Глава 9

I thought you'd be here two days later... Last message, you said you'd just passed the border.

Couldn't help it, I haven't been to Victoria in a decade. Some parts are a bit more crowded, but just like me, the years are starting to show in a few places.

If I hadn't hitched a ride the wrong way in County Peninsula, we would've met last night.

*cough* Ahem, your understanding, please. County Hillock's not the biggest spot on the map, and we rarely get elite operators at our branch office here.

Last time I was out near Minos on field work, I met Stormeye—that was two years ago, already.

Elite operator? Just the name sounds like a force to be reckoned with.

—Rhodes Island gives different work to different people, that's all. Besides, I'm pretty much just a civil servant now. I only came to County Hillock to fetch some data.

You're too modest.

On the topic of data, did you want to see our finance forms first, or the ledger for our inventory in/out and stock this half... (Hints to Will)

Hold your beasties.

We're not THAT pressed for time. No need to hurl a starving girl like me straight into work. It's only fair to let me steal a breather here and there, right?

Haha... I can sympathize greatly.

Hope I haven't disrupted your little R&R here.

Outcast casually picks up a card. Thin, no more than paper, it spins three times and a half at her fingertips, then is gone in a swish.

Wow! Where'd that card just go?

Right here.

It's back! What kind of marvelous spatial Arts is this?

Just a little sleight of hand. I've got this gloomy-looking friend who taught me. Whenever I want you concentrating on my fingertips, this method works wonders.

All a little more relaxed now? Please, sit down, Oliver, and Shredder, Will, plus you there, kiddo, standing in the corner—you must be Fred.

Put that folder down, and enjoy a little break with us. A chance like this doesn't come every day.

A... Are you sure this is okay?

Or would you like to see a magic trick where in ten minutes, this haggard stranger from out of town dies of boredom?

*cough* Let's sit.

Please, continue.

As for me, I still want a proper taste of this fine black tea with evaporated milk, and that sweet, scrumptious pie.

Ah, there's more shortbread left here, if you still feel hungry, that is...

Thank you.

Ahh, now this dessert hit the spot. My stomach hasn't been this happy in a while. My tongue was beginning to really miss flavor.

Now, you, cute little miss—

I—I'm Jane, Jane Willow.

That's a lovely name. I'm gonna guess you're old enough to drink?

I've long since been of age, La... Lass.. Outcast. I'm serving, after all.

Oh? That gray Victorian military uniform sure falls flat under your shimmering blonde hair. Oliver, count yourself lucky. No matter how dull and cloudy it gets, you've always got your sunshine indoors.

Haha... true, true. Little Janie's brought us a mound of happy days.

Listen to you, Uncle Oliver. You're the ones all kindly letting me in while I've snuck off from the barracks.

I was actually a tiny bit surprised, seeing you get along as well as you do—

Jane, if all Victorian soldiers were as lovable as you, we'd lose at least half of those awful rumors making their way across our world.

Thank you, if I haven't misunderstood. I assume those are compliments...

Even on my way here, I saw some not-so-pretty sights. But anyhow, that's not gonna dampen the joy of meeting all of you here.

I'm very glad... I could meet you too!

Well, then, a toast to our encounter?

I came here in kind of a hurry, so I could only bring some regular old gin, with way too much lemon because that's how I like it. You folks might find it too sour—

We don't really drink... on work hours.

You killjoy!

Alright, that's on me for being sloppy. As a Rhodes Island Operator, I can't be an exception. Let's just have some tea.

So—who's dealing next?

M—Me.

Need a little blessing from a Sankta?