Princess Rescue Inc (55 page)

“If
you're talking about the chocolate pudding, maybe,” Ryans grinned as the two
Terran women goggled at them.

“It's
not quite perfected yet. Since you ladies have such sensitive pallets, I
thought you wouldn't mind playing guinea pigs... I mean test subjects...”

Charlie
mock glowered. “Nice recovery,” she said dryly.

“See?
Got the foot out just in time,” he said.

“Not
quite, but for that, I think you’re covered,” she growled. She waved reaching
for the dessert.

“Ah
ah, no dessert without dinner,” Sue said smacking her hands mockingly.

“What
am I, five?” Charlie replied laughing. Ryans opened his mouth and she glared it
shut with a clop.

“That's
right buster. Keep that foot
out
of your mouth. Good boy,” she looked
over to Deidra and smiled. “See? He can be trained.”

Deidra
and Sue snickered as he glowered at them. The waiter made a hasty retreat.

<==={}------------>

A
short time later Ryans looked in at the Queen as she shook her head at the desk
she was sitting behind. “Problem your majesty?” he asked.

She
held up a note. “It seems a storm has savaged our holdings on the coast and
wrecked the Anaheim harbor. It will have to be rebuilt. Lord Montague is after
me to give him a loan from the Privy Purse,” she said in disgust. As if that
was possible with a war on. She pursed her lips. “Unfortunately all our wealth
is going into the war effort.”

“And
you’re trying to find a diplomatic way of telling him no I take it?” Ryans
asked carefully.

“Yes.
He's holding back the river barges until he receives an answer under the guise
of waiting for the spring flooding to end,” she growled and then grimaced.

“Holding
the goods hostage?” Ryans asked amused.

“Yes,”
the Queen growled.

“What
is it? Textiles?” he asked. She shook her head. “Okay, something more
important?”

“The
metal you called tin for one, also iron and some others. Also a tithe from
other counties along the coast that ship through the port.”

“Ah,
now that's just wrong. Doesn't he know there's a war on?” Ryans asked shaking
his head. “What some people do with politics...” he sighed sitting.

“Tell
me about it,” the Queen snorted. “I dare say I'll have to come up with a sop to
ease him into compliance.”

“Yes,
that sucks,” Ryans grimaced. “Then again we can do a pewter drive. Pewter is
ninety percent tin. If we recycle pewter we can get the tin we need. At least
some of it,” he explained. The Queen nodded and wiggled a finger. An archivist
made a note.

“I've
spent another morning with the tax collectors, they're getting things sorted
out but it's hard to get things sorted as they
should
be. Right now
we're working on getting the new system set up and then we'll try to go over
the old records and sort them out. I've already had them hire four more accountants,”
Ryans explained.

“And
just where shall we get the money for this?” the Queen demanded.

He
smiled. “From the economy of course. I've sorted out some major accounting
errors with them. Both good and bad. The burgess was particularly nasty. I have
a feeling there's something more there. He wasn't happy about all the
accounting errors we exposed.”

“No
doubt,” the Queen replied dryly and then nodded. “Corruption or simple
ineptness?” she asked. She was fairly certain of the answer but was genuinely
curious as to what his answer would be.

He
frowned. “A little of both, but more of the former than the latter I think. He
got a little cute and didn't hide a few things. I'm having one of Perry's
people take a gander now; she did her own taxes and did it for her friends so
she's good.”

“Ah.
Wise,” the Queen murmured.

“Thank
you. We corrected a few oversights in both sets of books and we've freed up
about a tenth of the entire economy based on the corrections. I'd say that
easily pays for the additional help. Once we get the administration sorted
we'll get them to do an audit of the town in general. It should be interesting
to see where the rats scurry,” Ryans said with a not quite feral grin.

“Indeed,”
the Queen said smiling a similar smile. “I never did like vermin. Those that
feed on us sap our strength when we need it most.”

“Which
is now,” Ryans agreed nodding. He looked up to see Deidra and Zara coming in.
“Good afternoon ladies, it's nice to see you,” he said politely rising from his
chair. The girls smiled slightly then sat. Deidra took the seat he had vacated.

“You
look well mother,” Deidra nodded to the Queen. She gave Ryans a look. He
nodded.

“I'll
just let you ladies catch up. I've got an appointment with Max to go over the
new hay bailer in less than an hour,” he said. He waved as he left.

<==={}------------>

“What
was that about?” the Queen asked, looking at Deidra.

“I
thought you were getting along better,” Zara said. She was a little hurt that
Lisa had coolly rebuffed her twice now. “I thought we were on good terms with
all of them,” she said pouting slightly.

“It
seems our... probing has met resistance,” the Queen sighed. “I gather the
gaijin ladies refuse to talk anymore?” she asked.

“Only
about their work or a movie or their history. Not about men or Ryans,” Deidra
replied, smoothing her silk dress.

“Ah.
And I take it the one named Wanda hasn't lent you more clothing?” the Queen
asked, looking at the dress. “I believe I gave you that one. Though the cut is
different,” she observed.

“I
had it redone,” Deidra said, wiggling slightly. “And yes, but to be fair they
each only brought a few outfits with them. She could only spare two sets for me
to wear and I've worn them several times.”

“Ah,”
the Queen nodded. “And not gotten his attention with either,” she said.

“No.”

“Oh
you might have but he's firmly set on his path. Focused on the war effort.”

“I
think we should back off for now. Remain polite but do not push it further.”

“And
the gossip mother?” Deidra asked. “And the Duke?” she asked.

“Gossips
talk of everything and anything and I for one do not intend to try to steer it.
The more you try the more trouble you cause for yourself. No, let that lay. As
for your uncle, your father is recovering slowly and may yet regain his full
strength. Your uncle is focused on the war effort as well so we will let it
be.”

“And
if he...”

“We
are in our own castle surrounded by our most adherent supporters. It's as safe
as it can be,” the Queen said dismissively.

“And
if there's trouble Ryans will intervene,” Zara replied. Her sister and mother
looked at her. She hunched her shoulders. “He will. When it comes down to it
he's a hero. He'll help.”

“I
hope you're right. But I also hope his help won't be needed,” the Queen
murmured. “Now, on to other matters...”

<==={}------------>

“What's
this contraption about Max, you said it's a hay bailer?” Ryans asked looking at
the two story building.

“Yup,”
Max said thumbs in his belt. He waved to the men around them. They were hard at
work shoveling hay. “Let me give you the penny tour. See up there you get the
hay; it'd work better if we had built this on a slope so a wagon could pull up
to it and then unload. Right now we gotta use the conveyor or a beaver slide.”
He waved to indicate the conveyor belt. It was water powered, grinding and
squeaking along a crude belt up into the loft above.

“See
the guys up there pitch the hay into this here chute.” Max tapped the bamboo
walled box. “It packs the hay down into a tight bale. We use a pair of wooden
pallets to cut the tops and then use baling twine to bind it together. It took
a couple of days but we've got the kinks out.”

“Ah,”
Ryans nodded. “And this interests me because...?” he asked amused.

Max
scowled. “Cause their current system sucks. They just toss the hay up in the loft
like snow. Ain't no rhyme nor reason for it, waste of space and half the damn
stuff got all moldy and stuff. That means it can catch fire. Not good. This way
we can transport it easier, handle it easier, and make room for more.”

“Ah,”
Ryans nodded in understanding. “All right, good to know. Too bad it's so labor
intensive.” He shook his head.

“Give
me a break boss; we banged this out in two days!” Max growled. “The good news
is they're used to a lot of materials. Like this bamboo stuff.” Ryans took a look
at it and nodded then looked up to a beam.

“Is
that a laminate beam?” he asked, studying it.

Max
looked up then nodded. “Ayup. They figured it out oh... five or six
hundred
years ago. It seems they've got a sorta plywood going as well for shields and
such. Made with reeds, bamboo and some bush thing. Not bad since they can't
harvest any decent trees.”

“Oh.
I saw the plywood when I worked with the carpenters on the servant's quarters
actually. Okay... let me guess... predators?”

“Yeah.”

“Well,
we'll have to see about that. We need wood.”

Max
scowled again. “Just cause it ain't all up to...”

“I'm
not complaining Max honest,” Ryans replied as he held up his hands. “I take it
you pulled this from the archive? Or did you dig it up yourself?”

“Seen
it,” Max said nodding to the foreman. “I was a youngin when we went to an old
farm. One of those period reconstruction places. I remember it cause I was so
interested in black smithing at the time, the whole thought of doing this by
hand was insane though.” He chuckled ruefully at that.

“And
now?” Ryans asked amused.

“Now
it's the only game in town. Least till we get the water wheels and steam engines
sorted out and some modern electricity and factories,” Max said with a shrug.
“We meaning
me
of course.”

“Well,
I'll help too you know,” Scooter said from a nearby stool.

“So
will I if I can Max, you know that,” Ryans said waving.

“Hell
boss, I didn't mean anything by it,” Max said shaking his head. “Just spouting
off that's all.” He rubbed the back of his head and then played with his
ballcap. He was tired, strung out from going from one project to the next.

“Okay,
well, why don't we go over the new plans for the grain mill while I'm here? I
checked, the town was rebuilding one on the river. Seems it burnt down about
last year when some idiot kicked over a lantern. Now I was thinking about the
water wheel... can we do both over and under? Or a series of water wheels
maybe?”

<==={}------------>

“Just
how many cabinet ministers do you have your majesty?” Ryans asked looking at
the court around them. They were outside in the courtyard, having a tea break.
People were talking in small groups since the meeting hadn't been called to
order yet.

The
Queen grimaced. “I believe sixty. Quiet possibly more, for I was not present
when a few members were elevated,” she said shaking her head. “And even I think
that number is a bit unruly.” She looked thoughtful. “Though some may have
passed in the depths of winter and we have yet to hear from them.”

Ryans
snorted. “Yeah, I'd say that. I would suggest you evaluate what needs to be a
cabinet position and start restructuring your government. Trim down the waste
by closing some jobs when people retire or pass away and set up an executive
cabinet for the people you most need to talk to if an immediate crisis
happens,” he suggested. She blinked at him and then nodded looking thoughtful.

“In
truth the Dukes fill that role. Duke Pryor, Duke Troy, Duke Isamu, Duke Emroy,
and Duke Rojer,” her tone slightly cooled as she mentioned her in-law.

“Five?
I thought there were six?” Ryans asked.

The
Queen smiled slightly. “My husband is the sixth Duke as well as King,” she
murmured.

“Ah,”
he nodded. His second title probably gave him an additional title as well as
additional lands and income. “Do you have a minister managing the gaijin?” he
asked amused. The Queen pointed out the minister of immigration to Ryans. He
went over and met the old man and shook hands. The man blinked and squinted, he
noted a milky film over his eyes, most likely cataracts.

“You're
a gaijin?” the old man asked suspiciously. Ryans nodded.

“First
we've had in centuries,” the man said in a sniff. “All in one go? You're the
one causing all the trouble?”

“No,
that would be the Duluth,” Ryans replied with a slight look to the fellow's
companion. Both of the ministers were dressed in blue robes. “And actually,
we're not the first in a while, Ensign Buckfield landed here some time ago.” He
pointed out the ensign was here and the man explained some of the laws about
new entries.

Another
minister snorted about the ensign. “Like he could really fly,” he scoffed.