March 27, 2013

They had no heavy cargo machinery, for religious reasons, they said. They used simple liftjacks and the like, augmented by beasts of burden, they said. They offered him the lease of one, with a remote for controlling it. It was, they said, capable of following simple instructions, and gave him a list, because they didn't have learning capsules here, either, for religious reasons.

Religious reasons seemed to cover a great deal of “don't want to.” but Liam didn't point that out. This was Winthur, and they were all crazy fire worshipers.

They brought the beast of burden in with two guards, one with a staff or cudgel, the other holding a box with a blinking green light.

The beast of burden was a young Kedai male, half starved, if his hollow cheeks and sunken eyes were any guide. He still towered over the Winthurans, still was broader than both of them. He wore a dirty, ragged shirt and pants, skin showing bruises where the cloth didn't cover. His feet were filthy, and his dark hair hung in knotted clumps. He looked at Liam with impersonal hatred, his gaze flicking between the other men in the room with no more interest. A thick metal collar blinked a matching green light to the remote.

Liam had no fondness for the Kedai, he'd been drafted to help bring aid and medical supplies after they were beaten from Pendas, but he didn't hold with treating a sentient like an animal, not even with consent on both sides.

“That's the beast.” Elder Ramin said, gesturing with the remote. “It can carry, stack, but it needs supervision. Constant supervision.”