Stretching the Chain(Earth II)

[Taledonia]

"Excuse me, mister." The young boy tugged on the pant leg of Ryder Cambell, a tall figure in light cotton khakis and a pure white shirt with the top buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The sun was slowly making its way back down from the noon highpoint, yet the day was still stiflingly hot. "What are you doing?" Ryder looked down at the small boy who had wandered away from his parents who stood with all the other bystanders. He smiled at the kid, and then looked ahead again, keeping the smile and the pride. "I'm building a railroad."

Hundreds of men slaved away under the hot sun, pushing themselves to work ever harder and take less water breaks than their fellows, as if it were a competition. It was this spirit that had gained them the work, and the more than adequate pay that came with it. South Australia and New South Wales had been a lawless state for years. The work had left, and it seemed like subsistence farming and basic bartering systems had begun to take over. But then, as if a Titan descending upon the desert plains, Ryder Cambell had come, and told them he was building a railroad to connect South Australia and New South Wales, and that more industry was planning on coming. Certainly this was something they couldn't overlook. It wasn't that they had lacked leadership, but capital, and now this tall man from across the oceans came with a heavy purse, which he poured like water into the sands.

"A railroad to where, mister?"

Ryder looked back down at the boy. "The future, my boy. The future."

[Taledonia]

It was a noticeable difference in temperature when Ryder stepped out of the hot sun and into the shade of the large umbrella that afforded cover to the round table; around which sat four men dressed in light fabrics and colours, and a pretty woman in a yellow sundress and straw hat that allowed her golden hair to spill over her ears sat a little back, still in the shade mind, with a laptop, ready to take notes. Ryder took his place in the empty chair and poured himself some water out of the silver amphora that held position in the center of the table. His eyes told the others to wait, and after indulging his thirst, he refilled his glass.

"As you can see, gentlemen," Ryder started, "The railroad is going ahead as planned. I have three hundred kilometers of track laid already, and I estimate completion of the first line, which, if you remember, will run from one coast to the other, in roughly a month."

"That is," one of the others interrupted, "If you've been able to convince the locals to let you. We know very well of the setbacks you had in the beginning. You lost two full shipments of rail in the first week due to these savages, not to mention four workers. These people have been living in lawlessness for far too long after the collapse of their previous government, and it seems like they've adapted to anarchy completely."

"Not completely," Ryder countered, "As you can see by the turnout here. The locals, in general, are excited about this new opportunity. Civilization is returning to them. And as for our interests, we can't allow such a resource rich area go untouched because of a few rowdy rebels with guns, can we? Now then, how soon can I expect you good sirs to set up?"

The four men looked at each other, getting one final moment of agreement. "You can't. Not unless you can give us more certainty that these 'rowdy rebels', as you call them, won't be raiding my crops, or Harper's factories and warehouses, or Desmond's manufacturing plants, or Red's marinas? They might stop pulling up your track, but when there's actual goods to loot, they won't simply subside due to the goodness of their hearts." Ryder rubbed his eyes. He had expected such a statement. "Very well," he said, "I've already taken the liberty of contacting a private defense firm. They're offering several men and heavy equipment, vehicles and whatnot, for a reasonable rate. Since we will all be benefiting, I think it only fitting we all shoulder the cost."

"We've invested very little in Australia so far, Ryder, whilst you've put most of your eggs into the basket. If you want your little railroad to pay off and for this damnably hot country to get off the ground, then you'll need us to bring our industry so you actually have customers. And if you want us, then you'll be paying to make sure we're safe here." Ryder swore. He knew these men wouldn't budge on the issue, but he needed them. They were the only key industries willing to come to lawless Australia, and if he could get them, many would follow, and he would have a monopoly on the transportation industry. "Very well, I'll pay. Your interests will be safe. If I have to, I'll drive all of these bastards out of Australia."