Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 184 of 619

Ajax rode into port at midday with only the road dust to show for it. He had left the walls at dawn with an extra note folded in his belt. The cart was loaded and ready to roll, but he wanted one more thing before it left. He wanted a second reading on the new man. Tucker met him in the yard behind the brothel. The cart stood packed, oilcloth lashed tight, the horses already in traces. Chalam sat on the bench with his staff across his knees. Marco leaned against the rear wheel, arms folded. "You came yourself," Tucker said. "I want Marco on him again. Under your roof, awake, sober." Ajax pulled the folded note from his belt. "And I want a whetstone, a good one, and two more coils of tar rope. Add it to the load." Tucker took the note and looked at it. "Whetstone's easy. Rope I can pull from the shed." "Where is he?" "Upstairs. Sweeping the hall." Ajax went in through the side door. Chalam followed. Marco pushed off the wheel and came after them without being asked. Rell was at the top of the stairs with a broom in his hands. He stopped when he saw Ajax. He did not step back. "Down to the bar," Ajax said. "Sit. Have a cup." Rell set the broom against the wall and came down. Tucker poured him wine and slid it across. Rell took the cup in both hands and drank. Marco pulled a stool three paces off and sat where he could see the man's face. Ajax took the bench across from Rell. "Where were you born." "Two valleys south of Southern Oak." "Family." "Mother's dead. Brother's a drover. I haven't seen him in four years." "Ever wear iron on your neck." Rell's eyes lifted. "No." Ajax kept his questions coming, slow, plain, one at a time. He asked about towns, roads, coin, names. Rell answered short. He did not look at Marco once. After a while Ajax stood. "Finish your cup. Go back to your broom." Rell went up the stairs. The broom started again above them. Marco waited until the sound settled. "Clean." "You're sure." "He's tired. He's worried about the brother. He wants the wages and the room. No collar in him. No spiral. No name from the ledger sits under his tongue." Chalam set two fingers on the table. "I looked too. Nothing on him." Ajax nodded once. "Then he rolls with the cart." Tucker went to the shed for the rope. Chalam climbed back to the bench. Ajax stood in the yard until the cart pulled out at second light, Rell walking beside the near horse with a hand on the trace. One more man on the wall. One less thing to watch for on the road home.