Free F Paul Wilson - LaNague 02 by Wheels Within Wheels (v5.0)

“Good.
Looking for breakfast?”
                “Had some
already out in the field. But I’ll take some coffee if you’ve got it.”
                Jeffers
smiled as he poured two cups at the counter. “Ever had Jebinose coffee before?”
                Junior
shook his head.
                “Then this
one’s on the house. Our coffee takes some getting used to and you may not want
to finish your first cup.”
                Junior
hesitantly nodded his thanks. Try as he might, he could not work up a personal
dislike for Jeffers. He sampled the coffee; it had a strong, bitter-sour taste
to it and Jeffers’ grin broadened as he watched Junior add a few spoonfuls of
sugar. He tried it again and it was a little more palatable now.
                After a
pause, Junior asked, “Just what is it you have against the Vanek, Bill? It’s
none of my business, I know, but I’m interested.”
                “You’re
right about it being none of your business,” Jeffers said curtly, then
shrugged. “But I’ll tell you this much: I don’t have anything in particular
against them. It’s just that they strike me as weird. They get on my nerves
with all that talk about wheels and such and, frankly, I just don’t like to
have them sitting around.”
                Junior
nodded absently. Jeffers was rationalizing and they both knew it.
                “What time
do they usually start showing up here?” he asked.
                “They’re
usually my first customers of the day.”
                “But not
today, eh?” Junior remarked confidently.
                “You didn’t
beat them in, if that’s what you mean. Two of them left just a few minutes
before you arrived… bought some food.” He stared at Junior curiously. “Something
wrong?”
                “No,
nothing,” was the hasty reply. Junior had visibly started at the news but
recovered quickly. However, he doubted his ability to hide his surprise and
dismay much longer. “Thanks for the coffee, Bill. I’ll probably stop back in
later on.”
                “Anytime,”
he heard Jeffers say as he walked out to the street.
                Danzer was
fully awake by now. All the shops – they totaled four counting the general
store – were open and some of the farmers were driving up and down the street
in heavy-duty lorries, some loaded with hay or feed, others with livestock. A
pair of locals gave him a friendly nod as they brushed by him on their way into
Jeffers’ store.
                Junior’s
gaze roamed the street for the robe of a Vanek. He spotted one hurrying up the
boardwalk toward him so he advanced to meet him. It was Rmrl.
                “At last we
have found you, bendreth,” the young Vanek said breathlessly. He scrutinized
Junior’s face closely. “I see you already know what we have come to tell you.”
                Junior gave
a confirming nod. “I know. But what I want to know is why? Did the elders go
back on their word?”
                “No. They
kept their word. They told the villagers not to buy from Jeffers but they
complained far into the night. The elders held firm for a while but finally had
to yield to the pressure.”
                “I don’t
understand.”
                “Our
people… they want to buy from Jeffers. They do not want to deprive him of their
business.”
                “Why not?”
                “Wheels
within wheels, bendreth.”
                “Doesn’t
what happens to them in that store matter to them?” Junior was totally baffled.
                Rmrl
shrugged and Junior thought he noticed a trace of resentment in the gesture.
                “And you,
Rmrl? How do you feel about it all?”
                “Wheels
within wheels,” he