Richard Tuttle - Web of Deceit

The old men murmured as they leaned to see what was in the pouch that Copi had opened. Rejji noted that most of the old men frowned at the sight of so much gold, but a few smiled. Copi tied the pouch closed and tossed it back to Rejji.

“That is a great deal of gold for someone so young,” stated Copi. “Where have you come into it?”

“Our travels have taken us as far as Khadora,” answered Rejji. “Our time spent there was very enriching. I assure you that it is not ill gotten gains. My purpose in coming to Ghala is to build a dock and a warehouse to import food and tools. I have made arrangements with a clan in Khadora to send these supplies by ship.”

“Why would Khadorans trade with us?” asked Plesy. “We have nothing to offer them. Your gold will not last forever.”

“I think there are things that we can offer in exchange,” explained Rejji. “In Khadoratung there is a market larger than this village. They hunger for items from faraway places and are willing to pay a fair amount of gold for these things. Khadora is also a country overflowing with food and the price for it is very low.”

“What kind of things do these Khadorans want?” questioned Plesy. “We have precious little that anyone might want to buy.”

“Garments and hand carved items are two things I am sure of,” replied Rejji. “I plan to travel to other areas around here and find items that might be of interest to the Khadorans. Ghala will be the place where we store the items for sale and the food and tools that we bring in.”

“Food would certainly be a blessing,” nodded Plesy. “Other than fish and a few chickens, there is not much of a supply here.”

“Has anyone tried planting grain in the fields along the river?” queried Rejji.

“Many have tried,” frowned Copi, “but the plants wither and die.”

“I think the seed stock may be old and feeble,” suggested Rejji. “With seeds from Khadora, those fields may blossom. It is certainly much better land than that of my village.”

“You come here seeking to change our way of life,” scowled Copi. “We are fine the way we are. We do not need the ruts of wagons in our streets and the constant flow of strangers coming and going. We are perfectly happy as we are.”

“Then I shall bother you no further,” nodded Rejji as he rose. “I do not seek to harm your way of life, but rather to enrich the lives of your families and others.”

“Copi, you senile old man, what are you talking about?” scowled Plesy. “Fine the way we are? You are crazy. Each season the catch of fish is smaller and farther out to sea. The chickens get fewer each year and are so scrawny that it is hard to tell that they are chickens. This young man is talking about trying to help. He may not succeed, but why are you in such a hurry to chase him away? Are you afraid if new people come to town that nobody will listen to you anymore? Bah. You haven’t said anything worth listening to in years. You sit back down, Rejji. I want to hear more about what you plan to do.”

Rejji smiled at Plesy and sat down. “I want to build a dock and a warehouse,” explained Rejji. “I am willing to pay well for anyone who wants to help me.”

“Your gold does not do much for us,” scowled Copi. “We are lucky to see a merchant once a year.”

“I am willing to pay in things other than gold,” offered Rejji. “For each man who helps me build the dock and warehouse, I will give a years supply of watula, a wasooki, and two clova.”

“How many men do you need?” questioned Plesy.

“As many as want to work,” stated Rejji. “I need builders, lumbermen, and haulers.”

“What of families that have no able bodied men?” asked Copi with a renewed interest.

“There are other chores that can be done by those families,” smiled Rejji. “Planning meals for the workers or driving carts. Every family that wants to join in this effort will be welcomed and taken care of. There is no need for any family in this village to suffer. I will even give some food to those who do not wish to join in.”

“What could an old man like me do?” inquired Copi. “My family is all gone.”

“I am sure that you have a wealth of information inside you,” smiled Rejji. “I will also need advice about the local waters, where to build the dock and things like that. I also need a person who can organize the work crews. Somebody who knows the workers by name and skill. I am sure you have much to offer to this project.”

Plesy grinned as Copi said, “Well, maybe there are benefits to trying something new. I still think it is doomed to failure, but it will give us stories to tell the children.”

“There is a hut near the water,” declared Plesy. “It was my brother’s and it is empty now. You and your friends may stay there if you wish.”

Rejji saw the pain in Plesy’s eyes as the old man remembered memories he would rather have forgotten. Rejji rose and approached the old man. He handed his gold pouch to Plesy.

“Take a fair price for the hut,” offered Rejji. “I am most grateful for it.”

The old man tried handing back the pouch to Rejji unopened and Rejji ignored him as walked several paces away.

“In the village I come from,” Rejji said to the assembled old men, “the village would meet to discuss such a decision. I will gather my friends so that you may discuss this in privacy. If you wish me to speak to the rest of the village, you have only to ask, otherwise I shall leave you alone.”

The old men murmured amongst themselves and Rejji was pleased to see smiles and nods. He strode away and found Bakhai talking to a fisherman who was repairing a boat. Rejji’s thoughts flashed back to the project he had been so excited about when the Jiadin had wiped out his village. It all seemed so long ago to him, like a far distant memory.

“Rejji,” called Bakhai. “This is Riktor. I was talking to him about the docks and he thinks it is a great idea.”

“I do indeed,” greeted Riktor. “It is not wise to keep our boats in the river we drink from. Hauling them out stirs up the bottom of the river too much, but the surf along the sea is bruising on the boats. A dock would keep them out beyond the surf.”

“Well I have spoken to the old men of the village,” informed Rejji. “I think they will be discussing the idea with everyone soon.”

“Ah, so you have met Plesy then?” asked Riktor.

“Yes, I have,” smiled Rejji. “He reminds me of my grandfather some. Very nice man.”

“He is my father,” beamed Riktor. “If he likes your idea then the village will like it. Ah, here he comes now.”

Rejji turned as Plesy approached. Plesy handed the gold pouch to Rejji as Riktor watched with interest.

“Did you take a fair value?” asked Rejji as he accepted the pouch back.

“No,” chuckled Plesy. “I overcharged you, but it is the only empty hut in the village.”

“Then you have taken a fair value,” laughed Rejji. “I have just met your son, Riktor.”

“He is a good son,” beamed Plesy. “I suspect your father felt that way for you too. That was an admirable thing you did for Copi, and clever too. An old man can easily become a grouch when he feels useless in his old age. You have given him a new spring to his walk today.”

“I truly believe that this will benefit everyone,” responded Rejji. “It will greatly please me if it does.”

“Well, I have come to collect my son for the village meeting,” nodded Plesy. “Take your friends to see your new hut. It may need some cleaning up. It has been empty for three years now.”

“Thank you,” responded Rejji.

As a stream of villagers was converging on the center of the village, Mistake saw the two brothers standing by the boat and hurried over. They shared stories for a few moments so that each was aware of how the villagers would react and then Rejji led them to their new hut. The door creaked when they opened it and cobwebs were everywhere. The hut was small, but it would accommodate the three of them well enough.