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"Halfway to Sublimity"Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language Pairings: 1x2x1 Summary: When Duo moves to a new town on the river,
he meets a young man running the river and a rich boy who seems nice.
Maybe he'll settle down for awhile, or maybe not. "Halfway to Sublimity" Chapter Eighteen Heero, Wufei , Heero, Wufei (POV) "Oh, wow!" Duo shouted. "This is gonna be amazing!" "I take it you've never been to a circus?" Heero asked. "You kidding? Not the places I've been. And, ah, never had the time, you know?" Duo's gaze traversed the wall-sized mural erected overnight. "Man, Trowa's one lucky man to be part of that. He's gonna let me feed the animals, did he tell ya?" "The giraffe." "A tiger! He said the tiger. And the lion!" "He promised me the giraffe." Heero smiled. "Man, this is gonna be so cool! I can't wait!" Heero never let Duo's irrepressible excitement get to him. He had, he felt, to remain vigilant. The circus would bring crowds and strangers from other parts into Sublimity, and with them enemies out for their friend, Trowa. His gaze left off scanning the road for newcomers to appreciate what had captivated Duo's heart. Brilliant in color and capital in design, mammoth posters spread upon walls and billboards, announcing the much-anticipated arrival of the circus and menagerie. Quatre had briefed them all on the circus' background. Apparently, the circus managers in this country had discovered advertising. By simple experimentation, taking out space in the local newspapers, and posting their announcements, they demonstrated the profit and the possibilities of advertising. "Yes," Quatre had said. "I'm impressed. The circus manager believes in the distribution of the handbill, not only locally but also for miles and miles around the place of exhibition. He spends money to advertise and he gets it back in customers. We will have to exploit that too, when the time comes." Nothing got past Quatre, Heero thought, if it meant higher profits. Of course, the man was brilliant and rich, like the ever alert and venturesome circus manager, while most of the sleepy, township merchants and men of commercial interests were a rather slow lot and unwilling to risk their dollars in enterprise or exploitation. In fact, the average shop owner believed it was beneath his dignity to advertise, so he sat in his counting room and waited for customers to come, as his father and grandfather had done before him. The merchants were a half century behind the circus manager of the time in appreciating and appropriating the increasing methods of publicity discovered and developed by the showmen. And the circus people were fast. Their arrival was a week away, yet, in an incredible short space of time, ringing echoes of the carpenter's hammer carried all over, and the mammoth billboards rose. The pictorial on the billboards enticed children around as thickly as "flies gather at the bung of a molasses hogshead on a wharf," as Duo put it. Heero made a face at that image, but let it pass, like many of Duo's colorful L2-isms. There was no arguing how the murals attracted attention. Facing the many-colored display, no feature was lost to view or discussion. The most incorrigible children began a period of good behavior and model conduct upon the billing of a circus and extending up to the show's performance. All bright children read the newspapers to learn the important local details of the circus advertisement - the date of appearance, location of lot, scale of prices, opening of performances, hour of parade and route of procession. Even the smallest boy never bothered the ticket seller at the red wagon with a string of questions. He knew all the necessary information from the press or the small bills. The A to Z (Alliance to Zodiac) Circus was coming to town! Sublimity was thrumming with excitement-Duo included. "C'mon," Heero said, yanking Duo's braid as a last resort to getting his attention. "We are meeting Hilde at the dock." "Wufei wonder boy is gonna be there. We'll just be in the way, believe me, he doesn't want us around. Hey, I could be clown! I do all kinds of stupid things. They just get paid for it." "They wear makeup and silly clothes. It wouldn't suit you. Now, onward. Hilde made it clear that we were to be there when she arrived. It was important enough for her to write to me about it." Duo ran out of argument and tugged his braid away from Heero's reach. "Ya don't catch me pulling your hair." "I don't pull your hair. I love your hair." Heero had said that aloud, with feeling, and in public. He felt very daring to do so. Apparently, so did Duo. Duo looked over his shoulder for eavesdroppers, Heero guessed. Finding none and deciding it was safe, Duo stepped closer, met Heero's eyes, and asked in a sultry voice, "You do?" "I tell you all the time." Heero made a grab for the swinging rope of hair and missed when Duo skipped to the side and said, "No way! I'm far too quick." "There's the sheriff." Heero distracted him, and gave the tail end a quick jerk. "Hey! No fair!" "It's fair. There are no rules, and Sheriff Trant is coming this way." The man was marching in a path to bisect theirs, trailed by a changing gathering of men and women pestering him for information. He wore a wide smile on his face. Heero thought this had to be the town's best time of year. The sheriff should be happy. The circus was an institution for the family, for young and old, a clean amusement. The best people patronized the tent shows safe with the knowledge that the entertainment would be conducted decently. In comparison, a man would find it a necessary thing for to explore in advance, to learn for himself whether it would be the proper thing to invite a woman - wife, sweetheart, or sister - to the some of the first-class theaters. Also, money was changing hands throughout town at a blinding rate. Food, staples, building materials, straw for animals were among the essentials purchased by circus personnel. In turn, the townspeople snatched up promotional playing cards featuring the animals and clowns "for their children." Clean fun and abundance abounded and would for the week the circus was in town. As a result, it was the delight of Sheriff Trant in the rural burgh of Sublimity to take his position near a large stand of bills, or to stroll the wide avenues and listen to the remarks of the bystanders. As Heero and Duo neared the crowd in the man's wake, they overheard one of the barrage of questions directed at the sheriff. "I hear that handsome young friend of our master Winner be innit. You know the boy. You should find out if it's true, sheriff!" "I'll just hop around there and find out!" Heero smiled, thinking that Trant was often taught his job by the citizenry. "I see two men who would know. Mr. Yuy! Mr. Maxwell! Just the gents we are looking for!" "Hello, sheriff." Heero greeted him first. "What do we know?" "What don't we know?" Duo said, joking and winking at the women waiting for his answer. Heero nudged him and whispered, "Flirt." "These folks would like to know what Mr. ...er... Bloom, is it? Bloom, yes. What it is that Mr. Bloom performs in the circus? You know him. What can you tell us?" Duo knew. "It's a secret, mostly, but I know he either throws knives or catches them. A-and other stuff, but I wouldn't wanna spoil the fun. He'll be in the night shows, he said." Heero skewed his head in the direction of the docks. "We are meeting somebody, Sheriff." "Gotta go!" Duo shouted and bounded away. "Later!" Heero jogged to catch up. He did like to watch the crazy long hair twitch in time with Duo's jaunty gait. He liked to watch Duo. Like a hawk. His prey was skipping out of reach and chattering, "...and maybe Hilde's afraid of 'Fei or she's got cold feet--" "Or thinks she requires a lady's entourage," Heero suggested. "W'at you say? Oh, man, like followers?" "Or staff." "Yeah, she'd love that, but wouldn't that be girls and not guys? Eh, I suppose if we were swooning at her feet she'd be okay with it. Anyway, I say, 'Fei doesn't need us. He's the noble swordsman, right?" Heero barked a laugh. "Wasn't that funny." "I was reminded of something Chang said." Heero could not help the heat creeping up his neck, or hide it from Duo. "Whoa, 'Ro. Ya can't leave me hanging here." No. Heero couldn't. "Chang wouldn't let me go out at night on my own. He sleeps with one eye open, I discovered." "Oh, is this about your nocturnal sex training?" Duo asked. His eyes gleamed with delight. Heero cleared his throat. "Ah, yeah. I asked him how he learned what to do with a woman, thinking that would shut him up." "It didn't?" "No. He actually told me." "No, shit! What did he say?" "He said his grandfather told him a story comparing the man to his sword and the woman to the sword's sheath. Um, made for each other, perfect fit, and all." "God, that's so lameass. Good thing Hilde has a better education." "And he's a quick study," Heero added. "So what did you tell him?" "I said I needed some visual instruction or I'd be cutting you a new one in a dual." Duo brayed like a donkey, he laughed so hard. "It shut up Chang and he let me go; alone, I might add, even though he followed me to ensure my safety." Heero sobered Duo up with his next observation. "I see Hilde on the Sweepers boat. It's just landing and she has another girl with her. She have any relatives that you know of?" "Huh? No." Aboard the flatboat, Heero could see Hilde leaned against a tower of crates, axe safely belted at her side, her short-cropped black hair flying at a rakish angle in the brisk wind. Beside her, about half a head taller, stood a young woman dressed as a native in war paint and a pale leather tunic and skirt, but fair skinned and with short blond hair cut in the same style as Hilde's. "Who the hell is that?" (o) Wufei Chang mustered his most ferocious look. He clapped his eyebrows together and gave both women a thunderous stare. Rain clouds gathered, ice shards spit, lightning bolted-he frowned, but at himself this time. That didn't sound right. Lightning ripping, stabbing, hurtling...! He was writing a book and he meant it to be terrifying. A lot of heavy weather in it. Hilde weathered the storm and broke out in a sunny smile. "Oh, honey, don't be that way. It'll all work out. You'll see. She's a changed girl now that she's married to that giant hunk of a half-breed about to ring your neck so smile and take your hand off that sword handle real easy like, okay, sweetie-pie?" "I do not like this idea." Wufei said this stonily and looked as if he had all the malleable warmth of the sword he had returned to scabbard suspended from his belt. He did not want to be the one to explain the situation to Heero and Duo, but the hell if he'd allow his woman to make a fool of herself alone. "Hey! Who's the cute chick with your babe, 'Fei?" Duo shouted. "We should go inside. Your place would be preferable." Wufei locked eyes with Yuy. "Private and out of the way." Thankfully, Heero asked him no questions and curtailed his boyfriend's with some sort of magical charm. The men boxed in the two women and marched homeward, Duo in the lead and Heero and the giant half-native bringing up the rear. After the predictable chaos an arrival at the Yuy-Maxwell residence seemed to inspire, the stranger's identity was revealed. "Midi!" Duo fell into his L2 slang and unleashed a string of profanity causing his lover to grimace. "Duo, out." Heero ordered. "Don't let that savage out of your sight. Duo glowered from beneath his thatch of bangs a second then smirked. "Gotcha!" Wufei did not understand the mysterious means by which the two men communicated, but it was effective and he was grateful to have only Yuy to face with this new situation. "Why, yes. This is Midi Une and she is going to join the circus under Catherine's tutelage as stunt rider Ivy Shruggs." Hilde beamed with wicked pride. "And her big, bad brave of a husband will be with her all the time. He's one of the circus's bareback riders. Cathy sent him down the night before last and the two hit it off like firecrackers at a Chinese festival, not that I've been to L5, but ah've heard stories." She smiled saucily up at Wufei and bat her long, dark eyelashes. "It was your letter getting me all fired up to see the circus that put me to mind to write to Trowclair's dear sister. You're right about us getting along, too. I can't wait to meet her." "You believe Trowa and that woman, Catherine, are related?" Heero asked. He was standing at the window watching the native man conduct a perimeter check of his property with Duo nipping at his heals like a territorial dog. Yuy seemed to approve of the procedure and their behavior. "She calls Triton Bloom." "Of course they are. Thick as thieves. She dotes on him and adores his pretty boyfriend. Naturally, Mr. Winner is wealthy, but he's a doll. An absolute doll. Those are her words. She writes beautifully." "Hn. And... Ivy," Heero addressed the girl with his usual directness. "You are willing to go through with this charade?" Heero asked. "Yes. It's not like I want to be working for Dekim Barton's gang!" "You did though. He's your father." "No, he's not! He stole me away from my family juss like Trowa. Trowa got away, twice! I juss wanted Trowa to take me with him. I wanted my freedom, too." "You were willing to destroy Trowa's life when he didn't cooperate. Who was paying you for that? Weren't you working for Dekim then, too?" "I really thought Trowa would give in. Sogran was pressuring me." "He works for Dekim?" "Not directly. Lots of folks are bribed to give up information to Dekim. He's a dangerous man with a long reach." "And you are joining the circus and running away?" "Sure am. I got me a strong man, new name, job, hairdo. Great Eagle Scruggs is sworn to protect me, if'n Dekim ever discovers who ah am." "It won't be through any of us," Wufei assured her. "We are men of honor, not that you've had any experience with men of our ilk." Duo and Great Eagle entered the house laughing like old friends and comparing braids. Duo's was longer and thicker. "And you know what they say? As grows a man's braid, so grows his dick!" This the two men thought was hilarious. So did Heero. Wufei, whose ponytail in back was far shorter than all but Heero's shorn hair thought the statement was "Ridiculous and inappropriate in the present company." "Oh, honey! That's all right. You are in fine standing with Duo. Can't say anything about his steamy-looking boyfriend, though." Great Eagle looked from Heero to Duo and back, and then broke into a grin. Wufei thought the big man looked far less foreboding inside the house, hiding a bronzed chest with a checkered shirt and the bright feathers woven into his hair ties more frazzled than not. The grin widened and Wufei just knew the man was going to say something to ruffle Duo's metaphorical peacock feathers, and he wasn't wrong. "It's all wasted, little man with the long braid, 'cause yer the squaw. It sure ain't that wily-eyed river rat." Duo squinted. "Huh? What'sa squaw?" Heero was smiling. "'Ro? You know? Tell me. Did he just insult me? Huh? 'Cause if he did, I wanna fight. Mano y mano. Outside. Right now. He did insult me, didn't he? Hey! You wanna piece of me?" Heero quietly excused himself and pushed Duo into their bedroom, and Wufei quietly led the others to the front door. "We shall see ourselves out." Wufei wondered how Heero was going to contain Duo for the rest of the week and curtail his excitement when the circus actually arrived. He couldn't wear him out with sex every day, could he? Could he? (o) The circus parade, symbolic of the events within the large, white tents, also served as a dynamic advertisement. The caravans halted on the outskirts of town to wash the wagons, don parade costumes, and bedeck the horses and equipment with fancy trappings. The parade evolved into an immense processional, a moving pageant along the main street of Sublimity, an immense show in itself, always proportionately indicative of the attractions inside the tents. Duo danced from foot to foot. There was no settling him down, so Heero sacrificed Wufei's patience, and just allowed Duo to dance and shout. Heero had other worries weighing on his mind. With Midi in town again, whether any of Dekim Barton's people knew it or not, Heero remained on lookout, his nerves on edge, primed for action. He scanned the crowds for signs of thugs, Sogran in particular. Chang's snorts and gripes he overlooked. Duo's antics he ignored. The march of a circus company through the land with its host of people and the moving of baggage vans from town to town was similar to the progress of an army. No conqueror ever entered a city half so welcome, though, as the glittering pageant. The sparkling caravans threaded through the main street of Sublimity en-route to the market grounds. Inspiring strains of brassy, martial music roused the sleepiest occupants of the shops to "come and see!" A six-horse hitch with a Liberty bandwagon led the parade. The brass band atop the wagon blared a rousing tune, ratcheting up the excitement. A two horse buggy carrying the ringmaster at the reins was close behind and flagged by five trick riders with red, yellow, and blue banners. Next came the advertiser, who traveled on horseback and kept his stock of printing in two saddlebags. He flung bills into the crowd along the way with a wave and flourish of ruffled and sequined sleeves. "Gotta get me one of those!" Duo announced and vanished. He returned flashing his prize. Heero gave him and the paper jammed into his face a moment's attention. The bill was a square quarter-sheet, illuminated by two cuts at the head, one depicting an equestrian act, the other a performer balancing his body above an overturned chair, his hands clasping a rung thereof. "It says to fill out the back with your name and address and enter this in the raffle. You could win a real prize." Duo was delighted. "I'll get me more. I'll be sure to win something! Ya hooo!" he crowed before disappearing again. The crowd roared when the elaborately carved pageant wagons passed with their elegantly caparisoned horses, all plumed and bejeweled in gleaming harnesses. Dancing, skipping, and prancing about were the ring performers in sparkling costumes, heralding past stars and fresh new faces. Some performers in the company were seated and costumed according to their roles, like a popular clown police patrol wagon; a familiar singer of comic songs upon an elephant with howdah; two camels with mysterious riders in flowing L4 robes; a daring bareback rider on a white horse; and a midget clown riding a decorated donkey. "Where did that damnable friend of yours get off to?" Chang grumbled in Heero's ear. "Down there. Trowa's with the animals and so's Duo." Ten elephants pulled wagons loaded with everything from animal to tents, amazing onlookers, who, outside of the circus, had never before seen such massive creatures. Sturdy, richly-blooded horses snorted and reared on the command of their bold riders, appearing untamed and dangerous. "I see Giant Eagle with Ivy and Catherine. They are on horseback." Wufei squinted and shaded his eyes with a hand. The ooh's and ah's of the crowd gathered energy with the rising excitement. The menagerie rolled by permitting sneak peeks at the exotic animals, including a giraffe peering back from an opening in the roof of its ornately carved and gilded cage. "Oh, I see Trowa. He is walking a fully-grown male lion. I am impressed. Remind me, Yuy, not to insult him again in the near future." "Oh, I will." "What is Duo doing?" Hilde asked. "I can't make it out. Hey, get that hat outta my way!" "If he's not careful he'll be cat food." Heero sprinted from his position on high ground, to the edge of street just as the audience gasped at something new in the procession-- walking along on chain leashes held in the firm grasp of handlers, were a Bengal tiger and a snarling lion. He grabbed Duo by his shoulders and manhandled him away from the gaping jaws. Trowa snapped his whip and yanked on the chain, restraining his big cat. He kept the cat in line and marched on, smiling in his friends' direction. "Hot damn! That looks soooo cool! I wanna do that! I wanna join the circus!" Duo hollered. "You would," Heero said. Other animals trailed by: cheetahs, monkeys, camels, zebras, midget burros, deer, ponies, ostriches, a cinnamon bear, llamas, tropical birds, a woolly yak and miniature African elephants. The end of the procession featured a horse-drawn Two Jester calliope playing a lively tune and leaving the spectators tapping their toes. The parade circled the square five times then settled on the market grounds, where overnight a tent city would magically appear. Overall, it was a tantalizing preview of the show to come. Duo was enchanted. It was all Heero could do to drag him to a street vendor and buy something to eat. All Duo wanted to do was watch the tent city rise. Somewhere, Heero was certain, Dekim Barton was out there looking for Trowa, and soon to be looking for Midi. He was conspiring with the governor to build steam engine run boats, maybe vehicles that could run on land, from which mass killing machines so far unknown to man could be constructed. The evil had to be stopped, and Heero was afraid that if he wasn't vigilant, that something might get past him. It was going to be a long week, Heero thought, and he was already weary. (o) In many ways, the scene was as old as the circus itself. Dozens of people young and old gathered along the Market Green to take in the traditional raising of the big top. The field crawled with activity from the moment the caravans pulled onto the green. Workers, most of whom had started the day with the rising sun, pounded heavy wooden stakes, unrolled the massive, 300-foot long tents and threw hay to the hungry animals in the menagerie. They carried side poles to lock them into position as the gigantic new center pole was raised. The canvas was put up by the band and performers. No one was idle. Barked orders, grunts and groans, the smell of burning fuel oil and wood blended with that of abundant animal droppings hung in the air. The A to Z (Alliance to Zodiac) circus workers buzzed between and around their trailers, scrambling to set the giant stage for the show the next day. Wufei took Hilde aside to observe the operations and enjoy a private stroll. Five minutes of this should satisfy anyone, he hoped. He recognized the faces of every boy and girl he saw-- students of his all. Also threading through the scene were the reporters from the local paper. For this spectacular of an event, the paper paid temporary writers pro rata. Among the eager, hungry young men and women hoping to earn an extra buck or two, was Dorothy Catalonia. "I know her," Wufei said, pointing out the laundress to Hilde. "It appears she was clever enough to nab the circus advertiser. She'll have a good story to sell if she just copies everything he has to say. That man knows how to sell his circus." Now, let's go. "Shush, honey. I want to hear what's being said," Hilde said. Shush? "... and the principal tent holds the main circus, the secondary tent being reserved for the menagerie, and the third for the museum of living and inanimate curiosities and the skill games. Everything to guarantee a fun time and the success of the great showman's latest venture," the ad man said. Spectators moved as close as possible to where the action was taking place and with them were the reluctant Wufei, excited Hilde and the determined Dorothy. They were treated to an inside look at the show, from Isla the Elephant pulling up 38-foot tent posts, to a sneak peek at the petting zoo, with the gentle llama, deer, and the midget burros. Wufei was distracted, and not by the animals, the raunchy smells, or anything "circus." In the grand schemes of things, his thoughts were small, but of the utmost importance to him. His life was teetering on a sword's edge. His fate in the balance. And Hilde was unknowingly holding the pummel. A flick of her wrist and he was a goner. "The baby horseys are sooo adorable," screeched Lizzy Howard, 8, who watched the action with her mom, Sarah, and sister Anna, 6, and frazzled Wufei's nerves further. "Mom, please can we come see the very first show tomorrow, please, please, please," Anna said, falling to her knees and thrusting her skinny arms and clasped hands over her head. "Of course your mother will take you. Here's the money to cover your admittance, now move on," Wufei snapped. The raising of the big top also brought out the elders. In droves. See the tent go up. Fascinating. Now, let's go! Wufei slicked back a strand of hair out of his eyes, tucking it behind an ear. His fingers trembled. That irritated him, because he hated acting as excited as Duo. He could control himself. He had training. He was an adult. He had to get what he wanted to say out of his system before he started to sweat. He opened his mouth, hoping he could entice Hilde away from the tent city, when a loud-mouthed woman stepped between them from behind in order to reach Dorothy. "This is terribly exciting. I just look at them putting this whole thing together and marvel at the teamwork," Marge Hammond offered to Dorothy, who documented each earth-shattering comment for the paper as quickly as her fingers could write. Wufei moved around to catch Hilde from the other side, when the loud woman's even louder, taller, and pushier husband blocked his progress. "These folks should be commended for perpetuating a Sanc tradition," Samuel Hammond said. "A to Z clings to its image of traditional, family-oriented entertainment. It's got its three rings, outdoor tent and ringmaster - complete with tuxedo and tails. Real professionals they are." Wufei fussed with another lank of hair, which had sought freedom from the punishingly tight ponytail as his head whipped around, seeking an escape route. He spied Merquise and Winner. Hilde had confided to him that she did not like Colonel Zechs Merquise. Too "hoity-toity." Now, a plan coalesced in his fragmented mind. Wufei thought about Dorothy and how she had been a friend of Merquise. It was unjust how her family had been broken to the benefit of Treize Khushrenadas, Noins, and Merquises of this world. If Merquise had an honorable bone in his body, he would want to put it all to rights. And if he could advise him of the situation, introduce him to the unfortunate woman, break up the fascinating entertainment, possibly he could, in turn, drag his own woman away and... He shuddered. He could not think the dreaded word without his body reacting violently. Propose. First, though, he must get the men's attention. But how? The ad man beamed at Dorothy and the loud couple with pleasure. "That is right. A to Z is still a family affair - from the owners to the performers to me myself. Why, my father and grandfather both worked in the business. We have trapeze artists who can trace their families' involvement in circuses to L3 in the 1700s. Personally, I think this is the most wonderful job in the world," he said. "Every time I go on the road, I tell my family that I'm off to play circus." "And your tour of duty is almost complete, is it not?" Dorothy prompted the circus man. "You are so correct, young lady. In Sanc Kingdom tradition, the circus runs a forty-six week season-24 weeks in the north. When the circus comes to Sublimity, it is nearing the last stop of its tour. We shall over-winter in the more congenial clime of the 'Sunny South.' " Wufei, too inhibited to make a scene on purpose, had lost sight of Merquise and contact with his Hilde. If only Maxwell were here, he mused. He mentally slapped himself the next instant. How absurd! He was perfectly capable of doing this himself. He could devise plan as well as Winner and act on that plan as well as Maxwell. And then he would... that word again. Propose. He made a note of where Hilde stood, entranced by the chatter and activity, and then strode in the direction he last had seen His two blonde, high-born friends, Merquise and Winner. If his facts were correct and Colonel Merquise was a man of honor, then he could help a woman wronged and himself in one seamless and efficient move. He kept the greeting brief and got right to the point. "I believe you know a young woman, Dorothy Catalonia. Her married name I don't recollect, but research tells me you grew up together." "She was once my step-sister's best friend. Only friend." Zechs nodded slowly, regally even. "I knew her in Sanc Royal as children. We haven't kept in touch." "Come with me then, while I bring you up to date." Wufei sketched her recent fall from society, rash marriage, and job as a laundress. "Her father built a bridge," Winner smoothly put in. "Much like what you are intending to do now." Zechs cleared his throat and straightened his already ladder-back-straight shoulders. Wufei knew the man was uncomfortable no matter how well he hid it with his cool demeanor and cultured mannerisms. "Interesting because Catalonia was involved in overland trade. You knew the man." Wufei did not ask. "I served under his brother, who was Dorothy's uncle, at one time," Zechs replied. "So did Treize Khushrenada," Wufei reminded him. "Yes, we had that in common. Chang, what is it you want me say?" "Dorothy Catalonia's father attempted to build a bridge over the Rogue River, which, if roadways connecting to it were improved, would have encouraged overland freight. Large boats would be restricted from the river to the detriment of the river traders. Industry would have developed differently, is my point," Wufei said, noting Merquise's shifting eyes. "But the bridge was destroyed, and the Catalonia family ruined, the girl's father and mother died soon after. I wonder, was it your family that destroyed that bridge?" "I was only a child at the time. I am sure the man had many enemies. Odin Lowe, Dekim Barton, both would have sought an end to a bridge-building project." "Oh, they may have executed the damage, but you know who placed the orders." Zechs' eyes slid to gaze upon the horizon. "Not my family." "I think that the Noin's kin most immediately benefited from the destruction of the bridge and ruined the Catalonia family. And this was not just because of what the bridge might do to ruin their business, but for more personal reasons. By ruining the Catalonia family financially, it also spoiled their rise to power. It is Miss Lucrezia Noin who accompanies you socially, not Dorothy Catalonia." Merquise drew his pale eyebrows into a frown beneath his long fringe of matching hair. "You know a lot about our history, for one so new to the area." "That's just scratching the surface," Wufei replied. He lowered his voice as they neared the crowd. "Dorothy's grandfather is Duke Dermail, and Duke Dermail's youngest sister was Khushrenada's mother. Later, both you and Khushrenada served together. Sounds like a tight relationship amongst the three of you, Merquise, Khushrenada, and Miss Catalonia, in Sanc Royal." "We were close, yes." "Would you know why the general's brother built the bridge if it was so unpopular?" "I would assume to promote overland freight business, as you pointed out." Wufei nodded curtly. "Interesting, though, with his brother ruined and his family shamed, the General resigned his commission a few years later and retired. And when the smoke cleared, a young Khushrenada ended up richer than General Catalonia and in a better position to be Duke Dermail's highest level assistant." "And Treize wants to buy a Dukedom and take over," Zechs murmured. "Poor Dorothy. She didn't deserve to end up a laundress." "I agree," Winner commented. "It appears that she is attempting to branch out, doing interviews for the paper." Wufei stepped nearer to Hilde and pointed out Dorothy. She was still speaking with the circus advertising man. "What a waste of a keen mind," Zechs said. "My thoughts precisely. She must hate Khushrenada," Wufei offered. "Do you think you can find a role for her in your plans, Winner? Merquise?" "Yes." They both agreed upon that. Wufei could overhear Dorothy ask a couple insightful questions, but was not interested in hearing the circus man's illuminating replies. He had a reason to interrupt the proceedings, so Wufei waited for a place to cut them off. Merquise beat him to it. "Is there anything more you'd like everyone to know first thing tomorrow morning when they read their morning paper, sir?" Dorothy asked. "There will be performances given once in the early in the afternoon with a price of admission of thirteen cents and a more deluxe evening show version for an additional fee of 25 cents. Now, just compare that to your hotel rates at thirty-seven and a half cents a day and that of a 'Choice Principal' two-for-a-cent, and good cigars they were, too!" "I think everyone will agree your charges are very reasonable if they get their money's worth." "And they will, I promise. They will get the show of a lifetime." Merquise strode into the crowd, which parted like the Red Sea for Moses. "Dorothy!" "Milliardo?" The woman appeared dreadfully embarrassed at her attire and smoothed the rough linen dress, while at the same time smiling with the joy of seeing a long lost friend. "Seen enough?" Wufei asked Hilde. "I think the interview is over for a while. They have some catching up to do and I have something to show... no... to... to say to you." "Oh! I just love surprises." He hoped she would like this one. He hoped it would not be too unexpected. He hoped, with a deep quaking sigh, that she said "yes." He took Hilde's arm and wrapped it about his. Together they ambled past the green and all its frenzied activity. Wufei selected a particular dirt walk, one which trailed out along one of the many small streams that trickled through the Watergardens estate and town to drain finally into the Rogue River. The last of the black raspberries dropped into the water where Wufei and Hilde settled in the shade. They sat side-by-side. Overhead the mummified little uneaten fruits of the rank-growing purple mulberry trees dangled in the wind. The surfeit and fecundity of summer had come to an end. "This is nice. I just love the autumn, don't you? Dry. All that rain is gone for a while and it's still warm enough to get out and enjoy nature. This is a lovely spot, Wufei. Ah am so touched you thought to share it with me." He broke out into a sweat and blanched. I shall not go into shock, he ordered himself. "Wufei, are you feeling okay? You look unwell." His stomached twisted and sucked in on itself, becoming roughly the size of a walnut. No, a mummy-fruit. It didn't feel right. Nor did his tongue. He wondered why he had a mouthful of cotton balls. "Lady Schbeiker," he rasped. "I want to ask-" He might have, but he gagged on his disobedient tongue, instead. "Oh, my, Lord! You are ill." Hilde drew him onto her lap and pressed his head to her bosom. "Now stretch out and I'll apply light massage to your temples. Breathe deeply. Relax." He maintained that position for several minutes. "I...am feeling... improved. I believe... I can sit up now." He tried and succeeded in maintaining a living blood pressure long enough to right himself part way. "You work so hard, honey. You need to relax. Let your hair down." Hilde pulled off the narrow, black binding, garroting the black rope of hair at the nape of his neck. "Your hair is so silky," she crooned while raking her fingers through the strands. "Feel nice?" "Yes." "Now, you wanted to ask me something. You remember?" "Yes." "And--?" He wanted to begin with a careful, orderly arrangement of all his strong points, which would lead, logically, to his plans for improvement, how he would become a lawyer and move to her town, and then, and only then, would he propose marriage. It was so designed that she could find no fault, no reason to resist. He had practiced the speech. He had memorized it, inscribing each syllable into his brain so that the very intonation, every vocal inflection, was perfect. He could not remember a single damned word. "I love you. Will you marry me?" he blurted out in place of his other speech. "Now, wasn't that the sweetest little proposal ever? Of course I will, sugar. Tonight? I'm not sure I can wait a minute longer. Let's go find Duo. He can conduct it!" And then Wufei passed out.
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