Wandering Spark - Part 34
"We know," the magician pierced his companion with a look, like a needle. "We know that he picked up what seemed to him very valuable in the sea... Have you ever been honored to send a search team to inspect the underwater caves in the place where he dived?"
"Of course," Slug said, still deaf. "But some cavities are only available in the off-season... When the water drops."
"What the forgers hoped for, setting up a hiding place," the mage said wearily. "Well, what else can I tell the Emperor?"
"Round Fang isn’t dangerous to the Empire's monetary system," Slug said gloomily.
"It’s dangerous like a barrel of gunpowder, until a spark falls by," muttered the magician.
"The end of the season is coming. When the water descends, we will track down a person or people who will try to open the hiding place."
"You don’t know where he is, do you?" In this island, Shuu knows how many holes and tunnels..."
"The security autority has detailed maps," Slug didn’t give up. "In the end, this is our business, his Excellency lord was still satisfied with his guards..."
"Missed the time," the mage muttered.
"What?"
"It was necessary to forbid anyone to leave the island from the very moment when a fake banknote was discovered..."
They forgot about Varan. He stood very close to the wooden wall and fought the urge to pass a finger across the vein.
All the talk about the Emperor, about the money, about the fate of the Round Fang slid down from him, like rainwater from the skin of the ashes.
"Such a ban means the collapse of the season," Slug said after a short silence. "I'm scared to imagine the possible consequences..."
"And imagine a box of false banknotes, which can swim to any corner of the Empire?"
"The empire is huge," said Slug again after a pause. The magician nodded.
"Well, yes, if only our season went smoothly, and even though the sea is dry... You may touch this wall, boy. The unfortunate children of sea and rocks - every piece of wood makes them tremble..."
Then Varan firmly, with all the strength of despair, pressed his hands to the warm tree.
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