Skip to main content

A boat on a river

"Yet another successfull trip Knabe, those giant officers really love our
fish!" The elderly merchant sat back on the deck of his houseboat as it
ventured back south on the Sendar River.
"Right y'are... and they don't seem to get enough of it either." The younger
one responded while running about, making sure that everything was in order.
"Well, Kleiner, as long as they want it... we'll keep selling it. Just hope
this squabble 'bout the rogues in Ulmnia doesn't interfere with this
business. I've really got my eyes set on that coat I saw in Seljak... wonder
if the tailor could cut it in my size?"
"Sure thing... just bought a dress for me Frau and no probs in getting 'em
to cut it in the right size."
"Good thing, very good thing... always good to be able to please 'em
Weiber."

Slowly, the houseboat loaded with fresh goods from Seljak, slided down the
watery mass towards Smithstown. For even though the relations of the two
nations weren't the best, they still demanded eachothers goods. Goods that
the Marrish merchants were more than eager to suply. So Sirkan brandy and
cloth flooded northwards with the marrish fish, and Ojerholmi machine tools
was transported in the other direction; with the profit sliding neatly into
the pockets of the many Marrish merchants that used the route. Not to
mention the Grafi grain and metalworkings that made them all richer.

"Wonder when they'll open up Randasque and Ulmnia to us?" The younger one
asked, still running about on deck; checking on the goods, tying and untying
knots and shouting at the sailors.
"Soon I guess... everybody wants our fish and pearls. And we're the only
ones who trade with them all... the only ones who are accepted everywhere."
The merchant said while counting his coins... more and mroe for every trip.
"Yeah... s'right. Only hope the darned Vetter's can sort out their
differences. Wouldn't want an internal conflict messing up the balance."
"Nah... I doubt it.... they'll soon come to their senses.... they just need
a li'l bit of extra money... guess we could give 'em a bit to calm 'em
down."
The young one halted in his steps and looked at the merchant: "What!?! You
talkin' 'bout taxes? We don't need dose darn things.... takes to much of the
margin."
A gentle smile spread upon the face of the merchant as he put down his pouch
and rose to his feet: "You see, Kleiner, taxes are much better than a civil
war. And if it will calm the Vetters, then I see no reason for why not?
After all, they will still be much lower than the ones the other have."
"Well.... if you look at it that way...."

Slowly.... the houseboat drove down the river.... bringing even more wealth
to the aquatic nomads inhabiting the waters of Lady Lake.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Världens läskigaste spindel

Goliath Bird Eating Spider It's frequently described as "larger than a dinner plate," presumably because spider-scientists don't want to freak people out with the significantly more relevant "big enough to fit over your face." It's a foot across and, when it's in the mood, brings down entire birds and eats them. It doesn't make webs, or leap great distances--it just slowly sneaks up behind things and jumps on them. Yes, just like in your nightmares. Go ahead and check behind you. We'll wait. As if a giant spider that can bring down a moderate-sized flying animal wasn't bad enough, it's one of the "hissing bastard spiders" (that's actually its full scientific name), the creepiest creature to exist outside of a horror novel. At this point, evolution clearly just started piling in everything nasty that could possibly fit: Its spit can dissolve flesh down to the bone AND it can shoot invisible hairs that cut your eyes and mo...

Smyger igång lite...

Jag har visst ställt om lite på sistone och har skaffat mig en ny "hobby"... ...nämligen hållbarhet och ett skönare, lugnare och stressfriare liv. Och visst har jag tankar på att skriva något om det framöver - men just idag blir det ett gnällmail som jag just skickat till Järfälla kommun om dessa förbaskade lövblåsare. Så vi inleder min återuppståndelse på detta forumet med det. Lovar i sin tur att återkoppla med svaret, om och när jag får det... Hej, Då jag lämnade min yngste son på förskolan i veckan reagerade jag på att det satt en lapp uppsatt på grinden till gården. På denna lapp meddelade er Entreprenör (Svensk Markservice) att det var dags för höststädning på gården och att det därför bla. kunde vara högljutt när denna städning utförders. Jag blev då påmind om härom veckan när jag gick med den äldre sonen till skolan och (gissningsvis samma) Entreprenör utförde höststädning på skolgården. Då går det män med bensindrivna lövblåsare (vissa av dem med munskyd...

Årets bästa poddavsnitt

(Inser efter förra inlägget, att jag ju självklart måste skriva detta inlägget också :-)) Innan jag kommer till årets i min mening bästa poddavsnitt, måste jag börja med förra årets bästa. Med bästa i den mening att den gett mig mest att fundera på och som jag själv mest tipsat om. Podden är Magnus Carlssons (han från Weeping Willows) Sommar i P1 . Och den handlar om följande: “Magnus Carlson ringer upp forskaren Elin Röös, metrologen och naturskadespecialisten Pär Holmgren, debattören och ordförande i företagsforumet Circular Sweden: Anders Wijkman och flera andra för att få svar på hur vi kan göra för att lösa de problem som hotar miljön. Svaren han får handlar om både vad man som enskild kan göra i det lilla, och hur man kan göra för att påverka beslutsfattare i de stora frågorna .” Har du inte hört det; gör det omgående. Men då till årets poddavsnitt, som delvis är i samma tema, men ändå inte. P3 Dystopia har många riktigt bra (och läskiga) avsnitt, men det ...