Contract For Safety Miner's Lamp
1478 Words
After the contract was signed, a handshake was firmly shaken to seal the deal formally. I smiled widely, at last, flashing my pearly whites to the representatives of the Economics of Mining and Metallurgy Department on Durham.
The year 1441 was truly a good year since there was quite a lot of new things happening that helps the economy in a good way.
We had the Standing Icebox being constantly manufactured and sent out to the 15 towns in batches. We also have the multiple Chilled Copper Tuns that was ordered by the taverns to accommodate the number of ales and beers that they sell.
Even the House of Lord from the 15 towns ordered several of the Standing Icebox as well as the Chilled Copper Tuns for their own use in the pantry as well as entertaining their own guests on the dining hall et cetera.
And this year alone, even if the advertising and marketing for the Hair and Body Wash liquid and blocks were being implemented, the samples were being processed as we speak.
Besides, the miners would need to wash as well right? So maybe a few blocks as a gift would be great for these representatives or ambassadors to bring back. Through word of mouth, they would be able to spread our goods through word of mouth.
What free advertising and marketing gimmick...!
"Alright, Your Majesty. The deal is done here. We would be making our move first. Besides, these 4 men would be left behind to support the making of the wire cages."
"Once the first shipment is complete, you may package them and send one of them over with the wagon along to Durham. Just provide us with an invoice so we ourselves could acknowledge it and send you the coins over."
I was once again taken aback by their spontaneous decisions as they made to accommodate the manpower and to facilitate the orders into an organised schedule.
I truly lauded their foresight...!
The transaction was made for the purchase of the minerals as one wagon was offloaded to let the 4 ambassadors travel back to Durham and bring the contract back to the Economics of Mining and Metallurgy Department.
Since the wagons had a two-seater with spring-loaded bearing under the seats, thick cushions were placed on it to prevent bump and sores on a long journey. So off they went, leaving 3 wagons with the heavy-duty dray horses.
After they had exited the Western gate, I can't help but guffawed aloud and clapped the shoulders of the shocked Firestone and the astonished Old Jack as he thought I had somehow gone crazy over a deal.
Little did everyone knew that there were several eyes that had been monitoring the movement of the wagons in and out of Gracehaven...!
=*=
"You are going to be a rich man, Firestone. What are you going to do with all your wealth?" I teased Firestone and he looked at me blankly while Heather explained that he would be earning 40 silvers for every transaction weekly for the next 24 weeks...!
"Eh...? 40 silvers a week? How so?" Firestone was staring at me blankly once again and Heather slowly explained to him and when the realisation finally hit him, he toppled backwards in his bench and was clutching his head and his stomach as he too laughed out loud...!
He was earning as much as a supervisor back then here in Gracehaven now at 5 silvers a month. Now he would be earning 40 silvers a week that makes him earn 160 silvers or 3 gold and 10 silvers a month...! That's more money than he earned for some years...!
"Gee... By Golly, Your Majesty... I have never earned so much in my life before. I am a simple man with simple needs. I have my daughter right here with me and I have a wonderful town where I consider my neighbours as my own family members."
"What else can you do besides in the mining industry, Firestone?"
"I know a few simple accounts as I used to handle sales transactions as well as salaries for the coal miner before. It was nothing really, just some coppers to be paid to the workers weekly while I bring the sum of the sales transactions to the treasury once the buyer had purchased them."
"Marcel, do you have any suggestion?"
"Not at the moment, my friend. But once the construction of the factory is complete and the works are in full swing, then I have a need for Firestone in various departments. Yes... That's it. Because I would be collaborating closely with the operations of the factory closely. So how is it, Manager?"
I was pleased with the decisions and the vision of Marcel as he thought of something for Firestone to be able to manage in the near future. As the wire caged incandescent lamps were an ongoing process as there were 4 lads working on it, the operations would run seamlessly.
"Old Jack... What if you were to run the operations for the wire caged incandescent lamps on a 16 hours cycle with the 4 lads? Would you be able to extend and complete the orders within the stipulated time?"
Old Jack pondered for a while before he spoke up, "Let me try for the normal operations for a week and then the 16 hours in the next. I guess you want the lads to work in a single shift from morning right till 11 in the evening, I suppose?"
"That's the whole idea, old Jack. These 4 lads would not be involved with any other forms of work except just for the project that they were assigned. Besides, it's only for 6 months and they would return back to their homes after that."
"Could you kindly get Ben or Frank to assign a single house for them. The 4 of them could share a single house or in pairs instead. Do brief them about dodging and swerves and other house rules here as well."
"Will do, Your Majesty. I will see to it immediately and inform Ben or Frank to assist. So you would be putting their names and biodata temporarily in the census?"
"That's right, I would do that later after the night conference. Thank you for your kind reminder, Old Jack."
"How about their remunerations? Would it be under our headcount?"
"Well, you have your own ways to squeeze information from them and feedback to me once you had gathered them. Besides, it would hurt for us to throw in some kind of bonus once they had completed their project here. If not for them, we won't be earning 2,000 silvers or 40 gold pieces per week...!"
"You are most fair in your judgement and decisions, Your Majesty. I will soon attend to your requests and would get back to you by evening time."
I nodded as Old Jack bowed slightly and left the domain as he walked back to the Blacksmith and were chatting animatedly with the lads. It seems that they were feeling positive with the atmosphere Old Jack was creating around him and the workplace.
I turned to retrieve my census population journal and made 4 new entries where I drew a horizontal line across under the latest entry and marked them as 'Temporary Residency (Durham)'
Well, the remaining would wait as I walked out of the domain and went to the infirmary where Heather had gone to seek for some consultation and checkup by Old Kayla and a nurse that mediated as a midwife.
=*=
"There's some bleeding but it's not a major issue. Heather just suffered some stress and fright but she would go over it as she was not entirely traumatised by the experience earlier. It's just unfortunate she was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Old Kayla reassured me as she placed her confronting hands on mine as she relates the findings after I had sat outside on a bench allocated by the infirmary. She would refer Heather by name when she was with me, so I won't mind a bit.
"So Heather would be alright after all, I'd go and monitor the work progress for the bamboo barricades and also to monitor the repair works for the broken firing kilns at the clay production area."
"Alright childe, Heather would be kept here on close observation for a day. I would be releasing her with a full report for you tomorrow evening then. Come back and visit her after your work, OK?"
Old Kayla suggested and I agreed as I left the premise and went to the devastated area to ensure that most of the damage had been cleared. Its quite an eyesore to leave those damaged herbal garden in that manner after the wretched mutant armadillo had its fun smashing things up.
- Writer
