It’s starting to cohere. Maybe. I think. Gonna be a Frankenstein* of a book at 60K, though. I need to add at least 20K to it… probably next year.
*Somebody recently noted that knowledge is knowing Frankenstein’s creation is the monster; wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein himself is. I more or less agree with this.
“So, you think he walked off with something from the warehouse? Something unofficial?” Graciella frowned. “But wouldn’t they have noticed that?”
“Not if they didn’t know they had it. Let me fill you in. You remember the manifests of the shipment that came in, the night Brigham took a powder?” She nodded. “A shame the paper trail didn’t tell us who sold the shipment to Brigham’s bosses – but that’s okay. No seller means you can guess ‘the Adventurers’ Guild’ and get it right, nine times out of ten. The Guild’s always picking up unconsidered trifles and bringing ‘em back for resale. With a markdown for ‘as is’ and ‘no questions answered,’ sure.”
“Really? Where do they get the goods?”
I put up a finger. “Ah, but that’s a question.”
“But what about the original owners?”
“Another question.”
This seemed annoying to Graciella, for some reason. I suppose she had a vigorous view of property rights. “And… all right, fine. I don’t see how this is any different from pirates or bandits.”
“Okay, that one I can answer,” I replied. “It’s the Adventurers’ Guild. Bandits or pirates aren’t the Guild’s competitors; they’re its prey.”