Chapter 13
Chain woke convinced that Shovel was part of the skimming scam: why warn her about 'grubbing in the mud' if not? He had foolishly sought to intimidate a Contegon who had faced Disciples and lived. His arrogance scared her more than his threat: it implied disregard for her Station, comfort in the crime, and confidence that it would be difficult to uncover the truth.
This unshakeable idea was a thought lying across her mind like a cat sleeping on her chest. Sol had left it for her to find on waking, a small approval of her actions. She must accelerate her investigations.
“Are you okay?” Chain asked Bracket when she got down to breakfast, concerned at the drained expression on her friend's face.
“You don't look happy, Auntie Bracket,” Carmen said, concerned.
Bracket shook her head and smiled at Carmen. “I'm fine. I'm just not feeling too well.”
“Oh no! She's ill!” Carmen said. She stood and pushed her chair away. “I am sorry, Auntie Bracket, but I don't want to catch your ill… your illness.”
This time, Bracket's smile was genuine. “No, that's fine. It's a good idea.”
“You know,” Chain said, leaning down to her daughter's level, “it's not when someone feels ill that you're most likely to catch it, but days before.”
“That's not true... is it?” Carmen said. When she looked at Chain, saw she wasn't joking, her small brow furrowed. “No, Mum, are you saying that's true?”
“It is. Disease passes between us before we know it's there. But don’t worry, little one,” Chain said, ruffling her hair. “Your body was made to fight illnesses before you're even aware you caught them.”
“Your body's even stronger if you eat all your vegetables,” Bracket piped in.
Carmen wrinkled her nose. “Sol asks us to do not-nice things.”
“That he does,” Chain said, eyeing Bracket with concern.
When breakfast was done, Chain went to the Family Mine through an indirect route, weaving it into her patrols. The walk took hours, but she wanted to approach the Mine from an odd angle, catch the operation unaware.
As she went, she turned over the puzzle Shovel represented. He was involved in so many elements of Buckle, always pitching in when a new house was built, lifting heavy loads for Farmers when the orchards hit season, plus whatever he did for Par. The Stationless man was certainly popular for his helpfulness, but that could be an act to ingratiate himself to the Stationed.
Chain shook her head. She was imagining Shovel as Lun himself, a young dark brother. Perhaps that was because he'd shown a pressing, overt interest in her, sexually, which reminded her of... Carmen's father. Whatever it was, she was making too much of his role in whatever was happening.
But she wasn't overreacting to Shovel's warning. Either he knew of the Heresy in the Mine but was afraid to say more, or he was part of it and didn't want Chain involved. There were no other rational options. Chain had half a mind to arrest him, make him explain himself, but she needed evidence. Proof. Part of her rankled that her faith and judgement weren't enough, but that voice had been tempered long ago.
First, she had to observe the Mine. The last visit might have been a performance for her sake, so she wanted to see it work when unguarded. She'd ask Bracket to observe the Mine tonight, in case the conspirators worked under Lunlight. It would be a lot to ask, but Chain had commitments to meet, and her missing them would be reported to those who skimmed.
It was a shame that the Miners hadn't noticed the skimming themselves, but it was not for those lower in a Station to question their superiors. The official documentation happened levels above them, such that Side had expected Muster to sing their praises.
Side. Chain would have to find him later, discuss whatever she observed. He was the only person other than Bracket and Grass that she could trust with all of this.
The hike slowly brought her to the eastern side of the Family Mine. Chain was positioning herself up Sister, seeking a vantage point, when she saw Miners placed around the Mine's perimeter. Most stood idly, but the nearest seemed animated, excited: they turned to the Mine and...
They pointed at her. Chain had been spotted.
“Lookouts?” she asked herself. Par had placed lookouts to watch for Chain. What was happening?
Chain would hear his logic, as he was soon storming out of his office. He wasn't alone: Grain kept pace with the Merchant, her red robes swishing.
“Par, Grain,” Chain said when she could be heard. “Good to see you.”
They were standing just at the Mine's outer border, half a dozen Miners with them. Par was breathing rapidly. His face was bright red. Burning eyes fixed on her as he hissed, “Would you care to explain what you are doing, Contegon?”
Chain looked at her uncomfortable audience. “If we must converse, your Miners will leave.”
“Will they now?” Par growled.
“Yes. If you don't tell them to leave, I will.”
Par looked across at Grain, who nodded subtly. “Fuck off, all of you. Get back to work.”
The Miners looked disappointed they would miss the show of the three most powerful people in Buckle fighting. Chain watched them go, noting who Par trusted to watch for her: they were mostly administrative staff, though some were the lowest performers below ground.
“Why did you waste so much time coming out here?” Grain asked when they'd left.
“No, why did you waste Muster's resources to watch for me?” Chain fired back.
The Merchant's wrinkled fingers cracked as he made a fist. “What I do with my Merchants is not your business, Contegon,” he said, spitting out the last word.
“That's not strictly true,” Chain replied, looking from Par to Grain. “I must look after Buckle overall, and it's concerning to see so much manpower wasted.”
“It was important,” Grain said, her young face carefully blank, “to ensure that you would not succeed with overstepping your boundaries. Particularly after you ignored my warning and continued your investigation, asking about soil disposal which is clearly linked to the Mine’s output. And now we find you hiding to observe the Mine? You can't deny we were right when we caught you covered in blood.”
“Call me a fucking skimmer, will you, bitch?”
Grain held her hand up to halt Par. “That won't help anyone, Par.”
“Call me a bitch again,” Chain said, putting her hands to her axes. “Do it.”
“Enough,” Grain said. “You are looking for excuses and false evidence. The proper procedure was not followed here, Contegon, so I thought it only fair for Par to hear the accusations you were slinging.”
“Some idiot Miner thinks we're doing well, and you suddenly leap to the idea that I'm a skimmer? Is that how your stupid mind works?” Par demanded. “It's no wonder you were almost thrown out for Heresy. You're an embarrassment to your Station.”
Chain felt her blood thunder around her body. She was close to snapping, to hitting out, but Par was trying to goad her. If she attacked him, Muster would believe his subordinate over her. So she smiled at him.
“Something is wrong in the Mine, I know it,” Chain said. “You should be investigating this with me.”
“Again, sire, that is not correct procedure,” Grain cut. “The Stations agreed how these investigations would work long ago: an impartial party should be involved, one neither the accuser nor the accused. A Contegon with your... history should be aware of this. If you have testimony or evidence that something illegal is happening in the Family Mine, then talk to me. I will lead an impartial investigation, aided by the two of you, that will get to the root of the problem.”
“Whoever told you lies is probably just a bitter fool,” Par said.
“How can I trust you,” Chain asked slowly, “when you've already betrayed my confidence?” She didn't add that she had her own suspicions about the Cleric.
Grain stepped forward, put a hand on Chain's shoulder. “I did not betray your confidence: I enacted my duty to my Stat
ion, Buckle, and Sol. Your being caught shows I was right. Now, please, let me do my job and trust that Sol will aid me in seeing the right outcome through.”
Chain licked her teeth. She couldn't argue with the Cleric's logic, and she seemed earnest enough in her assertion. Maybe she saw jumping at shadows in thinking Grain was involved in the skimming.
“I know you're used to running things alone,” Grain continued. “That works on the Fronts, where you were trained to be, but this is a different situation altogether.”
Though she didn't like it, Chain knew she had been backed into a corner: all it would take was one unkindly-worded letter to Aureu for her to be in serious trouble with her own Station. Though she hated it, Grain was right. Her reputation didn't allow her any leeway.
“Fine. I'll tell you who informed me of this, and my evidence so far.” She looked across at Par. “But only you. I do not want Par to issue a reprisal.”
“That is reasonable,” Grain said with a nod. “Is it not, Par?”
Par looked down, grumbled something.
“Pardon?” Chain asked.
“I said, that is reasonable.”
With that, the Merchant stalked away. He slammed each foot as he went, like a child.
“Two people told me,” Chain said to Grain when she was sure Par was beyond their hearing range. “Tissue said last week that the Mine had hit Sol's Pockets over the last few months, but the reports say nothing of the sort. Miner Side confirmed that they've pulled record amounts of gems from these Pockets. On top of that, the recent silt disposal reports show that the ratio of Circles to silt has dropped during this period, linked to 'wastage'... something which hasn't been validated.”
Grain sighed. “Damn. I was hoping you'd had rubbish information.”
“You have little faith in me, Cleric,” Chain replied.
“Sorry, this just would have been easier if I could dispel your concerns without an investigation.”
Chain wasn't convinced or impressed by the answer, but said neither of these things.
Grain sighed again. “All right, leave the investigations with me. Go about your routines. I'll clear the water.”
“I expect regular reports,” Chain said. She looked around, considering her position and what, if anything, she’d achieved that morning. “Can I get a lift back into town with you?”
“I suppose I'm done out here now. Yes, I'll go back now, and you're free to join me.”
Chain and the Cleric returned to Buckle together. As they were driven back, Chain tried to judge her. She prayed the Cleric would uncover the truth, that she hadn’t misled Par’s underlings to allow him to skim. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sol, but this seemed like the kind of situation that Lun would put a lot of his spite into ensuring just got worse and worse...