Dark Quest (7 page)

Colonel Gregor knocked on the door and Oscar opened the door and let him in. “Duke Dalek, you wished to speak to me about a shipping contract?” The Colonel looked around the room as Oscar closed the door.

“Colonel, how good of you to come.” Oscar signaled and Larc appeared from the wardrobe. “I think we’re safe here, Colonel.”

The Colonel sighed and sat in one of the chairs. “I didn’t want to be seen coming in. It is quite unusual for a Colonel to be summoned from the Palace by a freight executive. Someone might think that I was receiving payment for directing business your way.”

Oscar sat next to the Colonel. “I understand, but if you are concerned about it, you needn’t tell anyone the purpose of the meeting.”

“I didn’t, but your note could have been read by anyone.”

“Not unless they opened the envelope,” stated Oscar.

The Colonel’s face grew dark. “There was no envelope. Just the folded note. It would seem that someone is checking up on me. If it’s the Intelligence Task Force, I can live with it. If it is someone else, I have to know.”

Larc joined the group. “My people aren’t going to find out much inside the Royal Palace, Colonel. I’m Larc Gart and I’ll be heading the Spiders.”

The Colonel shook Larc’s hand. “Alex speaks very highly of you, Larc, and that is an excellent recommendation as far as I’m concerned.”

“All of this highlights the need for a way to get you two together in the future,” added Oscar. “You can’t be coming to the inn whenever you want to meet and Larc can’t march into the Royal Palace.”

“I rent a room above the Sword and Shield and eat breakfast and dinner there practically every day. Perhaps you could get a man employed there,” suggest the Colonel.

“Consider it done,” stated Oscar. “Larc will appear there the first day that we have someone in place and indicate who the person is. Is there any particular information Larc should be looking for other than the book bandits?”

“Nothing important. One curious item, though. On the way here I almost bumped into Duke Nelson. I managed to hide before he saw me, but he had a young woman hanging on his arm. Now, I don’t care much what his relationship is with his wife, but I think she may be worth checking out. It may turn out that our leak springs from a pillow.”

“Okay,” replied Oscar. “Larc, Duke Nelson will be easy to spot. He’s a very distinguished looking gentleman with gray hair and a gray mustache. A little on the heavy side, but he always carries a gold-tipped, red walking stick. Very distinctive. You should probably leave now. Oh, Larc, the Sword and Shield -- buy the whole building. I don’t want to take the chance of your man getting fired. We don’t want to have to go through this all over again.”

Larc said goodbye and left. Oscar walked to the window to see if anyone followed Larc. “Colonel, I will be out of this loop from now on. I certainly will help you and Targa in any way that I can, but as far as the Spiders go, I never heard of them.”

“Duke Dalek, it has been a pleasure dealing with a patriot. I know Duke Whitley probably keeps you advised of what’s going on in the Kingdom, but a little advance notice won’t hurt. General Clark is going to be seeking approval for a major garrison in Tice soon. It’s very likely to create some healthy trade along the coast between here and there.”

Oscar smiled. “Colonel Gregor, we could get to be very good friends. I’ll watch for any tails when you leave.”

After the Colonel left, Oscar left for the Targa Shipbuilding Company and his old friend, Daryl Downs.

“Oscar, how good to see you,” greeted Daryl. “What brings you to my shop?”

“Hello, Daryl. I’m looking to buy some more ships. What’s your inventory look like?”

“I’ve got three that are finished, but we’re expecting a contract from Sordoa for six, so it depends on how things work out. What do you need?”

“Well,” answered Oscar, “I’m thinking along the lines of twelve to start with.”

“You are talking about large galleons, aren’t you?” Daryl queried.

“Certainly. Our contract for the Dalek Shipbuilding Company doesn’t allow us to build your design for them. I was hoping that I could buy them from you, but it looks like I might have to go to the competition.”

“Now, Oscar, there’s no need for that kind of talk. I’ll try to find some way to accommodate you.”

“I’m sorry, Daryl. I thought you were telling me that you had too much business to handle my order. I should’ve realized that you would give my order priority. Okay, I’ll take the three that you have and the other nine within a year.”

“Oscar, you can’t be serious. If I sell you the three, there will be no way to salvage the Sordoan contract. Even if I did that and put my crews working night and day, I couldn’t get you another nine ships in a year. It’s impossible.”

“All right, Daryl. I don’t want you to lose the Sordoan contract. Let’s do this. You agree to amend the contract for the Dalek Shipbuilding Company and allow us to use your galleon design. I’ll still take the three that you have so if the Sordoan contract falls through, you will still have a hefty profit. If you need to get ships out quickly, Dalek can help with the output.”

“But, Oscar, we specifically left the galleons out of the contract because that is our main business here in Targa. That would put Dalek in the position of directly competing with me.”

“Of course it would, Daryl, but you own half of Dalek so you would be competing with yourself. My only other alternative would be to buy out your competitors here in Tagaret and then we really would be fighting each other.”

“Why is it every time you come to town with an offer, I feel like I’m cutting off another finger and enjoying it?”

“Daryl, Daryl, Daryl, haven’t you become very wealthy since we met? Hasn’t your business here boomed while you’ve gotten fat rewards from Dalek with no need for worry?”

“You win again, Oscar. I’ll get the ships ready and we can revise the contract, but I want another of those fine dinners to seal the deal.”

Oscar put his arm around Daryl and steered him towards the door. “I’ve discovered an even better place to eat this time, Daryl.”

Colonel Gregor was ready for bed, but he would have a visitor shortly and sleep would have to wait. He poured two glasses of brandy and peered out the window. Life was simpler when he had known whom to trust. The awaited knock came and he opened the door. “I’ve poured a glass of brandy for you. It’s on the table.”

“Thanks,” replied the visitor. “Have you found out who is checking up on you?”

“Yes and no,” the Colonel sighed. “General Clark, for sure. I haven’t been able to figure out if it’s the Intelligence Task Force or if the General has someone else checking for a different reason. What about Duke Nelson and the girl?”

“We have no clue who the girl is. She stays at the Palace Shadow and doesn’t go out unless the Duke is with her. If she’s passing information, it has to be done at the inn. The Duke takes her to shows and walks and occasionally a dinner out, but most of the time he just visits her in the room. It makes for a pretty expensive apartment. Four days ago they left the city and went to his estate outside Miram. The estate is large and has several exits. Our man had to choose which one to watch and he chose the wrong one. We have no idea where either of them are now.”

“Understandable. Anything on book movements?” Colonel Gregor asked.

“Nothing. We have collected some books at the Pawn Shop and there have been curious browsers, but nothing that would raise suspicion. No contracts for shipping books, either. We do have word of similar attacks in both Sordoa and Lanoir, though. Nothing on the scale of Klandon, but the raids are not isolated to Targa. Someone is collecting an awful lot of books.”

“Okay. Look, if anything happens to me I want you to get in touch with Sergeant Ferguson. He’s the Master Sergeant of the Red Swords. Hard to miss. He’s heavyset with fiery red hair and mustache and eyebrows much too large for his face. He’s a good man, but knows nothing of our dealings. If it comes to that, fill him in and continue to work with him.”

“As you say. Time for me to go. You know how to make contact. And thanks for the brandy.”

Across town at the Palace Shadow, Oscar Dalek just opened the door to his room. “Gentlemen, you made good time. Come in.”

“Your note sounded pretty urgent,” Fram declared.

“Well, I don’t know about urgent, but it is important,” Oscar replied. “Jerrick, you are going to start a new company, Marchek Shipping. I’m going to have six of my ships repainted to reflect the new name. You’re familiar with the Dalek operation and I want the Lanoir business to be similar. Things are happening around Targa that I cannot get a firm grasp on. If a war with one of our neighbors comes, I want to be able to ship out of Lanoir.”

“Do you think we may be going to war?” asked Jerrick.

“It’s possible. I don’t have any firm information on anything, but if we go to war with Cordonia, Dalek ships will not be welcome in their ports. If we go to war with Sordoa, Dalek is too close to their border. Either way we need a safe port on the Targa Sea that is not in one of those three countries. Marchek Shipping solves the problem. I have already created a deposit for the company in Marchek, so funds will not be a problem. As far as anyone is concerned, you will be the sole owner of the business. You do not need to inform them that they are only ten percent correct.”

“Thank you, Oscar. You are very generous. I imagine I should concentrate on the local Lanoir business?” Jerrick queried.

“To start with. Get that business firmed up first, then we’ll look at straight runs to Cordonia. Fram, you are going to work something very similar but from Tice.”

“Tice?” asked Fram. “There’s nothing there.”

“There will be shortly. Targa is going to be putting a large garrison up there. I believe that will open up the entire Disputed Area. In the very least, shipments up and down the East coast are going to accelerate and I want to own that market.”

“Now I see why you think a war may be coming,” speculated Fram. “Our small ships may be at a disadvantage on the East coast. There are more ports and they are closer together than the Targa Sea.”

“Now you know why I value your input, Fram. You are absolutely correct. Of course, if we had a combination of large ships and small ships, the other freight companies would be at a disadvantage. That’s where you come in, Raymond. I have three large galleons ready to sail at the Targa Shipbuilding Company. I need experienced Captains for them. I’ll have nine more in the next year, so think long term. Half of those large ships will be going to Marchek, the other half to Tice. We also need to bring six small ships across country for use in Tice.”

“I’m not sure that we can find that many good Captains,” stated Captain Hill.

“Then, Raymond, you will have to train them. I’ve sent a message to Reese to have the Dalek Harbor deepened. We now have rights to build these large galleons in Dalek and we need to be able to berth them there, as well.”

Oscar gazed at the three men before him. They were good men and would do their jobs well. He thought back to a trip long ago when he met Jerrick and Fram on a wagon train. Their talents were wasted driving wagons, but that was probably all they would have ever done. He wondered how many other good men were underutilized in Targa. “Raymond, if you can’t get the necessary Captains, think about training fishermen. Some of those sailors have a great deal of knowledge about the sea and there isn’t a coward among them. They may not have experience with a large ship, but I’ll guarantee you’ll find many a good Captain there, especially with your training.”

“I think you’re right there, Oscar,” the Captain replied. “I’ve a bit of admiration for some of them.”

“Okay, gentlemen, that’s all I have for you. If you have any questions, let me know.”

Oscar hurried off to the Royal Palace. Duke Whitley had arranged for him to speak before the Council of Advisors. The Council is made up of twelve Dukes who help the King make decisions by providing input. The King can reject their input and the only real say that they have in kingdom affairs is to authenticate the successor to the throne. Even this is normally a formality, as Kingdom law spells out the rights to succession fairly well. The King’s Advisor, Duke Nelson, chairs the meeting as the thirteenth member.

Oscar waited outside the chamber as the Council conducted their business. When the normal portion of the meeting was over, he was summoned to speak. “I would like to thank the Council for allowing me to address you today. I have an idea that I would like to present to the Council. As you are all aware, Targa has become a naval entity in the Targa Sea recently. We have always maintained a decent Navy in the Sordoan Sea and had never required one in the Targa Sea. I feel that this situation leaves Targa vulnerable to naval attack in the west. Our large ships can sail around the Horn of Lanoir, but there are two problems connected with that solution to naval trouble in the Targa Sea.”

Oscar cleared his throat and tried to gauge the reception he was getting. Everyone was stone faced so he continued. “It takes a considerable amount of time for us to get our ships around the Horn. We also would have a problem with the trip if either Lanoir or Sordoa were to object to the transit. What I would like to suggest, gentlemen, is a canal. A grand canal between the Boulder River and the Cleb River.”

Still not much of a reaction, but at least some murmuring. “The canal would allow Targan ships access to whichever coast we needed them to be on. That, gentlemen, is my proposal.”

The elderly Duke Eddington started. “Duke Dalek, you are well known in Targa for creating a fortune in shipping at a young age. No one doubts your ability to present a proposition that would increase your already vast fortune. I dare say, however, that I am quite shocked that you would expect the Crown to build a canal so that the Royal Navy can protect your fleet of ships. You chose to create your fleet on the Targa Sea; you will have to protect it yourself.”

Oscar smiled at the old Duke. “Duke Eddington, I have no need of protection from the Royal Navy or anyone else. I, alone, in the shipping world can boast that I have never lost a ship or a wagon, unless, of course, you count the fifty-three wagons destroyed in my effort to help Targa in the last war. I think even you would agree that my shipping from Dalek has created a significant increase in business in your Principality around Casper. Your goods which go to market in Cordonia on my ships used to rot on wagon trains long before they reached market.”