Thousand Steps - 3

Epsilon stood at the lifeline of the boat's port outrigger, shaded by the blindsheets, and
tilted his head, back, back, back to take it all in. Vespuzia was suddenly there to clap the
Ritesman's shoulders and laugh in a cracked, dry voice that spoke volumes of their shar ed
privation.
"You did not know this place, this Verdune, is also called the Keep of Ten Thousand
Steps, did you?"
The War farer shook his head inside the cowling of his loosely fashioned sunr obes. "No,"
he croaked by way of reply. "And had I known, I most certainly would not have come." There
was more bitterness in his voice than he realized. “After all that long and hellish voyage, we ar e
come to this. I t is a sad disappointment."
Vespuzia, being Vespuzia, only laughed harder, until his raw larynx could not sustain the
effort. It failed in a dry rasp, which continued on for a disturbingly long time indeed. Epsilon was
just beginning wonder if his mate had finally cr acked in the sun, when the tr ader sucked a deep
breath and eased up a bit.
"Ah, you are a parched wit, my friend! And a master of understatement!" Gasping, the
captain fought to recover. "Well, do not feel alone, Holy Warfarer . We all must make that climb,
or perish here in the wastes."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Why? Because we are quit of potable water on the boat. Because we are all anxious to
be rid of this stifling heat, if only for a time. Because you have bar gained to tr ansport ten
thousand pounds of polished niter acr oss the sand sea, and the job is not finished until we have
hoisted it up to the har bor warehouses. In this case, yonder facade entrance will do nicely."
Epsilon quickly returned his gaze to the top of the steps, and was dismayed for his fr iends,
the courageous crew of
Lucky Lady
. "You mean to say you will tote the cargo up, sack by sack?"
Another fit of harsh laughter followed. "Hardly. No, we will instead drag up a tow line.
Once we are at the top, we will haul across a heavier line, then a heavier line still, until we have
one with enough strength to hold your sacks. Here on the boat, it will be fastened to the
mainmast pennant cap, you see. From there, we have but to hoist your sacks up to the haul yard,
and string them along, one after another. We will use brass rings for pullets, and thus we may
drag the entire load up in a single afternoon." The trader rasped dryly and grimaced.
"Tomorrow, of course, after we have gor ged ourselves on Verdune’s' sweet waters."
"Are you certain we will find water there?"
"Aye, it is a cursed place, but the waters that fill its shaded basins ar e known the world
around. Save in Empire, it seems."
"We are ignorant of many things in that oppressed land."
Vespuzia clucked his tongue and shook his head. Then he turned to find Becker and call
for the formation of a landing party with full arms and supplies for a two day stay. Though his
normally booming voice was much reduced since Oreset, the tall, haggard captain remained a
commanding figure.

to be continued...