Origin Scroll

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “I thought as much,” stated the noble. “But the ships that you describe would have to be made in Tagaret on the east coast. They would be decimated rounding the Horn of Lanoir. You would suffer incredible losses.”

  “Not exactly, baron,” replied Oscar. The first ships would indeed be made in Tagaret, but they would not be rounding the Horn. Remember, they will be shallow draft boats. They will sail up the Boulder River to Klandon. Special wagons will be waiting for them and transport them to the Cleb River. They will sail down the Cleb River to the Targa Sea. After they have proved their financial success, I plan to initiate shipbuilding here for our particular type of ship.”

  “Impressive, my young businessman,” complimented Baron Whitley. “But there is still the matter of cost. What you are proposing would be an expensive proposition for most nations, never mind a young man, no matter how clever.”

  “You think quickly, baron,” responded Oscar. “I have dwelt on these problems for over three years since I first laid eyes on a Cordonian cargo ship. You have picked out each problem area in a matter of only moments. I hope that you will allow me to seek your counsel in the future. As for the money required for this project, it can be done. You must realize that all of the things that I have mentioned cannot occur simultaneously. I have very profitable trade routes along the coast. I have very many wagons tied up on these routes. When the first ships are ready these land routes will be discontinued. The boats will carry the cargoes bound for coastal cities. The wagons will be used on new inland routes, specifically hauling cargo from all cities of Targa to and from our new city. In essence, my business will double. I have always turned my profits back into the business. That is how Dalek Shipping Company has grown so fast. I will continue to do so. You are, however, correct in assuming that will not be enough. I am going to have to seek another investor, one that is convinced of the viability of my plan and yet is willing to leave me full rein over its operation.”

  “You do amaze me, Oscar,” began Baron Whitley. “I cannot imagine anyone being foolhardy enough to invest in such folly.” Oscar smiled for he felt the skin of his finger tingling with heat from his ring. “No, a man would have to have more money than brains to invest in such a venture,” continued the baron. “Still, it would bring a great deal of prestige to my barony. How much do you think it would cost?”

  The baron was sold. They spent the evening and the next day reviewing Oscar’s plans for the new city, the city to be named Dalek. Oscar was elated. He was not yet eighteen, the age when most boys were joining the army or starting a business of their own. Oscar had one of the largest shipping companies in Targa, a city named after him, and a partnership with a baron. He liked the baron and not just because he was a partner. The baron seemed very much like what Oscar imagined a father would be. His advice was always constructive, his reprimands gentle.

  The baron was rounding up workers to build the new city and docks. Oscar was off to Tagaret, the capital of Targa. Oscar chose the path along the Cleb River. He wanted to see the route the initial ships would be using. When he got even with Klandon he searched for the best path for the wagons that would be hauling the ships. It was pretty flat country between the rivers except for a couple of small hills. The caravan should have no trouble. Even if the ships weren’t ready until winter, he didn’t expect any problems. He had been in Klandon several times in the last few years and always took the opportunity to work on his relations with brokers in the city. Soon he would need these brokers to make commitments on using his new land routes and shipping their goods to Dalek.

  After a moment he realized that he could make this a lot easier for them. He was planning to sail his ships down the Cleb River. Why not send Klandon’s goods the same way? It was bound to cut several days off the journey to Dalek. He could use barges for the downstream voyage instead of ships. He could also use the wagons that he was going to have specially built to haul the ships, haul the barges back upstream. Each wagon could probably haul six barges upriver. He could have a barge leave for Dalek once a week on a schedule and every twelve weeks, have two wagons take the barges back. This would just about guarantee a large portion of Klandon’s shipping business. He could also use the normal wagons that he was going to use for Klandon somewhere else.

  Oscar again followed the river leaving Klandon, the Boulder River. He had only been as far as Tagaret once. He liked the city. It was very large and people were always moving about. It was Targa’s largest city and seaport as well as the capital. This is where the kingdom’s navy was berthed. The kingdom had warships as large as the Cordonian cargo ships that he had seen in Kalamaar but they almost never left the Sordoan Sea. Before the rise of Cordonia the Targa Sea was a fishing body of water.

  There were three shipbuilders in the city but Baron Whitley had highly recommended Targa Shipbuilding. Oscar would start there. He had a letter of introduction from the baron, so Oscar knew he would be taken seriously. Oscar’s age had been a problem in getting audiences with some of his clients, but his persistence had always paid off.

  Oscar entered the building and asked to speak with the owner. He showed his letter of introduction and was shown to the office of Daryl Downs, the owner. Oscar introduced himself as the owner of Dalek Shipping Company and presented his letter of introduction. Daryl read the letter and said,” Well, Oscar, I see you come recommended. What can I do for you?”

  “Well, I need some ships built and Baron Whitley recommended you as the best shipbuilder in all of Targa,” Oscar began.

  “Yes, Oscar, the baron is correct,” stated Daryl. “What type of ship do you require? I have plans here for every type of ship.”

  “Daryl,” Oscar said, “I have my own plans with me. Not plans really, I don’t mean actual diagrams, but I have specific requirements. I also have a problem. Competitive forces require me to demand that any shipbuilder to see these documents execute a statement promising not to use these specifications for a ship built for anyone but Dalek Shipping Company for a period of five years. Can you agree to that?”

  “This is highly irregular,” retorted Daryl. “We are not only the best shipbuilder in Targa, we are also the best ship designer in Targa. I really don’t think that we would be stealing a design for a boat from a boy who runs a wagon company.”

  Oscar flinched at Daryl’s use of the word boy. Oscar had earned respect from his clients and it irked him every time he had to start dealing with someone new, especially if that person had an attitude problem. “Well, Daryl,” Oscar shot back, “If you had no interest in stealing a little boy’s design, you would have no problem signing the document. I am sorry to have taken up your time, but I can see that you are a very busy man. I will try somewhere else to get my thirty ships built.”

  Daryl realized that he had been demeaning to this prospective customer and the mention of thirty ships shocked him. “Wait,” Daryl offered, “I am sorry for my remarks. I really did not mean to say boy. It is, well, you have to admit that it is very unusual for someone your age to be in the position that you are. Your letter of introduction from Baron Whitley is sufficient to earn my respect and I apologize for my inadvertent slip of the tongue. I will admit that you have me intrigued. Thirty ships is a very large production run and would take years to complete. Let me have the document to sign. You do not represent a foreign government, do you?”

  Oscar handed him the document and watched him sign it. “No,” answered Oscar, “only a shipping company. Here are the requirements. You can see that I have specified the length and draw as well as the beam. The deck hatches are also unique. I have included a sketch of the location of the masts but I am not sure if that is feasible. I will be depending on your skill to determine that. What I am looking for Daryl is a fast, shallow draft ship that can carry a decent amount of cargo. The deck hatches and mast placement are designed to allow for quick and easy loading and unloading. The length and beam, I tried to calculate to balance the need for sharp maneuvering against cargo load. The shallow
draft is obvious. I plan to run these ships in areas that require it.”

  Daryl spent several minutes studying the drawings. At times he scribbled notes on a pad. Finally Daryl said, “It can be done. We have to move this mast a little bit for stability but I know what you’re looking for and the change won’t bother you. I want to defer my final answer until I’ve had some others look at this but I’m pretty sure we can do it. It will be expensive. You’re looking at over three million crowns. There is, of course, a very large problem. I could take this contract and start producing these ships but you would soon find out that they are not worthy of rounding the Horn. Yes, I figured out where you are going with these shallow draft boats. You would probably only end up with ten to fifteen ships when you reach Bordon.”

  “I have a solution for that,” Oscar quickly answered. “I don’t plan on going round the Horn. I want you to build them on the west coast.”

  “The west coast,” Daryl laughed, “You’re crazy. There is absolutely no water there, no shipbuilding facilities, no shipbuilders. No! Certainly not. I’ve been to Bordon, in a boat. Sorry, Oscar, I don’t mean to laugh at you, but look at what your asking.”

  “Daryl,” Oscar sighed, “I am not talking about Bordon. Yes, you were informed correctly, I am from Bordon and my business is in Bordon, but I am not talking about building ships in Bordon. I am talking about building ships in Dalek. I know you have not heard of Dalek, because only Baron Whitley and myself know about it. Now you do. The baron and I are building a new city on the coast of the Targa Sea. It will quickly become the largest city in west Targa. My business will be run out of Dalek. These thirty ships will berth in Dalek. For five years, you will be building ships for the Dalek Shipping Company. By that time, every port on the Targa Sea is going to want some of these ships. Daryl, I’m giving you the chance to double the size of your company.”

  “I don’t doubt your sincerity, Oscar,” Daryl stated. “But I’m not sure you understand the commitment that you are asking. The cost of setting a whole new shop in Dalek is overwhelming. There is the cost of the land, the cost of the building, the docks, and the equipment. It’s madness.”

  Oscar smirked. Most of the costs that Daryl was referring to didn’t really exist. Oscar owned the land; he could give it away to get his ships built. The buildings and docks were a small incremental cost. He was already hiring permanent lumbermen and permanent carpenters. Oscar would be glad to have more work for them. Building materials were already abundant on the property.

  “Daryl,” he offered, “I know the costs are high but the profit potential is enormous.” Daryl was thinking. That was good sign to Oscar. After a few moments Oscar continued, “I’ll make you a deal. Let’s go in partners. All that you have to supply is the expertise and craftsmen. I will supply the land, buildings, and docks. I will even build free homes for your workers, so that you will have no problems getting workers to move to Dalek. We can even call it the Dalek Shipbuilding Company, so if it fails there will be no reflection on your current business. This way your risk is almost nothing, but your reward will make you a very rich man.”

  Daryl thought about it. His only real risk was in losing skilled personnel. If it failed he could get them back. If it didn’t fail, he could probably entice workers over from his competition. He did, after all, have the finest reputation in Targa for shipbuilding and most of his competitors’ workers would jump at the chance to work for him. “Okay,” said Daryl, “You have yourself a partner.”

  “Great,” declared Oscar, “We shall celebrate this evening at the finest restaurant in Targa. Now, it is going to take me several months to get ready for the workers. I would like you to get the design properly laid out and start production on three prototypes. That way, the workers will be familiar with the ship when we start to produce them in Dalek.” Daryl started to protest, but Oscar merely continued. “And don’t worry about the Horn of Lanoir. I’ve arranged to take the ships up the Boulder River to Klandon, across to the Cleb River and down to Dalek.”

  “But you cannot just drag a boat across the land and expect it to float when you get to the Cleb,” sighed Daryl.

  “Of course not,” laughed Oscar. “I’ve already started building special wagons to transport them between the rivers.”

  Daryl stared at the boy sitting across from him. “You had this planned all along, didn’t you?” Daryl asked.

  “Certainly,” laughed Oscar. “Come on, let’s get started on that dinner.”

  Daryl joined in laughing and they went to toast their new partnership. Oscar was pleased. Things were actually proceeding better than he had planned. He knew he had knowledgeable allies in Baron Whitley and Daryl Downs. He could use their advice on the many things that he did not yet understand. One thing Oscar did understand, and that was that he was going to understand everything before he was done.

  Chapter 8

  Progress

  Alex raised his shield as the sword came crashing down, arcing towards his head. He deflected the blow with his shield and allowed its downward force to aid him in his roll towards his opponent’s feet. He rolled his body knocking the other man to the ground. His opponent was confused but Alex had planned his move well and timing was everything when your life could be measured in seconds. Alex was instantly on his feet, holding the point of his sword against the other man’s throat. “Enough,” cried Eddie, “I can never predict what crazy stunt you will try next. Why can’t you just fight like everyone else?”

  Alex extended his hand and helped Eddie off the ground. “I don’t know,” replied Alex. “I guess I just don’t see the sense of standing there trading blows. If someone is trying to kill you, you ought to do whatever you can to survive. Most times I think the best way to win is to do something your opponent doesn’t expect. Anyway, I won again today so you have to make dinner.”

  “I always have to make dinner,” Eddie complained.

  “Not true,” retorted Alex, “Last week I had to once. Remember the roast duck with chestnuts?”

  “Yeah,” sighed Eddie, “I remember. You tripped was all. Come on, I’ll race you back to the cabin.”

  Alex had grown quite fond of Eddie and the boys shared a cabin. Eddie was actually pretty good with a sword, Alex realized. He just never seemed to catch Alex’s trick of the day. Alex stopped at the little knoll where his grandfather was buried. He did every day and Eddie won the race every day. Alex never really knew his grandfather but this simple grave had come to represent Alex’s mother and father to the boy. Alex looked down at the village named for his mother, Lavinda. It had grown to quite a village over the last several years. The first winter had been rough on the villagers but the villagers were tough. They had worked together and not only persevered but had actually grown.

  Men had been attracted by tales of a village with all women. Most of the men had come to offer help. Many had stayed. The men found that their help was welcome but the women had things under control. These men admired the women for what they had done. That admiration led to courtship and quite a few marriages. Other couples came as well. The first year stragglers came in all winter. Many of them had escaped Yaki attacks, also. The Yaki had attacked all over the Gordo Region not just Alex’s village. Those who survived were drawn like a magnet to Lavinda. The village had grown so much that it was approaching a town.

  Village customs had also been set that first year. The villagers had started the winter in one common building, now Lenor’s barn. Every day the villagers would go out and work on a cabin. When the cabin was completed a family would move in. The villagers would start on the next cabin. Eventually everyone had a cabin. Today when new villagers arrive the entire village helps build the cabin. They always keep one cabin available for guests to live in while their cabin is built. They also hold village meetings every full moon and Alex is still the village leader. He had tried to step down and let someone else take charge but the villagers would hear nothing of it.

  Alex and Eddie and sometimes th
e rest of the boys would practice with the swords that had been confiscated from the bandits on the road to Kalamaar. Archery practice was also commonplace. The exodus from the old village had impressed upon everyone the need to know how to defend oneself and the rest of the villagers. The village even had a defense plan. It was improbable that the Yaki would ever attack on this side of the Boulder Mountains but there were other dangers to prepare for. It’s not that the villagers lived in fear. They lived with confidence knowing they would survive again if terror came.

  Alex walked down to the cabin. He must have stayed at the grave longer than usual because Eddie was ready to serve dinner when he arrived. Lenor had a cow that had fallen into a ravine and died, so everyone in the village would be having beef tonight. The smell of the beef roasting caught Alex as he entered the cabin. Beef was a delicacy in the village. Lenor’s herd was just getting to the size where it would be permissible to slaughter one once in a while. The village had been living on hunted game and probably would for some time. Game was plentiful in the valley.

  Eddie prepared a beef and mushroom dish with a honey based sauce. Eddie was a natural cook and Alex savored each bite. The sound of horses outside caught the boys’ attention. Alex raced out and saw three men riding into the village with at least a dozen additional horses. Eddie came running out and handed Alex his bow and quivers. “Are you boys still carrying those funny little quivers?” the lead rider shouted.

  It took Alex a moment to recognize his old friend. Larc had really grown. He was a rather large and imposing figure, his biceps pressing against his shirt as his arms moved. “Larc, you old dog,” greeted Alex. “Decided to come home, did you?”

  Larc dismounted and introduced his companions. “Actually, I am making a delivery,” answered Larc. “A dozen horses for the brave men and women of Lavinda, compliments of Oscar Dalek.”

  “Oscar! How is he? And your mother and Reese?” questioned Alex. “Eddie, see if you can round up some table and chairs. We need to invite our guests to dinner and I’m sure everyone will want to hear what they have to say.”