Fragment Six: AE240
Curio squeezed with difficulty from his hiding place on the barge, bent down to accept their infant from his wife, and then took her hand - and hoisted her as easily as he had the infant.
The barge captain grinned. "We can be stronger than we look, us little guys." He passed Curio a clay bottle. "Beer. That's what we hardy pioneers drink here on the frontier, except on special occasions. Or maybe if we're real posh."
Curio took a long grateful swig. It tasted... golden.
"I think I'll like it," he said honestly, and passed it on to his wife.
"Taste of freedom, that is, friend" the barge captain replied.
"Can we stay on deck now? Is it safe?"
"Just as long as you're ready to get back below real fast if as I should tell you. You can't stay down there all the time - not in that little hole. No, if I was you I'd do what I'm going to."
"Which is?"
"Sit on the bow and the watch the trees and the fishes go by. Watch the boy lead the horses, and shout at Siegried back there if he don't steer right. Nothing sweeter on a summer day than dangling your feet over the water and watching others do the work."
"That sounds... wonderful," Curio replied.
The captain grinned.
"They keep you busy back at that factory?"
"Gods, yes. Especially with the shortage of skilled labour these days. And our -their - products are more and more in demand - because of the shortage of unskilled labour, I suppose. Just like the windmill and waterwheel makers - it's how the Plague left us, I suppose - richer in everything than we've ever been, except labour. No chance of becoming a freedman, either - not with the greedy bastards who manage that place."
"Not right, that is. Not like the old days. Not like the smarter folks now, either. Takes away the incentive for a man like you to do his best. Mind you, it's good for me and my brethren. This is one of our biggest earners now, getting folks like you out of places like that. And moving you to spots where you'll be more appreciated."
"Well, good for you."
"S'not like we do it for free. Fifth of your wages for five years, it'll cost you. A fair bit of money that is for a boat trip that'd cost you a couple of day's wages on a regular passenger barge. Even before you add the whack that your new employer has paid us." He laughed. "Mind you, if you don't pay we'll - " He made a stabbing gesture, automatically twisting even the imaginary blade to enlarge the wound.
"Cheap at the price," Curio said sincerely.
"Never truer words," agreed the captain. "Never truer. It's priceless freedom is. Plus the buggers what you're going to work for are offering to fair drown you in denarii. I'd consider going straight for that sort of money myself. 'Cept on lazy days like this. 'Nother beer?"
"Please."
"..There you go. Drink it while it's wet. Won't be like this for me next week, though."
"No?"
"No. Then I'm going the other way - out, not in. Picking up a load of Russians and bringing them back over the frontier, without getting the tax people too involved, if you know what I mean." He looked significantly at Curio. "I wouldn't normally talk about a thing like that, but they're for your new bosses - probably to work for you. You'll be involved in a lot of that sort of thing from now onwards."
"Good for me!"
The captain laughed. "It is, too. You get a chance to pick up some sweet bargains when we're over numbers. Nothing like a cheap housemaid to keep the wife happy, as long as she ain't too pretty. Or if she is, let her cut the girl's hair off for a wig and then keep her shaved - that usually makes a wife happy enough. Although I've known a quite few married men who didn't think being bald spoiled a girl's looks at all. Just as long as the wife doesn't get to know, hey?"
The barge captain/gangster took another swig.
"No, that's the Roman Way, alright," he said. "Promising fellow like you, still young - you get your freedom, get some slaves yourself, then a big house with a mosaic. That's what I'd do if I was a young - what d'yer call it, what you do again?"
"Steam engine design engineer."