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Post by Evangeline on Nov 25, 2008 17:59:20 GMT -5
"Well, with the amounts now coming in, we had to have some kind of system in place for tracking what and how much came in from who, so this is for everybody." Margo answered back, smiling. "And we're also now giving out receipts for the seller's own records."
"Mark mentioned that some of the relic hunters were salvaging medical equipment." Rachel said. "Could be repairable. I understand your sentiment though."
Outside the port, a rusty old tramp steamer had just passed the boarding party's inspection and was being guided in by the harbor pilot. Several smaller vessels trailed the "mother ship".
Casey and Urqhart looked them over inquisitively as they entered. There were men and women on board, whole families by the look of it. They were generally short, chunky and tan of skin, with straight black hair and almond eyes. Many of them had knives on their belts and sometimes pistols. They didn't look like they would give the time of day to pirates.
"That would help." Zoe nodded to Stefan before taking note of the new arrivals. She blinked and raised her brows as the language they were speaking filtered back to her. "Chrysler... that's Inuit."
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Post by elizar on Nov 25, 2008 19:31:24 GMT -5
"I thought relic hunters were essentially Benjamin Gates or Indiana Jones." Aron said. "Hunting for gold or historic documents and artifacts."
"Alright." TeRaui said. He was not going to blow his chances to get rid of the refuse and be paid for it.
Then his fifteen kilos turned out to be ten. "I guess I got to thank you." He said. "I guess my old scale is broken down. No one has complained before."
Babel tapped onto Margo's frame, a light indicator of that he was lying.
"What are they doing here?" Stefán asked. "Last time I remembered, they were still in the arctic. We occasionally order some shark from them for Þorrablót."
((For some reason, I have been picturing Babel resting on top of Margo for the duration of the haggling.))
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 25, 2008 20:13:54 GMT -5
Margo flicked a sideview to acknowledge Babel. She gave TeRaui an opportunity to resolve the situation gracefully. "I have a pretty good idea of how hard it is to get parts around here, especially for something precise like a scale. I can give you 10% over cost for these, how's that?"
"I don't think they'll pass up anything potentially saleable." Rachel said. "Especially if it's got reusable materials or could be fixable."
"Fishing and sealing might be better down here now." Even in her human form, Zoe retained some of her scenting abilty and smelled fish and seal pelts in at least some of the holds. "This clan might have decided to invest in a few seagoing vessels and hit the road." She identified the two smaller ships as former crab-fishing vessels. All were of pre-blowup vintage, and showed it.
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Post by elizar on Nov 26, 2008 9:03:47 GMT -5
"Even if it is broken down and not usable, we can probably figure out how to reverse engineer it." Aron said. "Medical and some assistance equipment is allowed in the Human Restoration Rights."
"Too bad a part of me wants some to stay in the arctic." Stefán said. "It's kind of part of our tradition, having shark meat in February." He saw something in Zoe, a slight subtle twitch. "So your family retreated to the Inuit counterparts?" He asked.
"That' fair." TeRaui said. Babel felt slightly confused that he was going to get away with ripping them off. While in words he sounded sincere and apologetic, she knew that he had been lying and knowingly ripping them off.
"If you got any recommendation for who can service my equipment, I would gladly take it." He said. He did not want to lose the new extra income, and his status on the market was shakier now than it had been a week ago. Asking them to accept kickbacks would essentially kick him out of the market.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 26, 2008 13:32:49 GMT -5
"That's where we had our first refuge." Zoe answered. "Going further up north at first might seem counter-intuitive, but it's a vast country up there. We eventually had to move out to the Pacific, but not before picking up the language to keep ourselves to ourselves. We even have Inuit middle names."
She noted Stefan's consternation. "On the other hand, we might be able to find out what, if any communities, still exist in North America."
Clyde looked down the docks, noting the new arrivals. "Speaking of relic hunters..."
Margo gave Babel an I'LL-EXPLAIN LATER glance and gave the farmer a document confirming the sale.
"There's this guy further in town who I know fixes watches, passed by his place a few times." Margo said. "Maybe he can work on your scale." She went on to give the street number. Now he doesn't have any excuses left, she thought, hoping that Babel might pick that up. He won't try to pull that trick next time.
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Post by elizar on Nov 26, 2008 13:50:23 GMT -5
"I've made few inquiries in that matter when it comes to Icelanders." Stefán said. "But Iceland never had any real connection with the West-Icelandic community, and very few fled where the disaster struck, the few that may have done it, fled to the West-Icelandic, they probably changed their names to fit there after it became legal to own Icers." One of the things Stefán did was to separate slaves from the free by naming them such. Icers and Icelanders. "But they may know more than I do."
"Looks more like a delegation." Aron said. "I would have thought relic hunters to be in small teams, instead of looking like migrants."
"Thank you." TeRaui said, glad to have gotten away with what he did. But now he got caught, he would have to be careful, but also aware of if they were going to cut him off for whatever reason they would deem okay.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 26, 2008 14:00:11 GMT -5
"I'd like to see what they've got." Zoe moved towards the main ship that was now mooring where Rachel had been a while back.
"I suppose they'd split up for that purpose." Clyde said, "But there is safety in numbers."
"You're welcome." Margo sighted another wagon coming up, and politely moved TeRaui on. "Who's next?"
"Westcliffe Produce." the driver called out. "Mostly overripe."
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Post by elizar on Nov 26, 2008 14:25:01 GMT -5
"Point me in the direction of Julian." Stefán said. "And I am staying at the Rialo, when you got a message for me."
"I think I am going to see what is going on." Aron said and patted Rachel. "I'll see you later."
Babel went back to write down numbers, how much was bought and in the meantime also wrote down what would be usable in what time window. Then the last came and went. All that was left was what was bought today.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 26, 2008 14:35:37 GMT -5
"I'll see if I can get him for you." Zoe lifted a radio off her belt and keyed in his code. "Julian, there's a gentleman who wants to see you. Yeah, he's for real. OK, thanks." She looked back to Stefan. "He'll be coming down from that frigate and you can meet him at the gangway." She took more information on her PDA. "Thanks. We'll get back to you."
"Later." Rachel settled as Aron headed off.
"Once we get the freezer in, we'll be able to keep more on site." Margo said as the last of it was trundled off to the kitchen. "It'll make buying in bulk easier and we won't have to worry about the stuff going bad before we use it."
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Post by elizar on Nov 26, 2008 14:44:56 GMT -5
Stefán had already given Zoe the last known location of Steinþór, so he headed towards the frigate, wondering what exactly Zoe meant by 'he's for real' comment. But it wasn't much to think about, now he just had to sell of his stamps for capital.
Aron walked towards where the ship was told to dock.
"Alright." Babel said. "Though we would need to post guards here or something."
"And why did we let him get away with this?" She asked.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 26, 2008 15:04:32 GMT -5
"There were lots of other ears around." Margo reminded Babel. "Having a public dispute might have led to problems with the other suppliers, because the malicious sort of gossip travels fast and we are still outsiders to most people. Better to give him an out this time, but still put him on notice that we're onto him."
Zoe turned as she saw Aron coming. "They're all Inuit, and a long way from home."
Bree was also checking out the scene as she heard a familiar language, from all her up-north postings. She knew enough of it herself to carry on a basic conversation.
Julian stepped down from Urqhart's deck to see this older gentleman standing there. "Stefan Markusson, I presume?"
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Post by elizar on Nov 26, 2008 15:48:16 GMT -5
"So, no haggling as it would make us lose more customers than we would like." Babel said.
"Any idea what they want?" Aron asked.
"Yes, hello." Stefán extended his hand. "Zoe told me you could help me sell some stamps in the carverse."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 26, 2008 16:09:11 GMT -5
"Negotiations, sometimes tough ones, are fine, and expected." Margo told Babel. "Giving the impression that you suspect everyone can be deadly. But the next time this gentleman shows up, chances are he won't try that crap again."
"They've got stuff to sell." Zoe said. "Seal pelts and brined fish, some whale oil too, limited quantities. I can smell it all from here. No more eco-types left to raise a stink about it, beggars can't be choosers these days."
"Zoe told me you had Iceland stamps?" Julian asked. "There are certainly some collectors and dealers who would go for that."
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Post by elizar on Nov 26, 2008 16:14:26 GMT -5
"I've kept them in pristine condition." Stefán said. "They are still sealed in the envelopes I got them, and I kept them in a dry cool place. They are still in Misturflói, but if you find an interested buyer, you can go pick it up there." He wondered slightly just how different Julian was from him. The difference wasn't really detectable on the surface, but he was still from a different world.
"You sure of that?" Babel asked, though she had seen no one even given another chance.
"More fish. I wonder if they got cod." Aron said.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 26, 2008 16:31:04 GMT -5
Julian had his hair cut to chin-level and was now completely clean-shaven (he had worn a goatee at times in the past), so he didn't stand out too much as "different", save for his accent. "They'll want to know more about exactly what's there, but a comparable collection from the UK colonies in the Atlantic brought $10,000 recently."
"Some situations you just have to play by ear." Margo said. "He certainly came across like the potentially garrulous, contentious type, but he will spread word of the new measures."
"Smells like it." Zoe nodded. "It would be a delicacy here."
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