Chapter Five
The noise of the cart on the cobbles woke a few people up, and by the time they got to the civil corps, Hugo and Owen were on hand to help drag the two traitors up to the cell. Grace had faded into the background to ensure her part in their adventure stayed hidden.
“Guess we need to go deal with Yan now, too,” Justice said once he’d locked them up.
The sun was just starting to rise over the horizon as Mercy walked down Main Street with Logan and Justice. Grace had snuck into the building and joined them but chose to stay back at the civil corps with a rather surprised Unsuur to watch over the new cellmates.
“Been a long time since we’ve had so much excitement in town,” Justice said.
There was a light flickering in Yan’s front window, so they didn’t even bother knocking, just opened the door and walked right in.
One suitcase sat next to the door ready to go, with a second one open next to it. Yan stood with a handful of clothes ready to drop them into it.
“Newbie!” He squawked. “Sheriff - and the bandit!?”
He stepped back and started looking round for an exit.
“Not so fast, Yan. I’m here as sheriff to arrest you for your part in the plot against Sandrock.”
“I don’t know what you mean!”
“Yer’s sayin’ you know nothin’ ‘bout a plot to dry up the oasis and steal the town funds?” growled Logan.
“Sheriff! Are you going to let a bandit accuse me of such heinous crimes? Me, the fine upstanding President of the commerce guild?”
“OK, how about your newbie accuses you of it?” asked Mercy. “Along with asking about every fiddle you’ve run at the guild, every penny you’ve skimmed off our commissions!”
“You can’t prove a thing!” Yan sneered.
“I think we can. It’s all in the hidden drawer in your desk, isn’t it?” Mercy guessed.
Yan went pale, and tried to push between them to make it out the door. He shoved Mercy to the side, but Logan grabbed his arm as he passed and twisted it up his back, using it to push him to the floor.
“Does that count as assaultin’ a member of the corps as well?” he asked Justice.
“Well I swore Mercy in yesterday, and she’s got the jacket on, so I’d say so.”
They manhandled Yan up to the corps, and threw him in the cell next to Pen and Miguel. None of them looked happy to see each other.
“So what now?” Mercy asked.
“Well, first thing we do is check in with City Hall, let Matilda know.” Justice said, “Then we need to inform the Alliance, the Deacon of Meidi and the head of the commerce guild. It’s gonna be a whole lot of paperwork!”
“I’ll need to let the ACI know as well,” added Grace.
The town was abuzz with the news and Martle Square soon filled up. Mercy was exhausted, but knew there was one last thing they needed to do before she could relax.
She and Mi-an placed planks from the edge of the oasis over to the statue, and started looking round the base.
Eventually they found it, a small gap where the sides of the plinth didn’t quite line up.
Wedging the end of a pickhammer in, they worked it back and forth until it came loose, allowing water to bubble out and fill up the oasis. They hadn’t realised how many people were watching until they heard the cheers.
“That’s the proof, at least,” Mercy said to Mi-an, trying and failing to stifle a yawn. “I need to get down there with you and QI to look over the relic, and make sure it’s working properly, but that can wait until tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe the water comes from an Old World relic!” Mi-an replied. “Have you told Qi yet? He’s going to explode!”
“Nope, thought I’d leave that to you. Just keep him outta there today please, do whatever you need to do to distract him! The three of us can get down there first thing tomorrow morning.”
Mi-an giggled. “And what’s this about you and Logan?” she asked, looking at the man leaning on the fence watching them.
“That story can wait til tomorrow, too.” Mercy replied. “I promise to fill you in on all the gossip, but right now, I need my bed.”
With that, Mercy walked over to Logan, who slung an arm round her shoulders as they headed to her workshop.
By the time they woke up, the sun had started setting, but the noise of the celebrations from the Blue Moon were still going strong. Mercy cuddled into Logan as they lay in bed.
“I really don’t know if I want to face the party tonight,” she sighed. “I’m not a party girl at the best of times, and there’s gonna be too many people asking too many questions.”
“What’d ya have in mind?” Logan asked, running a finger up her spine and making her shiver against him.
“Quiet evening in. I’m not a bad cook, not as good as Owen, better’n Grace. Least I now know why Owen tolerated her being quite so bad in the kitchen.”
“Sounds good to me. I reckon I need to face everyone about what I’ve done on the run, but Pen set me up for the worst of it. But I’d rather do that talkin’ to Matilda at City Hall, rather’n face a saloonful celebrating.”
They’d just finished eating, and were curling up together on the couch when there was a knock at the door. Mercy was in pyjamas, Logan in his undershirt and boxers.
“Do we need to answer that?” Mercy groaned, just as the knocking resumed, and she heard Grace shouting, “C’mon you two, we know you’re there, just make sure you’re decent!”
“This is as decent as I’m getting,” Logan grumbled, as Mercy headed for the door.
“Kinda busy, Grace,” Mercy said as she opened the door, “what’s up?”
“Well, you didn’t come to the party,” Grace said, pushing in, followed by Justice, Mi-an and Qi.
“Otherwise occupied!” Logan shouted over.
“So we thought we’d bring the party to you!” Grace continued, ignoring Logan's protests and handing over a bottle of liquor she’d liberated from the Blue Moon.
“And I want all the details!” Qi exclaimed.
“Pardon?” asked Mercy, as Grace and Mi-an sniggered. “All the details of what, exactly?”
“Of the relic, of course. What else is of any importance to discuss?”
“We don’t have a lot of details right now, Qi,” Mercy explained. She glanced at Logan, who shrugged and went over to the cabinet to rummage for glasses for them all.
“So why are we not there now?”
“Because, Director, I needed sleep. This is of vital importance to Sandrock, and I didn’t want to do something stupid because I was tired.”
“So what exactly do we know?” he pushed.
Mercy shook her head. “You’re not gonna let this drop, are you? Fine. Let’s get comfortable, shall we?” she suggested.
Mercy and Logan cuddled up on one armchair, and Grace and Justice took the other, leaving Mi-an and Qi to take the loveseat. Mercy chuckled as they sat very carefully next to each other. They were at that awkward stage where they weren’t quite ready to jump each other but were trying not to look as if they were keeping their distance.
“I give them til the end of the week,” she whispered in Logan’s ear, before turning to address the room.
“So, Director, we found a large water tank designated ‘Tank 01’ with pipes and a valve going up to the oasis, and more pipes leading underground. We do not, as yet, know where the pipes underground go, nor do we know if there are any further tanks. The valve is modern, looks to have been created by Yan. The tank is old world technology, and appears to be creating the water somehow. The only other writing on it said ‘Project Olympia’. Now, tomorrow’s plan is…”
Mercy stopped. At the word ‘Olympia’, Qi’s eyes had grown large as saucers.
“Uh, Director?” Mercy prompted. “Mi-an, give him a knock, percussive maintenance works on people, too.”
“Do you know what this means?” Qi gasped. “It means they did it. The Olympia project was real. You *do* know what the Olympia project is?” he asked, looking over the top of his glasses at them all. They shook their heads.
“The Olympia project has long been the subject of rumours, it was the old world’s plan to put man amongst the stars. No one has ever found evidence of it being anything other than theoretical, but you’re basically telling me that Sandrock is built on the site of it!” He laughed maniacally.
“Uh, Director?” Grace said carefully, “are you okay?”
“Okay? No I am not okay, I am way beyond okay! We need to get down there, now!”
“Tomorrow, Director,” Mercy said, yawning. “Not tonight. Tomorrow. You, me and Mi-an can go down, check the water tank, and see what else is there. Now, if you don’t mind, Logan and I had plans before you arrived.”
“What could be more important than this though?” Qi cried.
Logan ran a hand up Mercy’s leg. “You want the details, Director?” he asked with a grin.
“Hmm, point taken. The fry cook and the sheriff look as if they have similar plans, as well,” Qi pointed out, frowning. “I suppose some celebrations can be allowed. Very well. We can meet at the Sandrock storage 8am tomorrow, and investigate.”
Finally, Mercy managed to chase the visitors out and lock the door behind them. Logan wrapped his arms round her waist. “Now, where were we?”
The following morning, they left to go to meet the others, but were greeted at Mercy’s gate by a woman she’d never seen before.
“Mornin’ Trudes”, Logan greeted her, “‘bout time you got back.”
“Didn’t expect to find you here, Logan. We’ve got a lot to talk about, I understand.” She sighed and turned to Mercy.
“You must be our new builder, I’m Mayor Trudy. I believe I missed a lot of excitement over the last few days. I’ll be working with Minister Matilda though to make sure that everything is handled appropriately.”
Mercy found herself liking the mayor immediately, more so than she did Matilda.
“Glad to see you back, and nice to meet you. Did you accomplish anything in the desert?”
“Sadly, no,” Trudy replied with a sigh, “but we have ideas. I understand you’ve been supplying Zeke with research samples, and it’s looking promising, so thank you. We’ll be having a fireside tonight to discuss all the recent happening, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how important it is you attend?”
“We’ll be there,” Mercy replied, “but right now I need to go and investigate exactly what we’ve got under the town.”
“Please come and see me once you’re finished then. Logan?”
“I’m goin’ with Mercy. After what happened last night, don’t think letting her, Mi-an and Qi there without back up is a good idea.”
“Very well, I’ll see you both later.” Trudy smiled and walked off.
“Back up?” Mercy asked.
“We?” Logan replied, grinning. “Yeah, back up. I’m serious, we don’t know what else is down there. I would be much happier if y’all let me come with you.”
“Well, if nothin’ else you might need to keep Qi under control. He seems way too excited for this!”
Comments
Post a Comment