137 The strange thing is, it is only those who
do not MAKE a donation that are attacked. Anyone that does never
has a problem!"
138 The Voice stared into the fire. "It
sounds like to me," he commented, "your City Speaker and Warlock are
Hoods!"
139 "I don't think there's many people that
would argue with you," the man told him. "But as The First
Speaker is constantly telling Great Bear in his letters, suspicions are
nothing. We must have proof; witnesses, those who will
testify! But no one will. They're all too scared.
140 So we do what we can...stop a few
shipments of Pon here, a few there, get the merchants to stop paying
protection and protect them ourselves.
141 It's not easy. If you're caught, you
go to the mines, or worse! Some die trying to escape! You
know, it's awfully hard to try to escape when your hands and feet are
bound, but that's what they say some people try to do."
142 The Voice stood up. "Tomorrow I'll
write The District Warlock and demand entry to the city. I doubt
he'll deny me."
143 "You won't have to," the man explained,
"Great Bear wrote two days ago. He knew what The City Speaker would do,
and wanted to be ready. The reply should be here in a couple of days.
144 But we won't wait for it...we can't!
We'll take you into the city tomorrow. Once you're in, that pig
won't dare touch you. Excuse me, I have to get back to my work."
145 A few hours later Sweet Blossom returned.
Her men greeted her cordially, and brought her some food. "Did you get
them?" one of the men asked.
146 "Right where we thought they'd be!"
Sweet Blossom answered. "When we left, the drivers were dead, and
the carts burning. But we barely got away. They had
fighting men hiding in the woods, waiting for us, but we're a little
bit too quick for them. You've been told what's happening?" she
asked The Voice.
147 "Yes," he told her, "I must get into the city immediately. When can we go?"
148 "Tomorrow morning," the woman yawned, "they will
be expecting ox carts. We'll roll right by them." She
looked around. "Where is that brother of mine?"
149 The young man came over. "I know,"
he said, "put The Voice's things in another ox cart, and take them in
in the morning. You'll follow behind."
150 "That's why he's called Knowing Fox," his
sister smiled. "He's always telling you what you're going
to say before you say it! Sometimes it will just about drive you
out of your mind! Now, if you'll excuse me," she
apologized, "I must get some sleep!"
151 The Voice stayed up awhile longer talking
with some more of the men. But their stories were all similar to
the one he had already heard. Finally, The Voice went to his
bedroll, and a good night's sleep.
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