by Robin Roseau
“Oh, I see.”
“Or they might have investments. That is, they might own companies or own a home they rent to others.”
“I understand.”
“From those taxes, the companies that provide our basics are paid. Food, housing, doctors, basic clothing.”
“I see.”
“From those taxes, work like this is also paid for,” I explained. “Much of it would be automated, but if humans are involved, they get paid. But the town wouldn’t provide meals like this. Workers would see to their own meals.”
“It’s not that different,” she said. “There are still taxes, but you could see our service as a form of taxes. Instead of paying money, we pay with our time.”
“Sure, I can see that,” I replied.
“The farmers donate a portion of their food,” she added. “The restaurants accept that portion but donate the work into preparing it.”
“A good system.” I gestured to my plate. “And the food is extremely good and better than if we’d brought something cold with us.”
“Yes,” she agreed.
Every day, I found more reasons to love Talmon. Maybe this was silly, but I felt good, helping to make Talmon better, even if all I was doing was applying paint to wood. It felt like a real contribution, and I could see exactly where my efforts were going. I could walk past these ladders next year and remember that Kalorain and I had painted them.
It made me feel even more a part of the planet in a way I had never felt on Frantzland.
* * * *
We spent two days helping with the work crew on the quay, all of it spent painting. We painted the wood for the ladders, and then Santidano assigned us to painting the railings. That was a big job, and we barely put a dent into it, but I felt good for our progress.
Each evening we went home via the baths, then made dinner together and afterwards, spent hours making long, slow, passionate love.
And then it was time to return to my duties to the empire.
Return
“Welcome back, Maddalyn,” Blaine said as I settled at the embassy reception desk.
“Thank you, Blaine. Is there anything going on I should know about?”
“Nothing in particular,” he replied. “I’m sure the governor will be happy to know you’re back. How has the house been?”
“The house has been fabulous,” I said. “The things you and Aston did really make it comfortable.”
“Electricity and running water make all the difference,” he replied.
“They sure do,” I agreed.
At that, he headed deeper into the embassy, and I settled down then sent a message to Cecilia letting her know I had arrived. Thirty seconds later, my implant announced an inbound call from her.
“Good morning, Governor Grace.”
A moment later, Chaladine joined the conference, and I smiled. “Chaladine! Good morning.”
“Good morning, Maddalyn,” she said.
“Maddalyn, are you working for me full time now?”
“Yes, Governor Grace.”
“Good. The three of us will meet this way every morning about this time. Maddalyn, don’t worry about it today, but I want you to keep your tablet with you, and answer your calls that way. I want to see your lovely face.”
“I will, Governor.”
“Good. Maddalyn, you’re my eyes and ears in and around Sudden. I’ll be working with Chaladine most closely, but if she asks you to attend to something, I know I can count on you.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“Good. Maddalyn, take notes.”
“I already am.”
“Good. You will assemble the agenda for these meetings.” She had to translate that word for me. “I want you to build a sample agenda based on what we discuss today, and over time, build the structure of these meetings. In addition to everything else, there should be room for you to report on the goings on in and around Sudden. Chaladine will discuss anything going on with events I am attending. And there should be a point for surprises.”
“Surprises?”
“That means anything one of us knows but didn’t warn you in time to make the agenda.”
“I understand.”
“Good. You’re both going to be working on a variety of projects. I do not expect daily reports unless that makes sense, but I want weekly reports of every ongoing project, even if there is nothing new to report.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“Good. The first: events in and around Sudden. Bring me up to speed, and I want to know about your personal life as well. Take a few minutes.”
“Of course. Our house guests have returned home. Kalorain and I discussed children.”
“Ah,” Cecilia said. “Did you come to conclusions?”
“I explained our choices. We both want children, but she knows we need to wait.”
“Are either of you upset by that?”
“No. I think she was most pleased when I told her we could pick their gender, and that we could make a baby from our DNA.”
“Chaladine, did you understand that?”
“No,” she said.
“It is possible in an imperial medical center to create a new baby from two mothers.”
“No man?” She asked. “No samples from a man?”
“Correct.”
She put on a pensive expression, then nodded.
“Keep going, Maddalyn,” said Cecilia.
“For the last two days, Kalorain and I did our duty for Sudden.” Chaladine asked for details, so I told her about the quay. I finished my explanation, and it was the governor’s turn to put on a pensive expression.
“Chaladine,” she said. “Why hasn’t this come up before.”
“I don’t understand the question.”
“The embassy is staffed by people who have the benefit of living beside Sudden. To the best of my knowledge, other than installing power and water systems, no one is engaged in these duties.”
“I think one might argue that installing power systems is more important than painting ladders,” Chaladine said.
“Maddalyn, I want you to assemble a description of this system,” said Cecilia. “Ask Kalorain to help you, if you like, but I don’t want her to know the next part yet. Once you have a description, I want you to assemble a ‘Please consider getting involved’ note for all embassy staff. We’ll review it as soon as you’re ready. If I approve it, I want you to share it.”
“I will.” I talked a little more about that, and about what Valtine wanted.
“Oh, even better,” she said. “Yes. Do you need help?”
“No, Governor. This is easy.”
“Good. Was there more?”
“Did you want to know about the shows?”
“You know, while you’re working with Valtine, I think you should work with the entertainment venues in Sudden. It would be lovely if they could post their events. If that works, expand that program more widely, at least in those towns where the vendarti wish.”
“I’ll see to it.”
“Good. Chaladine, what is happening in Indartha?”
“It snowed last night,” Chaladine reported. “Sartine said the passes are now impossible to traverse. If it weren’t for the jumpers, we would be imprisoned here until late spring. Maddalyn, it is cold but very, very beautiful.”
“I have never seen snow,” I admitted.
“Cecilia, we should do something about that,” Chaladine said.
“I agree. Maddalyn, your home base will remain in Sudden, but I would like you and Kalorain to visit a few days every month or two. When you talk to her, phrase that as an invitation, not an obligation. If she is uninterested, we’ll make another plan.”
“I believe, Governor, she will be quite interested, especially if we begin to use her for other needs. She is quite interested in helping us.”
“Is she asking for a job?”
“She’s asking to help,” I clarified. “We didn’t discuss money. She wishes to divid
e her duty between Valtine and you.”
“All right. Begin using her as you feel appropriate. We’ll review in a few weeks what we’re paying her.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“And look into scheduling a trip up here. You’ll need to coordinate with the comings and goings of other people.”
“For when a jumper is available?”
“No. Well, not yet. No one flies in and out of Indartha until Colonel Blue signs her off. Which means the next time Darkside is in system, you need to get yourself on the schedule.”
“Got it.”
Chaladine talked for another minute about Indartha, and then she went on to discuss the governor’s schedule
“Good,” Cecilia said. “Maddalyn, rotate the topics on the agenda to smooth out the time we take each day.”
“I’ll see to it, Governor.”
“Good. And Maddalyn, you may call me Cecilia.”
“I am not sure my Frantzland background will allow that during work, Governor. Are you offended?”
“No. At least you’ve stopped with Frau Governor Grace.”
“That would involve speaking German, which is not allowed to me,” I said. The two of them snorted their amusement.
“Okay, what else?” Cecilia said. “Okay, this is why we need an agenda.”
I smiled. “Yes, Governor.”
“Some months ago, you asked about erecting some sort of hangar at the airfield. What happened with that?”
I relayed the conversation I had with Aston and then said, “And then someone introduced me to my wife.”
“And she couldn’t be more pleased about having done it, either,” Chaladine said. “I knew you’d like her.”
“Oh, Chaladine, I am so deeply in love. You could not have selected better for me.”
She smiled broadly.
“All right, Maddalyn,” Cecilia said. “I want that hangar, and I want it bigger than whatever you planned. It doesn’t need to hold a military ship, but assume we’re going to grow our fleet, and plan to be able to house up to two orbit-capable ships besides.”
“I will, Governor.”
“I also want to expand the garage at the embassy. Make a plan.”
“How large an expansion?”
“Double it.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“I presume your lovely carriage stays at home with you.”
“In the vendart’s stable,” I said.
“All right. I want the two of you to acquire four more carriages for the embassy, with mounts. They should be manageable by one person. Two should be similar to yours, Maddalyn, and two that can hold six passengers plus a driver. I want a recommendation as soon as you can get it, but this isn’t something that requires you dropping what you’re currently doing.”
“Did you want new vehicles or could we purchase used?”
She paused. “I don’t know. What I do know is that I do not want to outshine the vendart. Chaladine, did Baardorid order his custom built?”
“I believe my grandfather made the landau as a gift for my grandmother, the Vendart.”
She pursed her lips. “Chaladine, you’re a little too protective of me. I believe this is a case where Valtine’s judgment may outshine yours.”
Chaladine snorted. “Probably.”
“Then invite her wisdom,” Cecilia said. “I don’t need to be involved in the details.”
“We’ll handle it, Governor,” I declared.
“Good. Maddalyn, I want a report on the Talmonese educational system.” She paused. “Scratch that. I want a report on the educational system of Sudden, Beacon Hill, and Indartha. Take the lead, and you can talk to people here during your next visit.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“Your report should consider how we could insert teachers.”
“Of course, Governor.”
“That’s all I have today.”
“Is this a time to bring up things we want to ask you?” I asked.
“Consider this the ‘surprises’ period,” she said. “Yes, but if they’re long topics, spread them out.”
“Have you thought about bringing in ground vehicles for some of the vendarti?”
“Ah. Yes, I’ve thought about it. For now, they have no way to pay for them, and so any that arrive would be a gift.”
“I thought perhaps I could buy one for my mother-in-law,” I said. “If there’s a way to transport it.”
“There is,” she said. “But no. I do not want such overt displays of favoritism.”
“She’s my mother-in-law.”
“I understand that,” Cecilia displayed. “It would be a significant status symbol. We are using some select villages for the first locations to receive power and water systems, but I do not want to introduce private transportation until we can do so more widely than a select two or three towns.”
“I understand, Governor,” I said. “I have a related note.” She nodded, so I said, “Does that prohibition mean I can’t buy a jumper?”
She paused. “We couldn’t get one from Frantzland.”
“It should come from Tarriton,” I said. “Or if transportation worked, Centos Four. But Tarriton is otherwise a more obvious supplier.”
We waited for a minute, then finally she said, “You can’t afford a new one. If you get one, it needs to be able to fly at least from Sudden to Indartha safely. Or were you thinking suborbital?”
“No,” I replied. “I don’t know if I could afford one with six seats.”
She nodded. “Right now, there are three on planet. One is my personal property. One belongs to Mallory. And the last belongs to the embassy.”
“Which everyone else shares?”
“You remember that I asked about a hangar.”
“You’re buying more?”
“Yes, but I see where you’re going, and I am not opposed, Maddalyn. How were you going to buy one?”
“I was going to send a letter to Aunt Anna and ask if she could arrange it.”
“All right,” she said. “The shuttle is due in another six weeks. We’ll draft something for Anna White.”
“Thank you, Governor. Will I have to pay to ship it?”
“No, but you’ll pay the purchase price and for a supply of maintenance items. Anything else? No? All right. The two of you should talk about carriages for a few minutes. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Maddalyn.”
“Enjoy your day, Governor.”
She clicked off, and I was left with Chaladine. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re back to helping us, although I don’t begrudge you your time with Kalorain. Your Talmonese is so much better, Maddalyn.”
“As long as you speak carefully,” I said.
“All right. I don’t know when I’ll be down there next, so you’re going to need to be our feet. Here’s what I think we should do.”
I took notes.
* * * *
I clicked off with Chaladine. I formalized my notes and sent them off to the two of them. Then I crafted a note for Aston and Blaine, asking for a meeting, hopefully with both of them, if possible within the next two days. We agreed we could meet after lunch.
I found plenty to do in the meantime.
Four hours later, Aston said, “So. What can we do for you, Maddalyn?”
“Do you remember when I said I wanted to build a hangar? Well, the governor asked about it today. She said she wants it twice as big as whatever I was considering, and she wants to double the size of the garage here. I also think we need to plan for more horses.” I gave them an overview of everything.
“So she’s asking us to build it?”
“She is asking me to produce a plan and oversee it. I wanted to ask if you would help me build the garage. I want to do it myself, but I don’t want to make mistakes.”
“Your project, but with us for guidance?”
“Yes.”
The two exchanged a glance. “We can try it,” Blaine said hesitatingly. “Frankly, Maddalyn, unless you’re going to do a lot m
ore of this, it’s easier if we just do it. If you think you’ll be building more than the garage and a hangar, we can talk.”
“Most people start smaller,” Aston said. “A small garage isn’t bad, but you’re talking something significant. And a hangar of that size is a major project, even if the machines do most of the work.”
“It’s not that you can’t do it,” Blaine added. “And if everything goes well, you would be fine. But you won’t have the experience to realize when something is going wrong, and that’s not something that’s easily taught. It takes experience.”
“The machines don’t do everything,” I said.
“No, they don’t do everything. You have to watch them.”
“But you know,” Aston said, “The bulk of the time is planning.” He turned to Blaine. “Survey the site. Mark it out and make sure it makes sense. On another planet, the paperwork is half the job, it seems. Here we need to make sure we maintain the beauty of the place, and that we don’t do anything ecologically unsound. She could do all of that, then go over it with us. She might miss a few things, but I bet she gets most of it right.”
Blaine nodded and looked at me. “Do as much as you can and we’ll go over it with you.”
“Could we meet for an hour or so at the end of the week? That way I can report to the governor next week.”
“Sure,” he said. “We can do it virtually if we’re not both here.”
“I’ll get it on your schedules.”
* * * *
I sent a message to Valtine asking if she would be available for a conversation late this afternoon and pointed out it was on business for the governor. She confirmed. I then spent the remainder of the afternoon learning more about garages, airfield hangars, and the sizing and construction thereof.
It was late afternoon that I climbed aboard Ristassa and headed home. I reached the stable and saw to my horse, and then I headed for Valtine’s office.
She was available, and so I knocked at the doorframe. She looked up and smiled. When she spoke, it was in heavily-accented English.
But whom am I to comment about accents?
“Hello, Maddalyn. Did you enjoy returning to your duties for the governor?”
“I did,” I replied in Talmonese. Oh, this was going to be confusing. “May I come in?”