His eyes darted back and forth as she spoke. Then, when she finished, his knees seemed to give way, and this ox of a man’s body folded down, as if encumbered by some foreign gravity. He put his hand down to steady himself, and then sat back on his buttocks. A flash of anguish traversed his face, creasing around his eyes. Then his face lost emotion, and he pulled up his hands, looking at them with the wonder of a child.
She couldn’t bear the sight of this ignorant animal. She ran past him, down the hill. She knew she’d gone too far, she knew her words were more emotion than truth, but the conversation was making her head spin. More than that, she had evoked the memory of Granger, and it made her think of that fateful day in the palisade garden when he was murdered.
Once a beacon of longing, Granger had become a black hole, a place she dared not venture with her thoughts. She had tried to comfort herself with the knowledge that she was able to see him one more time, that they were able to connect lips. On the day Ember died, it was all she’d asked for.
But after his fickle demise, one that could be attributed to her own imprudence, she wondered if it would’ve been better if she hadn’t come to the Spoke lands at all. She wondered if it would’ve been better if she had killed herself in the confrontation with Bartz on the train. Then at least he could have lived. Even as a slave, his life was worth so much more than hers.
So she ran away from Mehta, she ran away from her own spiteful words and she ran away from the memories of Granger, lest they take her down the dark recesses of regret where should could no longer tread.
A FIELD TRIP
Madison was sitting in front of the Meriwether Lewis statue again. She found a brief moment in front of this figure of strength offered some escape from the machinations of council meetings. It would clear her head and imbue her with an intangible fortitude.
Again a note from Duncan was splayed on her lap, freshly obtained from the lords’ mailbox. She was improving at doing the cipher without pen and paper, and could usually make sense of the letter in only a few minutes.
Unfortunately what she decoded held little insight.
Duncan was remarkably well informed about what was happening in Seeville. He was tuned in enough to ask probing questions about Mehta’s origins or Flora’s ancestry. He acknowledged the threat of the railroad, to be sure, and Gail, more cryptically, but his specific intent was vague beyond urging a counter to those threats. He alluded to the sanctuary at times, but it was hard to know if he was just referring to Adherent gospel or if there was actually something of substance he was hinting at.
So what was the point of his questions, exactly? He seemed to be trying to tease information out of her without revealing his true intent. As a result, she was beginning to become suspicious of Duncan’s motives. The correspondence between them had evolved to batteries of nebulous questions and more enigmatic answers.
It seemed they had reached an impasse.
She folded the letter and moved her mind to the more pressing matters of today’s meeting. She opened her notes to rehearse her statements and review a list of potential objections.
It had been difficult to get Prakash and Kline on board with her University Projects Review proposal. At first they couldn’t even get past the tone of it. Granted, it was harsh. Basically, Madison’s proposal sent a message, in not so many words, that they didn’t trust Bartz. Arguing the philosophical merits was lost on them, as if the substantive arguments mattered little. It was likely a byproduct of the fact that for too long their votes had been curried by favors.
When she explained that the proposal could be put forth as a simple information-gathering exercise, rather than an inquisition, they began warming to the idea. They could spin it as a way to gain comfort with the Developer Rights Amendment before voting on it. In the end, of course, old habits died hard. Madison had to open up some of the Monticello New Founder archives to support educational activities and crop science. She hoped it would be enough, as it was the only favor she could offer.
“Ma’am, it’s time,” Benjamin reminded her.
“Of course it is,” she said. She opened her eyes and extended her arm out for Benjamin to hold.
She arrived inside at the same time as the other lords. They were all seated quickly. Nods were exchanged, but no hands were shaken.
When they were settled, the recorder began. “Honorable Lord Banks has put forth a proposal to add to the top of the agenda, which you have received this morning. All those in favor of adding it to the agenda?”
There were four ayes and two nays, with Meeker and Bartz being the two dissenters.
The recorder said, “The ayes have it. Today’s agenda is therefore the University Projects Review first, then the Developer Rights Amendment, Fifeville Roadworks, and a continuation of the Budget Review. As a reminder, honorable Meeker will be holding a special lords meeting on the topic of defense readiness in two weeks. Lord Banks, you have the floor.”
“Thank you,” Madison said, pushing herself up with her cane to stand. “My proposal is simply a request to inspect the sites at the stadium and up at the old observatory. I have received inquiries about these sites from my constituents, as I’m sure you all have as well. We need to be able to explain what is being built in order to assure citizens that they do not pose any harm.”
Prakash, Kline, and Henneson nodded. Meeker and Bartz were unmoved.
“In turn, a thorough investigation will help us with the Developer Rights Amendment. Details of an inspection may help us ensure we are drafting the right policy. As long as Seeville laws are being followed, I hope you will see, honorable Lord Bartz, that this inspection will be but a minor inconvenience to you and your people.”
Bartz was leaning back, watching her carefully, while Meeker was still unreadable. She anticipated some form of resistance, but she didn’t know how it would manifest itself. It could be they were in the process of sanitizing the construction sites as she was speaking.
In the end it wouldn’t matter. Madison had enough damning photographs and eyewitness accounts to bury them under a mountain of evidence. At the very least she should be able to throw enough red tape at them to slow down the work. For now, however, she kept the evidence in reserve.
“And before we vote,” Madison added, “I request that we have the inspection in the next twenty-four hours, so as to not hold up other council activities. Let’s go to vote now.” She nodded to the recorder.
“All in favor of the University Projects Proposal say aye.”
Again, there were two nays from Meeker and Bartz, and four ayes.
“Excellent,” Madison said. “Lord Bartz, when can we visit?”
Bartz tapped his pen on the desk, and then said, “We can comply with your request, Banks. I suggest we get this over with as soon as possible.” He stood up. “We have arranged for travel for the council. Shall we?” He gestured with his hand toward the door.
It wasn’t what she expected. She thought he would at least take the day to prepare. Had he anticipated this move? She had no choice but to play along, of course.
“Fantastic,” she said. “I do like field trips.”
The lords and clerics all filed out of the courtroom. Outside a number of the finest bike assemblies had been parked. These vehicles allowed two mules to pull a lightweight chariot that rolled behind them. The chariots were open-air, only a skeleton frame, and looked to be interchangeable with other platforms for hauling. They had the S&R Railroad logo branded on the side. The mules on the bikes were full-time railroad men.