Outlanders

Chapter 8: The Desertion

Zoltána gaped at the sign, trying to find some way out of what she seeing.

"Why?" she agonized. "Why are they letting this happen to them?"

"Because they don't know any better," said Vladimir. "And they're too short-sighted to fear something they've never seen."

"Where's the architect?" demanded Zoltána, to no one in particular.

After a few moments, Zoltána found what she was looking for and leapt off the wagon, causing it to rock. Without hesitation, she stepped over the low fence of the building site and stormed to the worker by the planning desk.

Leif hesitated for a moment, then leapt out after her, leaving his spear behind. He followed her at slight jog, his feet padding gingerly on the bare dirt.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zoltána yelled to the architect.

"We're building a factory here," he said happily. "The investors told us that a construct such as this would be able to butcher a pig in one-tenth the time! Can you imagine that? Ten pigs in the time it would normally take for one!"

"But who decides who works this machine, and when?" said Zoltána, folding her arms. "As soon as this is finished, they'll have the power to take over the ranches themselves. Then you'll have no choice but to work in this factory."

"What? They wouldn't starve out home business. They're here to help us."

"How do you know that? How do you know they won't turn around and give you slave's wages? You'll have no leverage to stop them."

"They gave us their word."

Zoltána laid her forehead in her palm.

"Have you ever seen Textile Town?" she groaned.

"Can't say I have, ma'am."

"It's what this town will look like in a few years. You can't let your home end up that way. If you won't take my word for it, send someone there. When they get back, you'll wonder how you never saw this coming."

The architect stared at Zoltána, his face full of disbelief.

"Ma'am," he began. "Please, let us keep working. No one will force you to work here."

"Yes they will," she grumbled, turning away. "Come on, Leif."

Back at the cart, Zoltána slumped down in front of the rest of the party, defeated.

"It's exactly what it looks like," she sighed. "These people are just letting it happen. They don't know what the factory bosses will do to them. And I doubt any of them will believe me."

"What are we going to do now, Aunt Zoltána?" asked Jordaki.

"I don't know," she sighed. "We can't live in a factory town. Not again. We could just leave here and make for the next town, but the factories would still catch up to us. Let's just find some place to stay the night. Maybe I'll think of something."

As she started the horse toward the heart of the village, Vladimir became uncomfortable again. For almost a minute, he watched Leif, waiting for the right time to speak up.

"Um... Leif?" he began at last.

"What is it, Vlad?" said Leif warmly.

"I'm... when exactly do we get to where we're going?"

"We don't know, Vlad. We thought this was it, but now they're building a factory here, too."

"That's not what I meant. What are we going to do when Zoltána and the rest are finally safe?"