act20mini

For a long time afterwards, Eirene thought back to her hesitation that night every time she drove her truck alone.

The sky is completely dark by the time the truck stops at the edge of Court Square. She does not turn off the engine; the vibration is transmitted to her wrists via the steering wheel, before gradually subsiding.

She called Lavinia on her way, saying she has something to discuss.

*sigh*

I don't know what to do, Lavinia...

Eirene mutters in the driver's seat, but she cannot bring herself to finish the sentence: 'You're the only one I can count on.'

Is she really the only one? Eirene spends a few moments in bitter silence, as raindrops splash her face through a gap in the window.

She turns off the engine.

I made more money in one trip than I did in the last two weeks combined!

The Kazimierzians pay well.

You showing off?

Make-up payments for this week alone wiped out a whole trip's margin for me.

I don't hear you talking about the heavy fines the Kazimierzians levy.

Hehe, thanks for helping to pay my share. Now that I've gotten paid, how much do I owe you?

Don't worry about it. Brothers help each other out.

Right you are. I'll save a portion and do my part next time someone gets fined.

Saving is the right move. Originium fuel prices are rising. I was just at the station, and boy did it hurt to watch the numbers going up and up and up.

I did run into a bloke from Leoti Pharmacy at the fuel station who lent me his discount card.

I should bring him a pack of smokes next time I go by their shop.

Really? As long as Eirene doesn't catch you hanging out with the wise guy—

Hanging out with who?

No, no, it's nothing.

Ciao, Eirene! Haven't seen you in a while. I think I'm going to break your delivery record soon!

Great. As a reward, you get the transportation security paperwork from the Agenzia per la Sicurezza dei Trasporti.

Hah, anything but the AST! Anyway, it's time for me to go to my next job. <i>A dopo!</i>

He's right, we haven't seen you in camp for a while. How you gotten thinner? You gotta take care of your health, or Sommer will never forgive us—

Don't change the subject. What were you chatting about?

Um, it's nothing, really.

Oh, come on...

When will you and Sam learn?

Where IS Sam, anyway? I didn't see him anywhere in camp, and his schedule's empty for a few days. Where is he?

He's been sick. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, the whole shebang. Had to go home and lie down after last night's delivery. Gianni's taking his orders for today.

The Kazimierzians dock pay for days off, you know... better to find a sub, if we've got one.

Never mind. I'll get a doctor to look at him.

Did you need him for something?

Eirene irritably shakes the object in her hand. It makes a swishing sound.

The package is obviously wine bottle-shaped, never mind the Saluzzo Vino logo displayed prominently on it.

Why did Saluzzo Vino send us a bottle of wine?

I would have thought that one of you dropped a delivery in the mail room, if the package didn't have Sam's name on it.

Oh, that's probably a moving gift for Sam's cousin's family.

Moving gift?

When his cousin's family first came to Nuova Volsinii, Signor Bellone—I mean, Demetri, helped out.

I think he mentioned he'd send a bottle of wine as a moving gift.

It's just a little wine, Eirene... and it's not for him. Sam quit drinking, you know that.

I know. I'm just wondering how Signor Bellone knew about Sam's cousin.

And you, Ruggiero. I was planning to go shopping at your little supermarket a few days ago, only to find that it's become a Saluzzo Vino outlet.

Since when have you gotten so friendly with each other?

Erm, I rented it to them. Turns out managing a whole supermarket was more trouble than it's worth, and I figured I was better off driving trucks.

Were you in some trouble I didn't know about? Something that you couldn't tell me, but you were comfortable telling the mafia?

It's not that, Eirene...

When will you understand? Small favors are favors too, and all favors have to be repaid someday. With interest.

But they're just helping us right now.

Are they? The Red Wine Championship starts in a few days. Is it not obvious why Saluzzo Vino sent a 'moving gift' right now?

It's 'just a bottle of wine' at this point, but what about later? Mafia money? The famiglia's name? Will you go back to working for them, like you used to?

If you're worried about history repeating itself, I promise you it won't.

Besides, under Nuova Volsinii's new order... even if you don't trust me, you should trust the mayor and Judge Lavinia.

It's not that I don't trust them. It's just...

Never mind. Don't forget what happened at the Carnevale.

Avoid dealing with the famiglie. You may think they're just ordinary employees and shopkeepers, but everything they do is under the watchful eyes of the wise guys.

I know it was traumatic for you, as it was for all of us.

But things have changed for the Saluzzos. Venezia Jr. is gone. It's a new era of leadership—

Ruggiero is interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. Eirene says nothing; she shakes her head and turns around to leave.

Ruggiero hears an urgent voice as soon as he picks up the phone.

Ruggiero! I can't reach Sam! Wh-What do I do?

Come to the vehicle checkpoint at dock 2! The Kazimierzians say they're slapping on an extra fine, and I just can't get them to listen to me!

What...?

Seeing Ruggiero's anxiety, Eirene gestures for him to pass the terminal.

It's me. What's going on?

Eirene? Oh, I'm so glad you're there!

Sam's been running a fever, so I swapped shifts with him. This run just happened to be on the way to my order. But the Kazimierzians changed the delivery destination at the last minute, and I didn't make it in time.

I tried to explain, but this Kazimierzian doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. He keeps saying I broke the contract and he's demanding I pay a fine!

Please hurry, Eirene! The print on the contract is tiny and thick and I can't make sense of it!

I'm on my way!

Surely you can make an accommodation? It was your side that changed the delivery address at the last minute. Why should the driver pay a penalty?

Commissioner, all orders are logged in our system, and our adjustments are made according to the published schedule. Drivers bear responsibility for any shift changes they make themselves.

But...

The contract makes it quite clear. Exceptions compromise our ability to enforce our contracts in the future.

Continuing this argument does neither of us any good. If the driver doesn't leave now, based on road conditions and the published schedule...

You may be held in substantive breach of the contract, resulting in a fine equal to fifteen percent of the order.

It will also be your seventh penalty of the month.

Therefore, the windows for any subsequent orders will be tightened accordingly.

Eirene cannot recall what she saw in the forced smile that Gianni offered her.

Was it regret, or apology?

Gianni departed promptly upon hearing the foreign businessman's 'kind words' before Eirene could intervene, muttering a few words of self-encouragement to himself.

I can't just let it go like this, thought Eirene.

Back already, Eirene? How did things go with Gianni?

Did we keep a copy of the Kazimierzian contracts at the camp? Bring it to me.

Wh-What's going on?

The terms... something's not right. There are certain parts that don't seem reasonable. We need to talk it over with their people.

Gianni's trouble hasn't been resolved, has it?

No.

But I'll take care of it.

I knew it.... other drivers have tried to talk to the Kazimierzian. Informally. As for the outcome... I think you can guess.

We were talking about how to handle Gianni's fines while you were away.

His wife just gave birth to twins, and the folks at home are not in the best of health. Thankfully, Deme—

Ruggiero stops in mid-sentence. Eirene asks no more; perhaps she is afraid that she might ask how the mob boss learned about the issues facing Gianni's family, when she herself has only just heard of them moments ago.

She feels like she has spent too long in her office, so long that she can barely recognize her family anymore. Same as it was two years ago.

Get the contract.

I'll be fine. I'll find a way to deal with it.

The AST's drivers do not rely on the kindness of strangers, especially those looking to hide their traps.