Lewis jogged until he caught up with the others. They turned when they heard him coming, then waited while he came abreast.

“What’s the training period?” Roquette was asking Stander.

“About a year, not including specialties,” Stander told her.

“What’s your specialty?” Roquette wanted to know.

“Logistics, ledgers, troop numbers, shift rotations.You know, desky stuff,” Stander said with a shrug. “Pretty boring compared to what you do.”

“A military organization can’t function without those things you mentioned,” Lewis commented. “I think you have a very important job.”

“You guys do OK, don’t you?” Stander said. “As far as I can tell you don’t have a logistics man, do you?”

“Were sort of based out of Ascore,” Lewis informed him. “And we have an office in Port Mist; yes we have a guy who sits behind a desk. Most of the time I am able to reach out and touch almost everybody in my organization, but it won’t stay that way forever.”

Stander looked excited. “That’s great, Sir. Whenever I have time I would like to study military history, and it would be interesting to watch an organization grow from a few people to a force to be reckoned with.”

“Be careful, Sergeant,” Lewis said. “It’s a little early to be assuming that you’re looking at the new Defenders of Andar or something like that.”

“I understand Sir,” he looked a little more sober. “But I know things about the Defenders that would make you feel less pessimistic.”

“I’ll bet they’re all classified too,” Roquette chimed in.

“Mostly, but if I worked for you then it would be different, wouldn’t it?” Stander was beginning to look a bit confused.

Lewis laid a hand on Roquette’s shoulder and shook his head, and then he looked at Stander. The Sergeant’s countenance was turning worried.

“Sergeant,” Lewis said in a conspiratorial tone. ”Have you ever had any gold?”

“No Sir,” Stander said quietly.

“I have a gold coin here,” he pulled one out of his pocket and rolled it between his fingers. “How many of those secrets is this worth? It’s about four and a half times as heavy as the ones Ladzoo makes.”

Stander looked interested. “I don’t know. What you’re asking me to do…”

“Is no different,” Roquette fairly growled. “Than what you just suggested a few minutes ago.”

“I understand your point, put it away,” Stander said. “It’s just that I have advanced as far as I will ever be able to here. If I resign I wouldn’t be able to replace the income, and my family needs it. Besides I meant what I said about watching you guys grow.”

“Yeah, so you can learn our secrets and use them to leverage a better life from the next sucker that comes along,” Roquette said. “Come on, Lieutenant, can't I hit him just once?”

“No, First Sergeant,” Lewis told her, and then turned to Stander. “I have a better idea, what do the Defenders do with people who give away classified information?”

“Firing squad.” Panic was in his eyes.

“Don’t worry; so far you haven’t done that,” Lewis leaned over him. “You still want to work for us?”

Stander nodded carefully.

“All right, come see me in six months, not a day sooner or later, and we’ll talk,” Lewis said. “And if you ever leak any info about us, even somebody’s shoe size, then you’re dead meat. I don’t care what it takes. Got it?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Yes sir. I understand.” Stander replied, standing very straight. “I will see you in six months, count on it.”

In the market it was much quieter than it had been the day before. A few vendors still pushed their carts, but nobody was sitting on blankets, and only a few pedestrians hurried on their way. The two teams of soldiers still patrolled, as if they had not noticed anything was amiss. Roquette turned to the pushcart and looked at the food in the hot pans there.

“Smells good,” she commented.

“The meats OK,” Stander said, looking it over. “The mushrooms are really good, but you don’t want to eat too many.”

“Why’s that?” Lewis asked.

“Too much radiation,” Stander answered.

They all got some meat and a mushroom to share, and then found a bench and watched the people. When one of the patrols passed, Stander stood up and stepped in front of them.

“Hoy, Corporeal Peringer,” he addressed the man at the head of the patrol.

“Hoy, Sergeant Stander,” answered Peringer, stopping the team with a raised hand.

“Business a tad slow today?”

“One of your guests showed up about twenty minutes before you,” Peringer told him. “She spoke to a couple of the Hagen and they all left within five minutes. Most of the others must have thought it felt weird, ‘cause they also vacated the area. What’s going on?”

“Can’t tell you,” Stander said with a smirk. “Mostly because I don’t know.”

“Thank you, Sergeant,” Peringer nodded, and raised his hand to start his team moving again.

They found Gomez eating lunch with a Hagen warrior. She waved her spoon at them when they walked in. When they reached her table she stood and she introduced the man.

“This is War Chief Heeto Rune, Heeto meet my lieutenant, John Lewis.”

Heeto stood, bowed his head and held his hands at waist level, palms up. Lewis saluted and they all sat down.

“What can the Hagen do for you, Lieutenant?” Heeto leaned across the table and smiled like a politician.

“The Hagen have done for me already,” Lewis smiled back. “More than I would ever be able to pay back.”

The War Chief leaned back in his chair and studied Lewis. “Consider it paid in full. This soldier is not one of yours. That makes it not easy to talk freely.”

“He is not one of ours,” Lewis said. “But I consider your secrets as my secrets, and I think… no, I know he will keep them in confidence, as long as he knows what he should keep quiet about. Did I put that correctly, Sergeant Stander?”

“Yes Sir, Lieutenant, Sir,” Stander replied. “I am fully aware of what you meant sir.”

“Staff Sergeant Gomez told me that you opened an office in Port Mist. I assume this is public knowledge,” he paused and raised his eyebrows. When Lewis nodded he continued. “Mama and a few others were talking about you when your staff sergeant showed up. The decision was made then to cut our visit to Dontil short. However, if you will come see us in Hillar I believe we have a proposal for you.”

“Would you care to give me an outline?” Lewis queried.

“No, I’m not one of the elders,” Heeto said. “I don’t think it’s my place to speak for them. Come to Hillar when you can, no hurry.”

“How will I find them?”

“Ask around.”

Lewis nodded and Heeto stood up from the table and left, next to his bowl was one of Ladzoo’s silver coins. Gomez picked it up and turned it over.

“Heeto told me they traded that coin you gave Mama for thirty six of these,” she tossed it back by the empty bowl. “He also said that your coin was worth a year’s wages for many of his people.”

Lewis thought it sort of put things in perspective when you thought about it in that way. They left the café and headed for the base. At the gate he sent Roquette to check on the ships, Gomez to talk to Telini, and took Stander with him to see Hardwin.

“Hoy Lieutenant, the major is expecting you,” the secretary said cordially. “Go on in.”

“I’ve received a complaint about you,” the major said, sitting back in his chair as they entered.

“I suspect you’re about to get another, should we vacate our position on your base?” Lewis asked as he sat down.

“Not unless it becomes a whole lot uglier,” Hardwin answered. “Now, would you mind explaining?”

“Oh, no, not at all. I came here to ask who I should talk to about setting up an office for DeLeah shipping,” Lewis told him.

“You know damn well that’s not what I wanted to hear.” Hardwin said flatly.

“Yeah, well, that other thing was just a misunderstanding,”

“We all have secrets; just don’t make us wring it out of you. For the office, tell my secretary what you need. I’ll sign off. Ask her about that empty building down by the dock.”

“Thank you sir”

The building Hardwin spoke of turned out to be a warehouse that was in very rough condition. Its owner was motivated to sell because of his finances and due to pressure by the defenders. It included an office space and a small residence. Stander knew some people who cleaned and repaired old buildings, so Lewis sent him to bring somebody to evaluate the building.

By the time Lewis returned to the house, after having sent Stander home, the whole team was present including Derrick. Derrick leaned on a walking stick, but was in good spirits. They all had a drink and listened to Telini’s presentation on the Hagen based on his research.