Karr brightened. ‘I’m glad to hear that.’
‘But don’t take anything for granted. Like I said, I can only be patient for so long.’
‘Shouldn’t we be getting on with the business at hand?’ Phoenix reminded them.
‘Yes, of course,’ Karr agreed.
They moved off to the main part of the hall, where there were more people, some on benches, a few making do with the floor. Caldason shoved in next to Serrah. Kutch was there, too, along with Quinn Disgleirio. Phoenix joined Karr’s indefatigable administrative officer, Goyter, carrying her inevitable wad of documents, at the side of the room.
The remaining twenty or so people were all known to Caldason to a lesser or greater degree. They consisted of high-ranking members of Covenant, the Righteous Blade and several other groups affiliated to the movement. No more than half of them sat on the United Revolutionary Council, as care was taken never to have every important operative present in the same place at the same time.
Karr went to the front of the group, and addressed them without preamble.
‘We’re all far too busy to spend too much time here, quite apart from the security considerations, so I intend keeping this as brief as possible. I don’t have to tell you that we’ve taken on a massive task. The coming move has to be one of
the biggest endeavours in recent history, and so far things are going more or less to plan. Which is remarkable considering the pitfalls we’ve encountered, not least the fact that the authorities are bearing down ever harder on the civil population.’
‘He doesn’t look any healthier, does he?’ Serrah whispered.
‘A little worse, if anything,’ Caldason replied.
‘The purpose of this meeting is two-fold,’ the patrician continued. ‘First, it’s for you to report on the progress of your particular areas of responsibility. That way, we can all get an idea of the larger picture. Second, it’s an opportunity for you to meet your counterparts, exchange ideas and maybe help each other out with any problems you’re encountering. We’ll keep it simple. There’s no need for names, just remind us of your position or function and tell us how you’re doing. Got that? Good. Who’s first?’ About half those present raised a hand. ‘Yes, you.’ He pointed at a heavily built, full-bearded man in the front row.
‘Shipping,’ the man declared bluntly as he got to his feet. ‘Our fleet’s up to about two-thirds of what we’ll need, though it’s as ragtag a navy as you’ll ever set eyes on.’ There was some laughter at that. ‘We could use more ships, naturally, any class; and we’re especially short on experienced seamen to handle them.’ He sat down.
‘We’re doing what we can about that,’ Karr assured him. ‘We’ve increased the parties we have out buying and stealing vessels, and we’re looking into the possibility of building our own. They only have to be capable of the one crossing, so that shouldn’t prove too difficult. Now…’ He looked around. ‘You.’
A thin, bald, middle-aged individual stood up. ‘Transport, including supply of horses, mules, oxen and other working animals. We’re fortunate in having a renewable resource, and
we’ve already got a number of breeding herds ready to go. A good stockpile of wagons, too.’
He sat, and a mature woman near the front got up. ‘Food and water,’ she announced. ‘We’re renewable too, of course, and as far as drinking water goes we know the island is well provided with springs and wells. We’ve got good stocks of most dried foodstuffs, but I am a bit worried about a possible food gap.’ She half turned to explain to the audience. ‘That’s the period of time that might exist between the food we take running out and the first harvest. I think my colleague in charge of agriculture may have something to say about that.’ She nodded to another woman, who took the floor.
‘I’m fairly confident about the prospects for farming. The island’s central plains are fertile; the soil’s good and well drained, though naturally there’s no accounting for unexpectedly bad weather. There are some gaps in our seed stores, and I’d be pleased to hear from anybody who could assist with that. And I could do with more people to help with the crops and animal husbandry, not to mention experienced fishermen.’
Karr picked another speaker.
‘Gives you some idea of the scale of the thing, doesn’t it?’ Kutch remarked in a hushed tone.
Caldason nodded.
It was the turn of a short, muscular man with mousy, shoulder-length hair. ‘Armourer,’ he explained. ‘I also speak for fletchers, sword-wrights and the weapon-making brotherhood generally. We have substantial arsenals secreted. Blades are ample, as are bows, arrows, spears and axes. Shields, chainmail and helms we could use more of. That’s down to a shortage of suitable materials rather than skilled labour.’
‘Buildings and island fortifications,’ the next man stated. ‘We have a materials problem too. Wood is plentiful but it
won’t last long once we get started. There’s some stone out there we can quarry, and we can adapt the existing buildings, but we’ll have to consider importing it. The workforce isn’t too big a headache because a lot of the requirement’s for menial labour. And I’d guess that if nothing else they’ll be plenty of people about.’
‘You should be able to count on it,’ Karr agreed, ‘gods willing. Quinn, what about you?’
Disgleirio rose. ‘The Fellowship of the Righteous Blade is handling island defences, martial training and general security. We’re meeting our targets on all those. But let me remind you that we’ll be forming a people’s militia as soon as the island’s secure. That’s anybody who can lift a weapon, basically, and it’ll be Blade members who instruct them. Beyond that, we’ll be building a standing army as fast as we can. So spread the word that we’re willing to consider fit, motivated men and women.’
He was replaced by a chubby, weather-beaten man with black hair and a goatee. ‘I speak for artisans. That includes blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carpenters, glass-blowers, potters and the rest. Our trades are well represented in the Resistance ranks. Like others who have spoken before, the problems we see are the supply of materials to work with, and fuel for our stoves, braziers and furnaces.’
Phoenix talked of magical provisions and the part Covenant would play. Goyter, in charge of logistics, appealed for more clerks, and scholars with a head for numbers. And there were others, covering every imaginable aspect of state-building from scratch. They related their achievements and shortcomings, their needs and difficulties.
At last, everyone had spoken, and Karr took charge again.
‘Many of you are wondering when the move will happen. Of necessity, we have to keep that flexible. All I can say is that the most favourable time will be chosen, and that you’ll
be given as much advance warning as possible. We already have people on Batariss, smoothing the way. So, in a sense, the exodus has already begun.’ He paused and looked them over. ‘Now that I’ve given up the political forum to devote myself unstintingly to the cause-’ there was clapping and a few shouted compliments ‘-I’ll be working as hard as I can to bring nearer the day of our departure.’
Serrah and Reeth exchanged apprehensive glances amid the applause.
‘To less happy matters,’ Karr went on, stilling it. ‘Many of you will have heard that a great supporter of our struggle, and a man I count as a dear personal friend, Kinsel Rukanis, has been arrested. We don’t know what charges, if any, will be brought. I’m sure that your thoughts and prayers will go out to him and his loved ones. Kinsel is a man of honour, who would never dream of telling what he knows about our activities. But…realistically, he’s being held by determined and unscrupulous enemies well versed in cruelty. We must assume the worst and act accordingly. Before you leave here tonight you’ll be told of certain safe houses to be avoided, contacts it would be best not to approach, and any other information concerning Kinsel’s knowledge of us you’ll need to know about. I’m sorry to end on a sad note. Now, please, take this chance to mingle, talk and exchange ideas.’
As everyone began to mill about, Serrah and Reeth approached Disgleirio.
‘Any word on Kinsel?’ Serrah asked.
‘Nothing. And not for want of trying. I’ve got more ears to the ground than…well, than I can usually spare. But they’ve got him sealed up too tightly. How’s Tanalvah?’
‘About as you’d expect. She’s with some good people at the moment, and well guarded. I’ll go there myself after this.’
‘What do you think his chances are?’ Caldason said.
‘Of what?’ Disgleirio replied. ‘A quick death? A long prison
sentence? I don’t mean to be facetious, but there are a limited number of options in a situation like this.’
Serrah looked unhappy about that. ‘We can’t just give up on him.’
‘Nobody’s suggesting that. It’s a question of what’s possible.’
