Vaxdemic Book 2 Chapter 4
Chapter 4
I’m starting to remember why I chose to be a freelance programmer. The hours were whatever you made them, you could work how you chose, and best of all, no high-pressure meetings. I don’t believe even if I had wanted to be a corporate executive, I would have been prepared for the meeting with Dean Saugus. Since the day was sunny, we decided it was best to do it outside. My guests helped me set up the tables we had been using for dinners in the empty street outside. We even found a pavilion tent in one of the houses I use to store the stuff. If it weren’t for the dread and anger I could feel from my companions, it looked like we were setting up a small street fair. Roth made sure the women were ensconced at the farm, his nervousness wearing off on me.
Dean arrived with his entourage around noon. He swung the passenger door of the first truck wide and almost sauntered on to the street walking right to the middle. “Gentlemen, what a glorious day for such and important meeting. I believe great things are instore for us.” He once again wore a suit, though not the same he wore the first time I saw him. It struck me as odd. Most of my companions wore work clothes, all of which had a stain or tare from hard use. Dean’s suit was impeccable. No dust, lint, or even an out of place stitch. He walked ahead of the four men he’d brought, Michael among them. “Good morning gentlemen, or is it afternoon all ready, it’s so hard to tell these days.” He said as he entered the pavilion flashing startlingly white teeth.
“We agreed to your meeting, sit down and say what you have to say,” Roth snarled.
Even the way Saugus sat down was extravagant, taking off his suit jacket and handing it to one of the young men behind him and sliding into the seat provided. “Now, now, pastor. There’s no need for hostility. We’re here to do business. I think we should start off with a drink.”
“I would have second thoughts about giving you a lukewarm cup of water,” Roth said. He glared at the other man.
Saugus let out a chuckle. “Should I find myself in need of such I guess I’ll look elsewhere. Perhaps I can offer you something. Tim, bring us some of the chilled beer, or would any of you prefer some wine. We have so much back at the iron works it can be hard to decide.”
Roth looked ready to spit. Matt interrupted. “Best not to drink when negotiations are about to start. Say what you have to say Saugus.”
Dean offered the chair next to himself to his second in command. Then the teenager Matt told me was Michael son ran back with several bottles of dark beer, so cold it was already sweating. Saugus took a bottle, thanked the boy and after cracking it open smiled at everyone. “Straight to business. I like that sometimes, waste a lot less time that way. In my experience, it can often be good to have a little chat first, gives you some idea where others stand, and presents new opportunities. But we have to start somewhere. I can fix your dam.”
There was a great deal of movement from the others. “Ridicules,” Matt said.
“I would sooner blow it up and drain the lake,” Roth said.
“How,” I asked.
Saugus surveyed the others and then turned his smiling face on me.
“I like how this one thinks. No pretense, no anger, just ways and means. It’s simple, we’ve repaired one already.” Saugus’s joy was almost tangible at the shock from the others.
“What other dam?” Roth said incredulous.
Dean took a sip of his beer and said, “Laurel Lake dam. It’s not as big as Smith’s Summit, but it works great for my little foundry and the community it supports. We’ve had it running for over a year.”
“There’s no way,” Matt said standing up. “Laurel lake dam hasn’t generated power in forty years. It was gutted completely and is little more than a spill way for the lake. There is no way you could have made it generate power, you don’t have the equipment.”
Saugus took another swallow of beer and chuckled to himself. “You do realize that stuff can be made. I run a foundry that makes steel, I have workers to shape it, and machinists to make whatever I need.”
“That’s not possible. I’ve built machinery for dams. You can’t possibly have the resources necessary to complete a project like that,” Matt said.
“There’s this little thing called trade. Lots of stuff coming up from the south. Lots of people out there, if you know where to look.”
Roth and Matt were at a loss for words, they simply stared at Dean with his wild claims. The idea of others out there didn’t surprise me. After all, I had just learned of all the people outside the city, even more beyond it wasn’t really a shock. I did have a question. “Mr. Saugus, if your dam is up and running, and you have so much stuff, why do you care about a dam so far from your home?”
Roth’s face lit up. “He’s right, why do you care? What is it that you want?” The questions felt more like accusations.
Saugus handed his now empty bottle to the young man standing behind him who went running to retrieve another. “Wonderful boy, wonderful brew.” He turned back to the group. “I want to bring civilization back. Too many people suffering, without direction. Is it so hard to believe I just want to share my good fortune with the world? I just want to make sure such a thing is done right, and not irreparably damaged by people who, let’s face it, aren’t qualified for the job. Good intentions aside.”
I looked into Saugus’s eyes. While his face was friendly enough, and his demeanor was polite, I saw something I didn’t trust behind his eyes. “Mr. Saugus, would you mind answering some questions for me?”
Dean took a second beer and said, “Not at all, ask away.” He reclined back in his seat.
I took a deep breath and looked between my guests. “Why do people call you a slaver?”
For just a moment I saw a gleam of hatred in his eyes. His smile returned in full force, and he let out a light chuckle. “Some people don’t like my hiring practices. I will gladly take in anyone who happens to wonder up my highway. The world’s changed so much, many don’t have the skills to make it. So, I give folks a chance. We teach them a skill, something to allow them to thrive in this hostile world, and they pay me back with labor for a few years, once they’re fully trained.”
“Tell him the rest, about the abductions, the beatings, the prostitutions. You run that town the way a mob boss would run a country. Once someone is indebted to you they never get out, they only sink deeper into your pocket,” Roth was now standing up pointing at Saugus.
“I can’t deny my little slice of heaven has a few patches of hell. Many things are legal there that weren’t before. I welcome almost every trade and that include the trade of the flesh, but there are no slaves in my iron works. True, a few people have required more forceful punishments for their transgressions, but I don’t run a lawless town. We take contracts seriously. It takes great expense to train someone, in both time and resource. We need to make sure the whole doesn’t suffer because an individual wants to shirk his duties. As for abductions, I fear I know nothing about such things. As far as I know, no one’s in my town who isn’t supposed to be, and I don’t really concern myself too much with things outside of my business.” Saugus was leaning forward looking concerned. “Prosperity has its price.”
Roth looked sickened from what he was hearing. Matt had sat back down and looked deep in thought. A rule came to mind. Ruth’s rule number two, no one does anything for free. “Mr. Saugus, you don’t seem like a guy who does charity. What would you want for your help with the dam?”
“You know young man, I like you. Straight to the point. I would indeed like something in return. If I were to repair the dam it would of course be a costly undertaking. This doesn’t count how much it would take to keep it running, and to make sure the power goes where it’s needed. It’s also going to take the time of my men, who won’t be able to grow their own food while tending to the needs of so many. So, I would like control of the dam to make sure it’s up to snuff, and receive payment for my continued maintenance of same. Just something to make sure my guys are properly rewarded for their work.”
There was no mistaking the glint in his eye. Giving this man control of the dam would basically put him in charge of the region. He would be able to demand whatever he wanted, and people would gladly pay it. He’s a king, looking for a kingdom. “I’m sorry Mr. Saugus, but I’ll have to turn down your help at this time.”
Dean rested his eyes on me. I could tell there was a storm of thought behind those eyes. He nodded his head and said, “It’s a massive undertaking fixing an old dam. Do something wrong and you could do worse than just break some equipment. All that water held back by an old concrete wall, who knows what could happen.”
I thought I registered a threat behind his words, but his voice was light and almost cheerful. “I understand there will be risk, but I’m willing to take it. I thank you for your offer, but at this time I’ll have to turn you down.”
“I agree,” Roth said, he was smiling widely.
Matt hesitated for a moment looked between Saugus, Michael, then myself and said, “I’m afraid I have to agree with Roth and Stackey. I don’t like the idea of leaving this in your hands. We’re going to have to do this on our own.”
Dean finished his beer, cleared his throat, then smiled. “Well, all I can do is offer. Maybe one day you’ll reconsider. Gentlemen, thank you for your time. Michael, we’re leaving.” Dean took his jacket from one or the young men and walked back to the trucks. For a moment I thought, he may be planning to do something violent. Instead, he got into the passenger’s seat of the truck he arrived in, and they left.
Bob Stackey
June 1, 2023