* * *
Saku took Victor and Argon up to the sky courtyard and then down to Mariusz’s quarters.
“Let’s see if we can persuade him to the right course,” Saku said. He told them to wait at the door, and he knocked and went inside. After a few moments, he came back and waved them in. They crossed the room and Victor saw the person he knew as Hugo.
“This is my son Argon, and his son Victor, sire.”
Mariusz froze at the introductions, then got up from his sofa and walked over to them.
“You are the meddling barkeeper who I used to trust before I had to throw you into a dungeon last year,” he said, pointing at Argon’s chest. “And you are the bright spark I've seen grow from a stripling who I always thought was too clever to become a barkeeper,” he said, pointing at Victor. “And you’re all related!” he sat down again and waved them to some cushions. “So what do you want?”
“We would like to persuade you of the wisdom of not using the time tunnel to export Wozna to us, but to use land and sea routes to export in the same timeline,” said Victor.
“And what of the time tunnel?”
“Well, it’s a bit dangerous, isn’t it?” said Saku. “We could do without the drain on our resources, and we always worried about it being unstable. If we only make enough Diet Wozna for Hattanites, then we shouldn’t produce that much of a problem and the tunnel should close of its own accord. We could live within our means.”
Mariusz sighed.
“I have been thinking about that ever since I got back and scared George off. I realised that time does its own thing, and we can’t manipulate it. What’s done is already done and it would be very dangerous to try and change that.”
They all nodded in agreement. Mariusz seemed to be in a very thoughtful, accepting mood.
“I’ve been looking at the records around the year 2009, which I think is the year you come from, isn’t that right Victor?”
Victor nodded.
“It seems that we had a formal trade visit a little earlier, from some people from a brewery in the East suggesting a mutual trade route; they imported Wozna for us, and we imported their new ale for them. We couldn’t agree terms because the shipping arrangements were too costly and didn’t have the right cooling processes. I guess the situation is the same now as then.”
“Not necessarily, Hugo, I mean, sorry, Lord Mariusz,” stammered Victor. “We could go back and persuade Vex Breweries of the value of developing the appropriate equipment to set up import-export routes for 2021.”
Mariusz smiled. “That we could,” he said, “but you will have to wait years for your next deliveries.”
Victor looked gloomy. How could he persuade Vex Breweries to go along with this? “I think you need to come back one last time to persuade them, Hugo, I mean sir.”
“Yeah, I think I do,” Mariusz said, getting to his feet. “And what are you going to do, Argon? You’ve made yourself uncommon useful since I let you out. You’d be welcome to stay.”
“I’m honoured at your invitation, sire,” Argon said, “but I have an Inn to run, and it sounds like my boy has other paths to tread than that of a simple barkeeper.”
“And you, Saku?” Mariusz asked.
“Oh yes, Saku, please come back with us, we could be a real family!” said Victor, practically bouncing up and down.
Saku smiled sadly. “I belong to this time, Victor, it would be wrong of me to return. I have already lived in 2009.” He sighed and looked at Argon. “I am sorry I missed your growing up, your life, and I always missed you and your mother terribly. But the decision was made long ago, and it was made with the best intentions, whatever the outcome. I must not go back now. I am so glad to know you are well and happy though.”
“How are you at running, you two? It would be good to be back at your inn by early evening, which I could do if we left now, but I don’t know that you could keep up,” Mariusz said.
“I have brought Dad’s velocipede to the time tunnel, as I felt I needed to be back even sooner than that,” said Victor. “What about you, Dad?”
“I could follow on at my own pace if Hugo’s is too fast,” Argon replied. “I’ll get to the inn, I know the way.”
So saying all four left Mariusz’s quarters and went up to the time tunnel. It was a lovely morning on a late spring day in Hattan. Saku looked at them sadly.
“I’m glad we will solve this problem of the Energy Drain,” he said, “but it would have been nice to have been able to visit every now and then.” He hugged Argon and Victor, pushing a piece of paper into Victor’s hand. “Give this to George,” he said. “Lord Mariusz is not the only one who has been looking in the records.”
Victor nodded, and the three of them stepped towards the time tunnel.