Princess Rescue Inc (56 page)

“Actually,
yes he could,” Ryans said turning slightly to the eavesdropper. “We have
vehicles that can allow a person to fly,” he said. He heard a noise and smiled.
Right on time, what a coincidence, he thought.

“Nonsense!”
the man said pompously, hooking his hands in his wide gold belt. “I have it on
good authority man cannot fly. If they could then they would have been born
with wings!” He looked around when he heard the buzzing. “What is that
obnoxious sound?”

Ryans
pointed up above the courtyard. “A flying machine,” he said mischievously. The
courtiers look up amazed to see an ultra light pass over. They stared, shading
their eyes with their hands as it passed over and off into the distance.

“It's
actually a pain to make. Balloons may be easier in this early stage. They can
only go up and down, maneuvering with them is subject to the winds,” Ryans
explained as people turned to him. “We're working on them too since you've got
lightweight silk for the fabric,” he explained. He bowed to the textile
minister Ciara. She curtsied slightly.

“Whatever
for?” the minister asked.

“For
many things, to get a lay of the land, to send signals to others, and to spot
invaders and bad weather approaching,” he explained. They blinked at him in
confusion. “Haven't you had to climb into a tower or on top of a hill to see
the land around you?” he asked. Some nodded at this. “The higher you are the
easier it is to see what lies around you. That's true about flight as well,” he
explained. He pointed to the sky.

The
ministers gobbled a little then nodded. “Then of course there is the sheer thrill
of flight. Of exploring new horizons,” he said as he smiled. “It can be used
for many other things as well. On Earth we can fly goods and people around
quickly. We can also use them in war,” he said, voice turning darker.

“It's
interesting how you turn them on their ears. Entertaining,” the Queen murmured
beside him as the ministers moved off, talking about flight excitedly. The
older set seemed out of sorts.

He
smiled, turning to her as she wrapped her arm around his. “Yeah, it's fun
tripping people up and shaking them out their pre-conceived perceptions your
majesty,” he chuckled. “I take it we're going to lunch?” he asked. She nodded
again. “And I'm not going to get out of it to see Max's new project am I?” he
asked with a slight laugh in his voice. She smiled and shook her head no. He
sighed. “Okay,” he said. “Let's go,” he said walking with her.

He'd
really looked forward to seeing the landing strip and balloon Max and Lewis had
been working on. The hay baler this morning was good; Max had a lot of good
ideas. Already a couple of the merchants were after him to license his
expertise to build them their own balers. But of course he was stuck here.
Politics, he mentally grumbled as they entered the main hall once more.

<==={}------------>

Max
grimaced as the printers ran back and forth, humming along. He turned as a
shadow approached from behind him. “Whatever it is you want it can wait,” he
growled.

“Oh,
um...” Max turned to find Corgi standing there. “What are you doing sir?” Corgi
finally asked.

“You're
that kid assigned to Perry right?” Max asked. The kid nodded. He grunted.
“Right. Okay, these are 3D printers. What they do is take a model we have in
the computers and then make it in pieces or in whole,” he said pointing.

“Which
is cool and all,” Perry said coming around a corner. “If we had our priorities
straight,” he said.

Max
glared. “
I've
got my priorities straight.
You
and the others
can't decide so I'll damn well do what I can with the limited resources I've
got,” he growled. He waved a hand to one of the printers. “That one's going all
out on projects for the chemists. That one's going all out on parts for the
military and the weapons,” he said, pointing to the one next to it. “This one's
doing stuff for other projects and I'm putting this fourth one together.”

“But
you don't start them off...”

“Do
I tell you how to run your soldiers?” Max demanded, glaring at Perry. Perry
held his hands up. Max threw his hands up in the air. “For your information I
do a test run then I do three trays of parts. Parts to build more of them. We
only had
two
printers you know,” Max growled.

“So...”

“So
the extra parts are for this one, this one,” he pointed to the third and fourth
machine. “And for spare parts in case one breaks down. And when I get this one
up I'll do the same thing and the third tray will be for the fifth machine. If
I've got enough plastic that is. I'm running low,” he admitted.

“Ah,”
Perry nodded.

“Wanda
said she could crack the oil and get some in a month or so if she's not pulled
in various directions. She's like me you know, there are only so much of us to
go around,” he said testily.

“I
getcha. Why'd it take so long to make machines' three and well...?” Perry said
indicating the fourth machine.

“See
my last statement smartass,” Max growled, looking at him and then to the
machine. “I've been kind of busy you know?” he said defensively.

“Okay...”

“And
yeah, these things print but I've got to be here to load, unload, make sure it
did a good job, clean off the flash, recycle the waste and set it up for the
next run, for each of them.”

“Oh.
Seems like you could use a helper,” Perry mused. He looked at Corgi who held up
his hands.

“I'm
supposed to be helping you my lord,” he said.

“True.
Well, I'll talk to someone about it,” Perry finally said. “Sorry Max, if no
one's told you we appreciate all the work you're doing,” he said.

“Gee
thanks,” Max growled. “Now get before I put you to work.”

“Going,”
Perry laughed, walking off with Corgi.

<==={}------------>

Ryans
studied the court. It wasn't the royal court, it was a mock justice court, but
one taken in all seriousness.

“I
take it torture went out of business?” he asked the page near the door.

The
page frowned. “Torture is reserved for the most heinous of crimes my lord,” he
explained. Ryans nodded. “My father said we are swift in our justice so that we
may get on with life. There are not as many people as we would like, and the
taking of a life is only done for...”

“Heinous
crimes, right gotcha,” Ryans finished. He nodded watching the judge rule for
the plaintiff. “So how does this work? The sheriff levies a charge?”

“Or
a lord or lady. The accused is brought forth to a hearing then jailed until a
final ruling.”

“No
bail?”

“There
are bailiffs,” the page said. He was slightly older than Answorth, probably a
few months away from puberty and becoming a squire. The boy pointed to a
soldier nearby.

“No...
I meant... you know, skip it. Okay so most of these people are here for petty
crimes?”

“Aye
Dominus or those that cannot pay the tax. Or owe money to others.”

“Ah,”
he rubbed his chin. He remembered something about that, and about some of the
petty criminals being transferred to the army. “About how many are in the
dungeons?”

“A
triple score my lord, at least that. There's been a blight of debt lately due
to the weather, the invasion, and poor investment or crops. I dare say there'll
be many more if the war isn't won soon.”

“Ah.
Yeah, working on that,” he said grudgingly. He watched as the judge finished
his ruling then explained to his students what he did and why.

“Interesting
that he has a class.”

“Aye
my lord, I'm in it.” The boy nodded politely then went forward to view the
proceedings closer. The judge noticed Ryans in the back and waved him forward.

“Watching
our class?” the judge asked. Ryans noted he was wearing a toga robe with a
silver laurel on his balding head.

“Yes,
your honor,” Ryans replied. He nodded politely. “I was intrigued by it. Your
judicial system is much more modern than I had been given to believe.”

“It
is?” The judge fairly preened. The students looked around.

“Yes,
during the feudal times on Terra justice was not... just. It was brutal and
many were killed for even the smallest of crimes... or were brutally maimed...
Many were innocent, or as my guide just informed me, simple people in debt due
to bad fortune or bad judgment.”

“Aye,”
the judge nodded. “But the system has changed?”

“Very
much so in many countries, in my country there is a separation between the
powers, and a separation between the sheriff and the prosecutors,” Ryans said.
He waved to the kids representing the people. “Much as you have worked out
here,” he said in obvious approval. The judge nodded. “I can give you an
overview and let you go over it with your class and fellow justices,” he
suggested. He bowed again.

“Interesting,”
the judge rumbled as he rubbed his beard. “I shall be waiting for this.”

“Thank
you your honor. I have video of judicial proceedings as well, but they're in my
native language and therefore not of much use to you. I do have a suggestion
though.”

The
judge looked wary. “And that is?”

“Well,
you ransom the debtor to their families correct?”

The
judge nodded. “Or send them to the mines for a period of time to work off the
debt.”

“Ah,
well, I was thinking, instead of having them rot in jail, what about putting
them to work in the mines or military?”

“We
already send them to the mines,” the judge said.

“Ah,
yes, sorry, I'm a little excited. What I mean is, give them the option of the
two and then sentence them for a period of time to work off their debt. We need
soldiers, and a few of the people may be of use.”

“Pickpockets
and lice?” a student asked. “You want them tearing a camp apart?”

“It
depends on whose camp they tear apart doesn't it?” Ryans asked. He smiled
wickedly as the class looked startled. “They may not make great soldiers, but
pickpockets and thieves can learn to make great spies and saboteurs. We can
give them a minimum of equipment and training then send them into the enemy
camp to wreak havoc.”

The
judge rubbed his bearded jaw once more. “Ah. An interesting idea, I will take
it up with the justice council this very evening.”

“It
would also clear out some of your backlog,” Ryans smiled as the class began to
murmur. “Thank you for your consideration your honor,” he said politely. He
bowed again.

“Indeed,
I shall expect those notes soon young man,” the judge said eying him.

“I'll
go print a sample now,” Ryans smiled walking out. “I'll give it to your
secretary in an hour or two,” he said. The judge waved a dismissive hand then
turned back to the class. Ryans chuckled softly as he walked out.

“I
suggest a general health and welfare check up of all ministers and lords time
permitting,” Ryans said after lunch. He bowed to the Queen who nodded regally.
Ryans had spent the better part of lunch murmuring about this fellow or that
and how they looked. The cataracts of the minister of gaijin were also brought
up.

The
Queen looked at him, perplexed as to why he would suggest this until his words
registered. A health and welfare... showing she cared for her subjects
welfare... She nodded finally as she caught on. “I see merit in such a
suggestion. Make it so,” she said nodding to a page who wrote the order down.

“Why?”
a minister asked snidely.

“Why
not?” the Queen asked, leveling eyes upon him. “The gaijin have many medicines
we can use. Even ways to heal things that have long plagued our subjects. If
your health is a problem we should know and you should be given treatment.” She
nodded to Ryans.

Doc
is not going to be happy with me, he thought cheerfully. Some of the ministers
gave him a jaundiced eye. A few were curious.

“We
have ways to correct some things. Doc and the healers have limited access to
equipment, but she can at least do what she can. For instance.” He nodded to
the minister of migration. “Some of you are having trouble with your vision,
possibly due to cataracts. We have the ability to correct it with surgery. Doc
may or may not have access to the equipment and materials needed right now. But
even if she doesn't she may be able to do minor repairs until the equipment and
materials can be made.” He bowed slightly to the minister.

“To
see clearly again,” the minister murmured then nodded sitting up straight. Hope
blazed on his face.

“Can
she fix my gout?” a minister called forth from the end of the table.

“She
can see what is causing it and give you medicines to ease it or repair it. Or
if needed she can recommend surgery to repair a problem. For instance, bones
that have been improperly healed can be broken again and then splinted so they
will heal properly,” he said.