act20mini

Do the Kazimierzians make good wine? Couldn't possibly be as good as the Siracusan stuff, at any rate...

Two more stops till I get to the venue!

Where did that truck come from?!

Phew...

That driver scared the shit out of me, the way he swerved! Good thing the wine's okay...

Must have dozed off and missed the red light, I guess. Yikes, the whole truck's flipped over. I hope the driver's okay... I should call the police...

Gianni?! Is that you?

Somebody, help! My fratello's hurt! Hey, you—Tommaso! You're here too?

Help me get him out from under the wreck! I'll call an ambulance!

Hello...? Th-There's been a crash! The driver's out cold! I need an ambulance, right now!

...So Tommaso told me their boss will pay for Gianni's medical bills and the truckload of wine.

Said Gianni might not have crashed if they didn't ask me to make the delivery, and the Kazimierzians' stuff wouldn't have spilled...

And then?

Then what? Nothing. That's all Tommaso told me.

It's just an act of kindness, Eirene. Tommaso says the owner of Saluzzo Vino is very troubled about Gianni, that he never expected such a terrible accident.

Besides, Gianni's in hospital, and he needs the money!

You were at the Kazimierzians' place for a while. What are they saying? Do we need to pay compensation for the goods, or is it Saluzzo Vino's responsibility?

The Kazimierzians said they can write off the goods...

Eirene stops mid-sentence. She feels a lump in her throat.

Her gaze falls upon the truck sitting on the edge of the camp. It has not been repaired yet, and the broken glass inside the truck gleams in the sunlight.

The way they put it, they agree to not pursue individual liability for the incident.

It takes a few moments for Sam to process the weight of the message, whereupon he visibly lets out a sigh of relief.

What about Gianni?

No personal restitution.

It'll be treated as a failed contract; they'll write off the loss of goods. Nice words they used, 'sharing risks' and 'treating partners fairly'.

That's great!

Honestly, I don't think Gianni could handle paying restitution. He's got way too much on his plate already.

He's been taking so many jobs lately, the fatigue must have gotten to him...

Anyway, tell the friend who asked you to run the errand that we don't need their help. The AST's insurance will pay part of Gianni's medical bills, and I'll deal with the rest.

Sure, alright! The boys have been talking about chipping in for the bills anyway. I'll do my part too.

Oh, Tommaso, right? I-I'll give him a call now—

Oh, come on...

I doubt the Kazimierzians will let it go so easily. You told us about their nice words. What about the not-so-nice ones?

...They made it very clear that this was an exception that they only agree to based on our current partnership.

What do you mean?

It means that they want us to be more... proactive in working within their system, such as future schedules, routes, and other things that we used to decide on our own.

As for penalty records, they said they'll assess them in aggregate. Bunch of officialese: 'for internal reference only', no direct fines.

That's what they said before too.

Formal renegotiations with the Kazimierzians regarding the specifics will take place after the Red Wine Championship. We won't let them put unreasonable terms into the contract this time...

Anyway, that's all about the truckload of wine. Don't ask questions, and don't think too much about it. It's all in the past now.

Eirene...

I know what you're trying to say.

I don't need it. We don't need it. It's all done.

Don't worry, I'll find a way. Things will get better for drivers at the AST...

For the Truckers' Union.

For a long time afterwards, what Eirene recalls most vividly about those two negotiations is not anything that her counterpart said, but the strange confidence that she had.

She believed—

That things would solve themselves if they were put out in the open, as long as rules and boundaries were upheld, even without having to rely on those forces that she was loathe to involve.

Not now, I don't have time for you—

Eirene impatiently waves away the Lupo deliveryman behind her and turns to face the smartly-dressed Kuranta.

She is anxious yet helpless, unsure what to do with her raised hand.

B-But we couldn't possibly pay such an amount!

And what do you mean, you'll end our partnership if we don't accept...?

Didn't we say the other day...?

Our agreement that day was based on the circumstances before that day. Our demands today are based on the changes that will occur after today.

His tone was calm, impassive, as though he was simply stating an indisputable fact, and was kind enough to explain it again for Eirene's sake.

We will not intervene with the assignment of responsibility for the traffic accident, nor do we intend to influence the judgment of the relevant authorities.

But the destruction of the goods is the outcome, and nothing can change that.

Not to mention the poisoning...

As fate would have it... it was supposed to be our wine that the conductor in question last sampled, yet a Lupo claims that he had asked someone to deliver it.

And the vehicle that delivered the samples under suspicion happened to be the one that caused the accident involving the truck delivering our wine...

The AST's drivers have nothing to do with the poisoning!

Of course, I fully believe that. At least, I do, from a traffic perspective.

<i>...Traffic perspective?</i>

Regardless of whether the rider violated traffic laws, his actions objectively impacted the non-delivery of our goods.

He created a high-risk environment at a critical juncture, the result of which was that the contract was not fulfilled according to agreement.

So you're going after someone who did not commit any actual violations?

'Going after' is such a strong phrase. I said nothing of the sort.

We are simply assessing the associated liabilities in accordance with the law.

The Kuranta pauses, then continues.

The portions of damages that insurance does not cover must, of course, be borne by the liable parties.

Business is business, Commissioner Eirene. I beg your understanding.

Business?! This is highway robbery!

Ah, we regret that you see it as such.

I assure you, our company is most disappointed in this turn of events.

Meanwhile, we invite any interested drivers to pick up a pamphlet in hopes of future cooperation.

We continue to welcome rational choices.

W-Wait! Eirene! Say something! There's no way I can deal with what's on this piece of paper myself!

I guess I'll have to go to—

No!

Then what do you suggest I do? If you didn't sign that partnership agreement with these foreigners, that crash would never have happened, and Gianni wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed right now!

I...

I know you just want to help us make money, but those Kazimierzians are going to sue me!

I've never even SEEN that much money my entire life! How am I supposed to pay it?

You said that regulations would protect the Truckers' Union, no, the AST's drivers once we were part of the municipal system!

I shouldn't have to deal with this on my own, right?

I know, I'll find a way...

Well, either you do that, or...

Or I go and talk to that Bellone associate behind you.

Eirene reflexively opens her mouth to say 'no', as she had done so many times whenever this subject is broached, but no words come out.

She sees a few drivers standing around the Kuranta in the distance, the same typical smile plastered over his face as always.

The man stands there, patiently holding a pamphlet, sometimes nodding and sometimes replying softly, looking more like a counselor listening to someone's troubles, than a salesman trying to advertise something.

The drivers listen to the Kuranta's explanations with perplexed expressions on their faces, while casting subtle, searching glances at Eirene.

Don't worry, I'll find a way... I will...

It has been a long time since Eirene last drove a truck to work. It has been a long time since she drove a truck on the new city's roads.

Parking spaces are always at a premium at the city hall, where the Agenzia per la Sicurezza dei Trasporti's offices are located.

Visitors from local businesses, guests from foreign trade associations, drivers of the AST, colleagues from other departments... vehicles of all shapes and sizes come and go.

There is no space for a truck.

In the afternoon, when Eirene is driving her truck out of the camp, she overhears the other drivers discussing the pamphlets that the Kazimierzian representative brought, some with excitement, others with suspicion.

They talk about the number of fines this quarter, the profits of each job, and their children potentially getting to work for a winery, a pharmacy, or a vehicle factory.