Death Cap - Twenty-Three - Placing a Bet on Those Who Might Help

Death Cap - Twenty-Three - Placing a Bet on Those Who Might Help

Death Cap - Twenty-Three - Placing a Bet on Those Who Might Help

You, she said, a finger pointing right at me. I know you.

Yeah, I replied. I was actually kind of surprised shed recognize me at all. The last time wed seen each other was... years ago. She couldnt have been much more than two or three years old. Now she looked like she was nine or so.

Bet, a girl whose last name I didnt know. Shed taught me the [Running] skill once, and helped me get a hang on how to read. We had spent a few weeks playing together when I was still working past the baby stage.

Me remembering her wasnt all that impressive. The other way around though... Hey, I said. What are you doing here?

She was in overalls and a pale blue shirt stained with dirt and grime at the cuffs. The shirt was two or three sizes too large for her. So were her boots, I noted idly.

I work here, she said. For Bloomsbury. She turned to the other kids, then made a shooing gesture at them. I know them, theyre nice. Can you tell the foreman that shes allowed?

Is she? one of the other kids asked.

Bet shrugged. Does it matter?

That seemed enough for the others. I had the impression that theyd let a lot of things pass if it meant sticking it to this foreman Bet mentioned. If he was anything like what I imagined, then I could see why. Kids worked at the dungeon. Well, they worked everywhere in this crapsack world.

Somehow I didnt expect to meet one that I knew. Maybe that was just because I didnt make a point to stick around with people of my own age. They were loud and stupid, and I had things that needed doing that werent helped by their presence.

Bet had been nice though.

You sell mushrooms? Bet asked the obvious as she took in my little set-up.

Yeah, I said. Been doing it for a year or two.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Who do you work for? she asked.

I laughed. Why? Looking for a job?

She shrugged. Always.

I blinked at that, then looked past her shoulder. A couple of delvers were heading over. I waved Bet closer, then pulled her to my side and pressed a skewer into her hands. On the house. Give me a minute. I smiled at my customers and jumped into my normal pitch. Soon enough, Id cleared out my rack and was setting up new skewers of mushrooms. Bet watched me the entire time, like a starving hawk watching an injured mouse.

Whos your boss? she asked.

No one, I said.

Foreman wont be happy, she said.

Tell him to talk to me then, if hes so unhappy, I growled. I pay my union dues. You can tell him that, too.

She bobbed her head. Ill be back.

I watched her go, then refocused on my work. Id just made an employee. Great. Maybe if I found another growing location or two I could start producing enough that I could keep the mushrooms sales up constantly? That had been my plan before, and I could almost manage it. With more time on my hands... yeah, that would be doable. I grinned at the next delver to come over, traded a few compliments and dropped a few more halfpennies into my purse. Then I plopped a mana-shroom into my mouth and chewed. I needed to keep my mana supplies up.

Bet could be a huge help. Not just in securing a steady income for me (which I needed) but in scouting the dungeon. Could she list off all the products they pulled from the dungeon? If so, were any of them interesting for me?

Last time, Id found two decent mushrooms and a magical lichen. What else was in the depths of Ditz?

Bet returned, then paused to pant next to me. Her breathing was rough, worse than mine even. It had that bit of wetness to it that was clearly not a good sign. I can start now, she said. You dont even need to pay me the first day.

I pulled out enough halfpennies to make up a shifts pay, then shoved them into her hands. Im going to give you a uniform next time, okay? I could afford some synthetic yarn, and it wouldnt be hard to knit something up. It was finally a practical use for the skill. Now, pay attention, this is the ideal oil-to-garlic mix. We dont want to use too much oil, but garlics as cheap as it gets, so dont worry about that.

Bet was a quick learner, and within half an hour she was tending to the skewers with minimal fuss while also paying attention to the clients who came closer.

Thank you, she said after looking at the two halfpennies a client had given her. She gave them to me with the barest hesitation. Her previous work probably never had her handling the money she was earning from her boss. Id maybe have to pay her more, to keep the temptation away.

Youre a friend, I said. I still have [Running] you know.

Bet laughed. Me too! My dad wanted me to get rid of it, but then... well, yeah, then it came in handy in the dungeon a few times.

I bet, I said. I eyed her from the corner of my eye. The morning continued, but soon enough I was out of oil and my mana reserves were starting to dwindle a little, so I started packing up while showing Bet how. Come on, Ill show you where my farm is.

I nibbled on another mana-infused mushroom, one of the last things Id cooked, then I handed one to Bet and another to Nibbles.

She made a pleased noise as she ate. Thank you, she said again. But, um, can I ask a question?

Sure.

Whats that? she pointed to Nibbles on my shoulder.

I laughed. Dont worry about it! Now come on, I want to pick your brain.

You want to do what? she asked.

***