THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE
Part 62's. Investigations
"You get paid that price? When did they put up the announcement?"
"Ohh no, they didn't put up an announcement, spread by their men in the harbor. We know from the guy at the auction."
"Where is the auction, who are their people there?"
"You're curious Miss?"
"Yes, as far as I'm concerned the price shouldn't be that low."
"Miss you know where the price isn't that low. It'll be hot gossip if you're right."
"You're still waiting for news from the regulators when they open the catch season instead, how about you become my kind of tour guide, instead I'll guarantee the price is not that low."
The man, who was about 50 years old, seemed enthusiastic.
"Captain Tim Henderson is ready to help you Mam, whoever you are!" He extended his hand to me. He was a ship owner. I smiled at him.
"Just call Eliza Capt, we have to go to the auction, I want to know who put the price so. Which ship are you talking about?"
"My ship up ahead there Mam, it's called Lighting Speed, because here when the arrest hours are announced, everyone is racing to herring place off the coast. Our ship group also has a small plane that can see where herring gathers from the air."
"Definitely exciting." I imagine when the ships start to set off and chase the big horde of herring.
*Herring \= Hollow Fish/Pias Fish/Slaver Fish (usually only found in the waters of East Sumatra)
"Last year as usual they were clustered in Sitka Sound Nona, there was a plane that could see where they were clustered at high altitude. We just spread the net, once a few years ago I remember very well before there was a major disaster infected our fleet caught 24,000 tons in one day, that year the capture quota should only be 45,000 tons I think we spent half the annual quota in just one day." He told me with passion.
"It seems very nice to catch fish tens or even hundreds of tons."
"This year the regulator made a double quota, we think with the price offered we can not expect much. But now Miss says the price is not so. This is very exciting news."
"I'll investigate, Miss needs help at the auction?"
"No, I have my own guide. Don't worry I'm safe."
"None right."
We arrived at the auction, our factory has its own auction area which we built at the request of the government as well as a dock for loading the catch.
"Miss, it's that guy who sets the price of the factory." Tim Henderson pointed to a man who was talking to some people. "Name John Carney."
I saw that guy. A brown-haired man in his mid-30s I think his friend is the same.
"Next is Tom Culver's assistant."
"Are you familiar with them."
"They work with the factory before, also handle the same parts. If you say familiar? i suppose yes. They've been working at auctions for years. I don't think they can play with the price. They themselves complain the price is too low."
"so. You can introduce me to them. Let's just say I heard the price the factory gave wasn't that much."
"Of course you can Miss." He took me in front of the two men. "John, Tom!" The two men looked at the moment
"Mr Henderson, how are you? Why are you here, you're usually busy at the harbor at these times."
"I brought Miss Eliza here. You know he heard the price the manufacturer gave us wasn't that low. You didn't get the wrong info from the guy up there? You've given us the wrong info that broke our spirits."
"Where may I be wrong, miss, you know where the price is not like that, we just run our duties from the superior. The announcement was issued by Mr. Mike Pence himself." Mike Pence, who's this Mike on the financial track.
"Do you have orders from Mr. Mike Pence."
"True Miss, you know I'm also all-out at the complaint by the fisherman here. If you say the price is not so, you must go to Mr. Mike Pence, he gave us his orders. Miss who? What are the top management people too?"
"Who is Mike Pence?"
"He's a financial manager, a purchasing manager."