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Homeward Bound - Part IV
Yahawara, Somewhere in the Imperial Heartlands
October 22, 1910 - NL 15

Spencer held to Gavin’s one good arm. His other hung in a white sling tucked close to his chest. Spencer’s black eye loomed over the rest of his face like a foreboding spectre. Neither man could have anticipated the trouble they’d landed themselves in at Cigallo. Well, Spencer might have been able to guess. Gavin retained his grin through it all. Even now, as the two received sideways stares and suspicious glances, he grinned. Spencer was far less pleased. Gavin’s stupidity had caused them to miss the boat that had taken them from Zimford to Cigallo. When all was said and done they were forced to use the last of Gavin’s money to secure passage to Yahawara, a city some distance south of Nhasa.

Spencer’s grip on Gavin’s arm tightened. “Relax,” Gavin said, his attempts to pull his arm away failing. “We’ve been through worse. A wee money problem won’t stop us from gettin’ home.”

“How? How do you remain so encouraged that we’ll get home at all at this point?” By now Spencer was trembling. His cheeks flushed red. “We have no money. You’re injured. We’re stuck in a city a thousand miles from home.”

“I have fait’ t’at Basrodec and the ot’er divine bein’s will grant passage.” Gavin gave up trying to get his arm back. His eyes fell to his hand. Spencer’s grip was slowly cutting off circulation. His silly grin grew an inch. Tipping his hat to a passerby he eyed the room. The morning rush was just starting, and there were perhaps four-hundred or more people crammed into the station trying to secure passage from one place to another. Signs above the ticket-masters read Nhasa, Danggye, and [i]Kharluut[i]. Crowds gathered at each, though to Gavin’s surprise the lines for Nhasa were much shorter than the others.

Suddenly Spencer released his grip on Gavin’s arm and stood. “Oi!” Gavin eyed his friend. “Where do you t’ink you’re goin’?” Spencer bit his lip, searching for anything, or anyone, who might offer some help.

“Stay here,” Spencer said as he began off. Peering back over his shoulder he was relieved to find Gavin still seated with his perpetual grin. “Excuse me,” he said to a well dressed pair near the line for Danggye. “My name is-”

“We don’t care,” the man snapped. The woman sneered, her hand instinctively moving to protect her purse. Spencer sat bewildered for a moment. He’d never been dismissed so brazenly before.

Moving on, Spencer attempted to speak to another pair, then another, each less willing to help than the last. Slumping his shoulders in defeat, he breathed a heavy sigh. How could he have forgotten so quickly? The closer one was to the capital the less hospitable the people were. Gritting his teeth against their damnable pride he began to make his way back to Gavin. The man’s voice was heard long before Spencer could catch glimpse of him. Twisting his face, Spencer quickened his pace. Gavin was speaking quickly, excitedly.

To Spencer’s dismay Gavin had not only stood up, but had moved too. Not far from where they’d been seated in dismal defeat, but enough to cause Spencer to search frantically for a moment or two before Gavin’s hearty laugh filled the foyer. A few passersby stopped to stare, but soon moved on. As Spencer approached he caught a glimpse of the man Gavin was speaking to. He was a younger fellow, perhaps their age or a bit older. Bushy eyebrows rested like caterpillars over brown eyes. He clung to the lapels of his faded green suit, the edges frayed and worn.

“Ah!” Gavin clapped his good hand on Spencer’s back. “Here he is! T’is is the friend I was talkin’ to you ‘bout.”

The man’s eyes lit up. “My oh my,” he said, extending his hand. “Mr. MacDarcy it is truly a pleasure to be meetin’ ya. The name’s O’Mannin. Elias O’Mannin.”

A Temrisian? Here? Spencer breathed a sigh of relief, though one tinged with hot skepticism. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he shook Elias’ hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. O’Mannin.” He motioned to Gavin. “Do you two know each other?”

“For sure!” Elias proclaimed as Gavin nodded along enthusiastically. “Gavin and I became fast friends not two years ago. His ship were docked in the harbour there in Port More. That’s where I live with me wife Suzanna. Fine woman she is. He came ashore and we met at the Dapper Mann Inn. Shared a few pints and a few stories. If I remember rightly, he spoke at length about you too.”

“Spence and I go way back. Don’ we, Spence?” Spencer nodded, his fears temporarily relieved by the jubilant nature of this stranger. “I also think I’ve found us a way home.”

“Aye, that your pal has,” Elias said, a smile growing from ear to ear. “You see,” he motioned toward the train headed to Donggye, “I came here on business and am headed back to Temré. I already have transport clear out to Shephard in County Urdnough. I figure from there you lot could travel through the Great Fhasach and County Trannsa on your names alone. Murphys and MacDarcys carry much weight in those regions.”

“MacDarcy more so,” Gavin cut in. “Well?” He elbowed his friend. “What do you say, Spence?”

Spencer’s heart filled with hope. “Thank you. Thank you so much Mr. O’Mannin! When we get back to Temré I’ll be sure you’re fairly compensated for your trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” Elias said, waving the offer off. “Your father does enough for me already.”

A half hour later the train from Yahawara to Donggye lurched forward. Spencer bit his lip, his eyes glued to the window. Slowly but surely the drab buildings, many constructed of wood fashioned in the old ways of the core, gave way to the green countryside. It wasn’t the countryside he knew, but it was one step closer.

As the train drifted through a nearby town Spencer turned his attention toward Elias. “So you were in Yahawara on business? What kind of business?”

Elias shifted his weight as a sly smile drifted across his face. “A bit of this and a bit of that. When I’m in Port More I’m a humble fisherman like my pa and his pa before. But fish are growin’ scarcer now that the trolleys and nets have gotten bigger. Gavin’s lot, the Ward shippers, are to blame.”

“We are not,” Gavin interrupted indignantly.

Elias laughed heartily. “No mind. In any case, the fish have drifted further out to sea so business is bad for us fishermen. So I’ve taken to engagin’ in a bit of trade for the O’Malley Brothers.”

Gavin spat the water he’d been sipping on clear across the room. “You what?”

“The O’Malley Brothers are a dangerous lot,” Spencer said, leaning back. “Does your wife know what you’re doing?”

Shaking his head Elias casually withdrew a cigarette from his pocket. “Do you mind?” When neither protested he lit the cigarette and after a long drag said; “What Suzanna, gods bless that woman, doesn’t know won’t hurt her. As far as she knows I’m in County Urdnough visitin’ my brother. In a manner I wasn’t lyin’ to her. I am going to see him.” He took another drag. “And so are you.”