'Thank you, sir. Edeard rose from his chair.
'A word of caution, my young friend.
'Sir?
'You can petition them to enact a law, but you cannot force them to undertake said enactment. To obtain those signatures, you will need their cooperation.
'I understand, sir. My colleagues are working on that.
It was a big petition. Edeard had to back up the initial street association meetings personally, persuading the stallholders and shopkeepers and tavern owners and merchants, and a dozen other tradespeople that his idea was worth trying. With his small base of political allies like Setersis, Ronark, and Finitan, and his own reputation, he began to gain the backing he needed. A week after the meeting with Solarin, the Jeavons chamber of trade, and the Silvarum chamber of trade simultaneously laid down a formal request to see their respective District Masters and Representatives.
They convened in the library of District Master Vologral's mansion. Edeard had only met the Jeavons Master twice before, at formal events. There, they'd made small talk, trying to weigh each other up. He was heartened by the fact Vologral was an all of Finitan on the Grand Council.
Vologral and the other three Masters stood behind a long table, listening to the official request as made by the speakers of the chambers of trade, then he turned to Edeard. 'Can this work?
'I believe so, sir, Edeard said. 'We know probably seven out often involved in the protection rackets, certainly in our districts. Those are the ones we already have warrants for. If the gangs send in new faces to collect their money, we'll know who they are straight away, and we can add them to the list.
'But keeping them out… Vologral looked apprehensive.
'In total there are fifteen bridges into the two districts. Each one will have a pair of constables on duty from now on to enforce the exclusion. We just need the legal basis.
'And the mooring platforms? How many of them? You can't guard them all.
'There will be three permanent patrols inspecting the mooring platforms at random; in addition our ge-eagles will be scouting constantly. I'd point out that a court can levy a considerable fine to any gondolier who violates a city by-law. We'll need to make an example of the first few cases, possibly with confiscation of their craft. After that, they'll won't be so keen to help the gangs.
'I can imagine the Gondolier Guild's reaction to that, Deveron, the Silvarum Representative muttered.
'The Waterwalker is making an effort to help us, Setersis said quietly. 'I for one am happy to cooperate. Deveron looked at him, and said no more.
'Very well, Vologral said. 'I am provisionally inclined to grant your petition. I will sign the warrants. However, I give you notice, Waterwalker, that I will review the situation in three weeks' time, after the Festival of Guidance. If I am not satisfied that racketeering has subsided, or you are not holding the line against the gangs, they will be revoked. Do you understand?
'Yes sir. Thank you, sir.
'Do you have the warrants here?
Edeard beckoned Felax and the other three probationary constables who were waiting at the back of the delegation. Each of them came forward carrying a tall stack of paper.
'Great Lady, Vologral grunted when he saw how many warrants the young constables had brought. 'I didn't know I was excluding half the city.
'Seventy three people to start with, sir, Edeard said.
'Gentlemen, Vologral said to his fellow Masters, 'let's hope we don't get writer's cramp. He sat down at the long table.
'What happens to the rest of the city? Deveron asked. 'Aren't we just exporting the problem?
'They'll wait to see if it works, Setersis said. 'If it does, they'll join in quickly enough. Decent people have had enough.
Vologral signed the first warrant. 'So suppose you do succeed? Exclude them from everywhere but Sampalok, for I know damn well that Bise will never sign one of these. What then?
'I imagine that will be up to the Grand Council, sir.
'Ha! Vologral gave Edeard a sly smile of approval as he reached for another warrant. 'Not such a country boy after all, eh?
It began the very next morning. Ronark changed the squad shifts, which in itself was fairly historic; dispatching five constables to each of the bridges leading into Jeavons from Drupe, Tycho and Majate. Silvarum's station captain did the same with bridges to Haxpen and Padua.
As dawn broke, the constables took up position. News of the exclusion had spread in that lightning-fast way any novelty did in Makkathran, especially one concerning the Waterwalker. A lot of people turned up to see if it was actually going to happen. At some bridges they applauded when the constables appeared. Sandwiches and hot tea and coffee were produced and offered to the new guard squads. Then everyone settled down to see what the gangs would do.
At midday, eight men walked across Golden Park. They were young and tough, knew how to handle themselves in a fight, and had a strong third hand. By the time they reached the district's southern point adjoining Birmingham Pool there were five ge-eagles orbiting high above them. Only two of which belonged to the constables.
'Getting a real burst of nostalgia here, Macsen sang out as Edeard's squad jogged along Macoun Street.
'Nostalgia is a happy sensation, Kanseen grunted. 'This isn't.
Edeard tended to agree with her. He glanced at Isoix's bakery as they sped past. 'You all right? he asked Dinlay with a direct longtalk whisper.
'Oh Lady, yeah. Dinlay's thoughts were aflame with expectation. They'd spent the morning walking round the two districts on a random route, making themselves visible, knowing there would be a showdown at some time. It should have been a time of high excitement for Edeard, but he'd got another letter from Salrana; she'd been delayed again.
He ran out of Macoun Street on to the broad sweep of the alameda. The weeping hasfol trees were just budding, a multitude of blue and yellow striped leaves expanding out of their whorls to greet the warmer skies. Right ahead of them was the blue and silver bridge which looped high over the waters of the Great Major Canal to Golden Park. Sergeant Chae was standing at the foot of it, giving Edeard's slightly out-of-breath squad a nonchalant look. 'I'm insulted, he said loftily. 'You don't trust me?
'Procedure, sir, Macsen puffed. 'We're the reinforcements.
'But I haven't called for you, yet.
Edeard gestured at the bridge. 'All yours, sir.
'Thank you. Chae glanced round at the eager crowd that was building. 'This is nostalgic, eh? He turned and led the four constables of his squad up on to the bridge.
'Have any of them got guns? Boyd asked.
'I can't sense any, Kanseen said. 'Edeard?
'No. Nothing. Ivarl will want it to appear like they're just ordinary citizens. He needs to make us the bad guys.
'Hey Waterwalker, a young boy yelled out cheekily. 'Are you going to do it again?
'Not today.
'Oww, go on, please. Run over the pool. I didn't see it before.
The eight men had reached the other end of the bridge. Chae and his squad were standing on the apex, arms folded. Waiting patiently.
'This is a different day, Edeard said out loud. The crowd were dividing their attention between him and the gang members over on Golden Park. 'This day we banish the gangs from your streets and lives.
The gang men stepped onto the bridge.
'You! Chae bellowed. 'Pocklan, we know you and your friends. Come no further.
The eight men kept walking forward.
'I have a warrant signed by the District Master of Jeavons excluding you from this district.
'I have done nothing wrong, Pocklan shouted back. 'I am a free man. I may go where I please in this city. That is the law.