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THOMAS’S COACH STOPPED short of the warehouses. Carlos waited with Thomas until coaches brought Andy and the others. While he went speak with them, Thomas’s coach left.
“Mister Francis not staying?” Andy asked.
Carlos shook his head. “He won’t want to be seen here. Folk’s pretty peculiar about that.”
“What’re we going to do?”
“You call the boys at the foundry?”
Andy nodded.
“Good.” Carlos looked around. The wharf was deserted. Strange for that time of day. “What’s happening?”
“Just got here.” Andy shook his head.
Carlos tried to not look like he’d just shown weakness. It was Andy he’d shown it to, but it was a slip. “Mendel’s here,” Carlos told him. “His boys can go but they first got to watch their boss drown, and they got to know it was me.”
“That what Mister Francis said?”
“Mind your business,” Carlos snapped. “The boys in the foundry ready to dance?”
“They were warned, so they should be.” Andy glanced at the deserted wharf. “Looks like the others know something’s on. If Mendel’s boys are about, then the smart ones will have their heads down.”
“Let’s get to the foundry.” Carlos looked at the men with Andy. “Keep your heads down!”
They made their way in pairs to not look conspicuous, although conspicuousness was inevitable when there was no one around.
Inside the foundry was noisy, dark and hot. Carlos understood it had to be hot and noisy, this was where gears and shit were cast for the steam engines that went into the ships, but dark?
The building was back from the wharf, which made sense. The furnaces hot enough to melt iron. Only a fool would put them close to a wooden wharf.
Andy pointed to offices overlooking the floor. They went up a set of stairs and along the walkway until they reached the end office. They were greeted by a burly man wearing overalls leaning up against a small desk. “You must be Carlos.” He stood and extended his hand.
Carlos took it. “There’s eight of us,” he said. “What makes you think I’m in charge?”
“Although you’re following your man here, you’re the one leading.”
Carlos nodded. “What’ve you been told?”
“A man named Grant Mendel has brought a group of his goons into our little community and wants to cause trouble. My name’s Fred Hanks. I look after the workers here.”
“You run this, then?”
Hanks laughed. “You could say that. But it’s not official.”
“Union,” Andy said to Carlos.
Carlos nodded. “Thomas allows this?”
“He’s got no choice,” Fred said. “Not if he wants his metal poured. No, you could say our arrangement with your Mister Francis is one of mutual respect.”
“I got no time to understand this,” Carlos said. “You got help for me and mine to deal with Mendel?”
Hanks nodded.
“You know how many are on the wharf?” Carlos asked.
Hanks shook his head. “We’ll find out though.”
“Good enough.” Carlos nodded to Andy. “Work out a plan of attack with Mister Hanks here. I want to make sure Mister Mendel has no means of egress from this wharf.”
“What does that mean?” Hanks asked.
“What?” Carlos asked.
“Means of egress?”
“It means the bastard has no way to escape,” Andy said.
“You know what to do?” Carlos asked Hanks.
Hanks nodded.
“Good, now I’ve been told I’m to speak with a shaman named Samuel de la Croix. Do you know where he is?”
“Sam Wilson? Yeah. He’s got a room or two behind the Admin Building. He sees to our boys when they’re sick or injured. You want I should get him for you?”
Carlos shook his head. “I’ll speak with him there.” He looked at Andy. “What Mister Francis wants me to discuss shouldn’t be in front of anyone else.”
“I want to come with you,” Andy said.
“No.” Carlos allowed himself a smile. That was an important weakness he wanted to show. It said to Hanks that if he fucked with Andy, he fucked with Carlos.
***
THE ADMIN BUILDING was close enough to the foundry for Carlos to be unconcerned about walking there unaccompanied. It was also far enough for him to be out of sight of the foundry long enough to make the walk foolish in the current circumstances.
It occurred to Carlos that he should speak with someone in the building before turning down the alleyway beside it. It occurred to him, and that was all, which was also foolish in the current circumstances.
Carlos was part way along the alley when he heard someone walking up behind him. He turned.
It was Andy with a couple of his men.
“What you doing here?” Carlos asked.
“Watching your back,” Andy said.
Carlos nodded. This time he didn’t smile, he didn’t have to. “Well, stay out of my way,” he snapped. It was good to have Andy near.