A New Century
The cost of living in Avaios wasn’t so high. If one has a house and an occupation that pays, then there is less to worry. With an occupation like a Doctor. Karl had many run-ins with folks from all Lots of life calling for him.
Because of this Karl has been running back and forth to this mining town called Karlsbadtten where a foreman has called on him to check on the miners. The miners mostly mined copper.
Karl checked most of the miners. After two or four days staying in the mining town. He had concluded that most of them were suffering because of the awful regulations. They were coughing so bad that he had to make sure that it wasn’t tuberculosis.
One of the miners stubbornly refused. If Karl was so easily stared down by others. He wouldn’t have come and tried to persuade them to stand down at all. After checking up on everything, he handed the report to the foreman. Karl wasn’t that trusting of mining businesses, but seeing that the foreman had asked for his opinion. Karl thought better of the mining town.
As he conducted his business. Karl noticed well-dressed folks carrying semi-auto’s and bolt-action rifles walking in. The foreman, who was with Karl, walked out of his office, greeted them, and led them inside. Seeing Karl, the men squinted at him, before recognizing him, and then nodding.
One of them stood close. He behaved as if he was wondering about Karl’s affiliation with the foreman.
“He's your friend?”
“Not really. But he has business with me. Medical business. In-charge of the miners, don’t be rough on them, boys.”
“Got it, Mister.”
Karl watched them before he went to his motorcycle. He placed his bag inside the saddlebag of his motorcycle before leaving the vicinity of the mine. The mine and the mining town were separated from each other. Karl didn’t have any intention of staying in the town so he rode back to Avaios.
Avaios was sixty-miles away from the town. Most of the gaps between the town could be explained roughly because of the open plains. The road leading back to Avaios was paved with a black hardened surface that folk called asphalt. Riding to Avaios, he met mostly horses, wagons, and stagecoaches who have not run out of their uses. It was a grassy county and many folk are still stubborn in regards to their transportation.
After a while of riding he arrived in the city. He stopped by his friend’s bakery before riding back to his ancestral home. Karl carried his motorcycle to his garage and then took a rest by the porch.
Taking a moment of rest, eating bread, and taking his time. Karl left his home and rode the trolley to Duskstar. Walking down the living street, he arrived in the postal company he had been affiliated with.
“Good morning, Mr. Alden.”
“Good morning to you, Mrs. Stillwater.”
Karl climbed up to his office. He sat down and checked on the documents. His office was modest with a desk, a small clinic bed on the side, and a cabinet of medicine. Karl stared at the documents when he heard two soft knocks on the door. Opening the door, Ms. Alicia Gardenia, whose face was as placid as it could be, carried a bundle.
She was acting as Karl’s assistant as of late. She wore her glasses. A business gray suit that usually she would not wear. Alicia Gardenia was always a busy woman with many clients asking her to write for them. That bundle of paper was something he asked for. Containing most of the employees that Viole’s Postal Company have. From the postman, courier, and even to the ladies who ghostwrites for others.
Karl examined the bundle while Alicia arranged the rest of the documents. The fan whirled above them. Karl’s focus was on the documents. Alicia diligently handled the documents while Karl stared at one of the documents.
“Looks like some are skipping the check-ups.”
Alicia stopped moving her hands.
“Because they might need to skip their quota if they get themselves checked up.”
“It would be best if they come and get checked when they have nothing to do. Right now I need a good list of them. Should I talk to Vioel about this?”
“You should if you find it necessary.”
Karl leaned back on his chair.
“I understand that they are getting paid by the amount of items they deliver. I learned from Mr. Costa that he delivers one hundred fifty items a day. That amount is quite something, and even some of the younger couriers are delivering more.”
“There are a lot of items that are being moved,” Alicia said. “The thing is that most of our deliveries are usually documents, papers, and even bonds. Recently, we hired security details to protect trucks and caravans that have important documents in them. I’ve been told that there are some awful folk in the east trying to rob them to get their hands on bonds.”
“How old-fashioned,” Karl said. “They must have forgotten that the wild days have long been over.”
“It’s a different kind of criminal activity now. It’s a shame really. How they are going through these kinds of acts.”
“Hard to blame them when it earns them more money. If anything Viole’s Company is an exception since he pays well. Mr. Viole is good at business.”
“That he is. I guess being on his toes all the time makes him careful.”
“I hope we can persuade them to take the check-up,” Karl said. He took a paper and started writing. “This is for their good and as the company doctor, I would like to print a notice that everyone is required. Can you help me inform the President about this, Miss Alicia?”
“Of course, Viole wants to see me again anyway.”
Karl leaned forward.
“Out for a job again? Must be tiresome being a workaholic.”
“You are not so convincing, Karl.”
Karl shrugged.
They were really a pair of workaholics. No wonder he felt like they got along well.
Karl checked on the documents till later noon. When evening steadily approached, Karl went out of his office. Before he could leave the office, he was called to where Viole was. President Viole, the owner of the Postal Company, was a reticent man. He was on his desk, staring at the documents, while barely alive. The man had the look of someone who truly wanted to drink something.
Entering the office, Viole stared at Karl before accusing him of something.
“I need a drink!”
“No,” Karl said sternly. “President, it seems like I am young that you do not dare to accept my good intentions. It’s alright. I understand that I am simply a young doctor.”
“That’s not it. That’s not it at all, Karl. I want to unclog my throat! The spice of wine! The taste of spicy alcohol entering my throat! I dare to say that I miss it!”
“I know.”
Karl acknowledged. Thinking that Karl was about to allow him. The mood of the President of the Company lifted. Karl however, drove a knife to that hope.
“Unfortunately, I cannot allow that.”
“Why?”
“Because you told me that you will keep away from alcohol. Now, I understand that you are fond of it. I really do. But moderation must happen because if you don’t… then I believe that you will have to come to the office. Besides, I think that it is partly your fault that you hired a Doctor, President.”
“So I have to fire you?”
Karl sat on the front.
“Nope. You said it yourself. I am in-charge of the Company when it comes to health. If anything, I’m surprised that you’d allow me to be the head of the health and insurance of the workers. Admirable, truly, to be so progressive.”
“I only did it because many of my folks are willing to follow your advice. What kind of idiot would disobey the Magic Shooter?”
That was his intention. Karl believed that it was one of the true intentions of making him part of the Company. It was quite a promotion. Which Karl had accepted since in a way the Company was supporting folks who are willing to work under him. Not to mention that their connection with Witia has given Viole a good reason to give Karl a suitable position.
He probably didn’t imagine that he’d be so strict. There was one time that he tried to intimidate Karl into letting him drink. Unfortunately for Viole, Karl wasn’t the type to be so intimidated.
Karl almost felt sorry for Viole. He truly was suffering from withdrawal. Then again if he gave mercy, he’d be back to drinking bottles of fine brandy and taking a shot of whiskey. He understood that it was because of his recent expansions that made him drink so heavily. But he couldn’t allow his employer to die of liver failure.
“I heard from Alicia that you need that notice posted. I will have every branch notified. Do you want to make a schedule for that?”
“I already contacted some of the ghostwriters to help me regarding that. We will take it slow when we have them scheduled. I understand that the workers have quotas that they need to reach.”
“They take a cut as well,” Viole said. “Every delivery they earn a bit of money. I pay them their wages based on their quota.”
There was a switch of demeanor. Karl saw that Viole started behaving when it came to his people. It was one of the admirable things about the President. So eager when it comes to his people while unfortunately so lazy when it comes to himself. A decorated pilot acting like these. It reminds Karl how broken some of them were when they got out of the war.
“President,” Karl went on. “Although this is merely a check-up, I believe that there is fear that they might miss out on their pay. This must happen if we intend to make this business of yours run smoothly.”
Viole nodded. He understands. It wasn’t an agenda of his until he saw the reports that Karl made for him. How exhausted his workers are trying to reach their quotas. How many of the folks who ask for the deliveries sometimes bother them, and not paying for what they should pay for. There were many complaints regarding some of their customers and how awful things can be.
When Karl returned after his trip to Witia. The first thing he worked on was setting a broken nose. He even had to visit a boy’s ailing mother who he had to check if she had the pox or not.
“I heard that it was troublesome… going through all of that and then coming with this.”
Viole wiped his face.
“I might be relying on you, Mr. Alden. I am helpless. But these people are not. I hope that I can rely on you. I will put on the notice as soon as possible. However, you might have to take your mind off your other business.”
“I will,” Karl raised a finger. “I saw some boys in coats and vests roaming around the mining town. Looks like what you feared is coming through. What are the chances that they’ll interfere with the business?”
“High. These folks want protection money and acquisition of our resources. We can keep them in line with our other folks here carrying their pieces. If anything it’s rather mild here, Karl. Down south there are problems with gangs and former soldiers gathering now to ‘complain’ to their landlords about their lack of pay and benefits. It’s a landslide soon, Karl. I hope that we’ll be ready soon. So get these people checked up.”
Karl knocked on the table. “And I hope you keep away. I want you sober, Sir.”
“I will be!”
Viole waved his hands. Karl shook his head. He knew that whatever was going on. It’ll soon make a mess of the world. If Mooney really was right, then the old continent is going to be hungry.
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