tale."

Once Genie had left Miranda told Mario, "It's possible that she may become somewhat ill on the way. If she begins to look faint, or worse, looks like she may fall out of the saddle, turn around at once and return. I should warn you. She's at least as stubborn as I am."

Miranda raised her voice somewhat, "Genie I told you what to do. Quit listening at the door and start moving. I don't want you keeping Senior Journeyman Mario Brown waiting. Get!"

Neither of them heard a thing, but somehow both of them felt a furious aura that gradually faded away down the hall.