SURVIVORS
Chaptre 142. Deal
Robert, Indra and Chandra's doctor assessed the ship as fit for performance by the village chief.
"I think it's a little narrow to fill 4 people." Doctor Chandra said.
"But if we sit sweet, it can still fit. Try sitting next to me, Doc." Indra.
"Later we sit in this section, this, this and this. Then pedal the boat." Indra.
"Hemm, I think Indra's right. After all there will be women whose bodies are smaller, so this is quite adequate." Robert agreed.
"And we can't use the screen, because the height doesn't fit our bodies. The one with the neck can get entangled in the rigging." Indra smiled
"Robert, ask them if there's a paddle big enough for us to use pedaling." Doctor Chandta said.
"okay."
Robert got off the boat, met the owner. Saying things they need. They discussed long enough, because they thought of how to make 8 rowers. Also have to look for one other ship with that size, because they need 2 ships.
"Hey you guys. If you say you want to go kill yourself to that place of light, then I will definitely sell my ship with pleasure." A voice interrupted the discussion of the three people.
Robert looked behind him. The old boatman stood with a sly look there.
"What do you mean, old man?" Ask Robert.
"Other times say clearly your purpose is to buy a boat or a boat. As long as he's not buying, then it doesn't matter." He replied with a cynical look towards the village chief.
"Don't I tell you it's for them. You chose not to believe my words." The village leader.
"But old man. I saw yours was just a little boat. It doesn't fit 4 people like me." Said Robert.
The old man smiled. "I have something bigger than that ship." The boatman pointed at the fisherman's boat.
"Oh yeah? But we have to see it first. And one more. Make us rowers for these 2 ships." Said Robert again.
The old man nodded and walked towards the other side of the beach. The village chief, the chief of the guards, the fisherman, Indra and the Chandra doctor followed from behind.
The coastline is now jutting into the back row of coconut trees. There are no boats on this beach. The beach is empty and empty.
"Why isn't anyone here tethering a boat?" Ask Indra wonder.
"How dare anyone tether a boat here. The old man would go berserk if he saw another boat on his land." The village chief.
"Yes, this is my land. So it's up to me." Reply boat maker does not want to lose.
"They are mortal enemies." Whisper Indra to Dr. Chandra. But Chandra's doctor didn't respond.
Now they see some blue dwarves working on a ship. And it's pretty big.
"Is this your shipyard?" ask Robert.
"What is a shipyard?" The boatman asked.
"The road means a place to build a boat or a ship." Indra explained.
"Oh, is that how you call it?" Ask without answering Robert's question.
"Is that the big ship you mentioned earlier? It's not even half the work." Guess the village chief.
"Follow me" said the boat maker.
They passed through the shipyard and the workers who went back and forth. Someone's fixing an old boat. Some smoothed the wood. There were those who lifted long wooden slats onto the ship that looked very large for their size.
The old boatman arrived in front of a large, closed door. He took out a series of keys from his belt. He took the biggest key, put it in the keyhole on the door. I heard a pretty loud click. Then he shifted to the right side near the wall. His hand went into a wooden box and pulled something. Back there was a click, then a creak and swipe from behind the door.
The large door that turned out to be two, shifted to the left and right sides. It turns out it's a garage. Now they could see a wheeled wooden pedestal on which was a large and powerful ship. A little bigger than the fishing boat seen earlier.
"Woa.. This is a very nice ship." The fisherman was amazed. He looked at all sides of the ship.
Robert, Chandra and Indra's doctors must also admit that this boat builder is very skilled in his field. The old man walked to the back of the garage. I don't know what he's doing, but now the ship's shifting a little near the door so they can see clearly.
"It seems that this old man understood some simple mechanical systems. Very smart." Dr. Chandra murmured. Robert agreed.
Now they're checking the entire ship. Indra's opinion and experience as a former sailor, much needed now. They went upstairs to check in detail. Indra really checked carefully. Including their seats later. Because this ship is designed with a sailboat and has a bottom cabin, it takes some adjustments to be easily controlled by paddling.
And because of their high posture, the screen cloth hook straps so it feels very disturbing. Robert, the tallest of his two friends, had 3 times his neck tangled with the screen rope. He could only grumble and be greeted with another amused laugh.
"You've checked everything. What do you think?" Asked the old man with an arrogant attitude.
Robert looked at Indra.
"How much?" Ask Indra.
The old man was a little disappointed to see that the three big men did not look amazed at all.
"250 silver coins." He said without thinking anymore.
"You deliberately put an unreasonable price. You just want to show off your ship. You old jacka." The village chief could not contain his emotions. The chief of the guards restrained his body from hitting the shipbuilder.
"It's expensive." Cute the fisherman. His heart immediately shrieked hearing such a high price.
Indra, Robert and Dr. Chandra discuss. Their silver coins are already crossed. They planned to give a little money to the village chief and the chief of the guards in return for the hospitality and hard work and assistance they provided. Previously they had also given little money to fix the broken train wheels in the village on the ridge.
Robert asked the chief of the bodyguards, how much the value of gold coins compared to silver.
"1 gold coin equals 1000 silver coins" he said confidently. Robert nodded.
"Please give me a more reasonable price." Said Robert.
"No, don't bargain anymore." Ketus.
Indra whispered to Robert.
"We want the deck section to be changed a little so that we can sit comfortably to pedal, including 8 oars for the rower. 4 for this boat, 4 for the fishing boat. And we want it done tomorrow." How's it?" Robert is still negotiating.
The old man thought for a moment. Talk to a worker for a while.
"Many things need to change, too. With the paddle it might just be done by noon or afternoon." Answer with a frown.
"Agreed." The happy faces of Robert, Indra and Dr. Chandra could not be covered.
"Oh yeah, it's ropes and screen cloth. We don't need it. You keep it." Point Indra towards the rope that will only snare their necks.
"We'll get it done." The old boat maker.
"We will pay with gold coins. Do you have the change?" Ask Robert again.
The mouths of the village chief and the fisherman were open.
"They are very rich" whispered the fisherman. The village leader nodded.
"They're the king's guests." Obviously the village leader. He glanced at the head of the bodyguard who stood quietly.
'They were even escorted by 4 royal guards. And this remote village had the honor of serving the royal guest.' The village chief felt proud in his heart.
"Don't trick me. Show me your gold coins first." Said the arrogant shipbuilder.
The chief of the guards stomped his feet to the ground in annoyance. His face was red and withstood embarrassment. This old man was so arrogant, daring to insult the royal guest.
The old man was a little surprised. He momentarily forgot that the large group of people had come from the royal city among the palace guards.
Robert calmed down the chief of the guards. It's purely business. So it has to be open. The old man was only used to being arrogant. So Robert didn't put it in his heart.
Robert took out the money bag Glenn had given him. Opened the straps. Then two of his fingers went in and chose from some of the coins that were there.
"See the money bag. It's expensive cloth and there's a beautiful family emblem embroidery." Whisper the fisherman to the village chief.
"This is the gold coin." Robert showed me the coin.
The old man checked for a moment. Once convinced it was genuine, the coin was returned to Robert.
"good. Tomorrow you'll pay it when the wood is finished and we'll get rid of all the rope tonight." Disconnecting.
Robert nodded and smiled. "Tomorrow we'll be back."
The six men returned to the shore where the fisherman's boat was moored.
"So, what about you?" Robert wanted to finish the conversation with the fisherman who had not finished.
The fisherman waited for Robert to finish his sentence.
"Do you want to sell a boat today or want to go to sea first? We're probably leaving tomorrow afternoon." Ask Robert to make sure.
"Tomorrow. So I can still go to sea tonight." The answer.
"OKAY. So do you agree on the price of 140 silver coins?" Ask Robert.
"150 silver coins. Tomorrow the ropes of the screen will be neatened. You've seen how much a new boat costs. I don't know if I can buy another ship or not." The fisherman complained
But he smiled inwardly, knowing that the great men were rich, so he would not sell too cheaply.
Robert nodded for a moment. The fisherman has a point. For the size of the fishing boat, the new price may be around 200 silver coins.
"alright.. I pay tomorrow. So we go back first. See you tomorrow." Robert caught the fisherman.
The five people returned to the village chief's residence. Still have to be patient waiting another day. I hope all plans today go well. And they can continue their journey again.
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