Ah, it was good to be home again. Alice didn't particularly like going on trips outside of Bazzarium preferring to hire people to make those trips for her. It wasn't hard to find good help these days if one paid enough. Everyone seemed to need a job. Alice was in business to make money though not overpay her employees.

She sighed. She wouldn't be staying long as she had hoped. The organization was recruiting in Compendium and she wanted to be there. One of the benefits of having a leadership position in the organization was that she got loyal labor for less cost then most other caravan owners. Compendium was a great place to recruit also. The people there jumped at any opportunity to move to someplace else and that is what Alice offered. A chance at a better future.

Alice chuckled to herself as she neared her destination. She had started in this business to help fund the organization not to exploit the organization for her benefit. The ancient free market economists had been proven right over and over in her life. It was true that any trade must be beneficial to both parties otherwise it could not take place. That was the essence of the creation of wealth. You had to elevate everyone if you want to reach the top.

Alice jumped down off the large wagon. Her second was already securing the beasts. As she neared the door of the familiar watering hole she could already hear the loud ruckus inside. Pausing for a moment she braced herself against the noise and walked through the door.

Alice pushed through the door and was momentarily stunned by the noise. She had always hated the caravan offices preferring to do all of her hire through recommendations. It was safer that way. Unfortunately there were times when that just wasn't enough and one had to go to the offices. This was one of those times.

Alice got over her uncomforted and walked to one of the many receptionists and handed over the paperwork recording the profits from her recent trip. Alice was careful to record the majority of her assets but not all. It was expected that she hide some of her profits just like it was expected that this receptionist would overcharge her for taxes and keep the excess. It made bribery a lot easier this way.

"I'm planning another trip soon into the Compendium territory." Alice mentioned to the receptionist with a smile. "I will need some reliable guards." The receptionist smiled showing a remarkable lack of teeth. The ones still there were rotting from lack of proper care. Alice stopped a grimace. "Of course there would be a finders fee for each acceptable candidate." Alice had enough experience in the business to know what happened to caravans that were unlucky enough to find unreliable employees. Better to spend the money now then lose the whole caravan later. Besides this was a special trip. She would be attending to it personally.

"Of course Ms. Coldwell. I always find the best." The receptionist tried to pull off a deeply insulted look. Smiling Alice turned and made her way to the end of the crowded building to find a quiet corner in which to wait. Underlings could have handled everything else but she personally needed to be here to meet the man that was coming.

Alice found a corner and pulled a old paperback from a pocket on her pants. Smiling she thought of how much this trip would benefit the movement. Her smile broadened when she thought of the profit.

The caravan offices were one of the few actual buildings in the Bazzar. Having avoided most of the bomb blasts, the building stayed fairly intact. However, even in its good shape, the place had to be patched up with scrap materials in some places. The interior had been "redecorated" with necessary post-war accessories, such as weapons, broken furniture, dirty paper archives and maps of the wastelands.

The main hall was the place where most people traded with numerous attendants behind tables. It was crowded, noisy, hot and damp, but most didn't have the time to notice. The hall had doors, or simply just doorways, to adjacent rooms where the caravan offices had their important archives, figures and finally the boss with his guards and valuables safe. The boss' room was one of the few to have fairly clean-looking wooden doors.

The large number of people meant one bumped into others constantly, but this was normal and everyone there was used to it. That and the hot, damp atmosphere made the caravan offices a place only the true traders could bear. There were windows, of course, with makeshift wooden screens that could be closed to protect against sand storms and the like. This wasn't of much help, though, since the air coming into the building from the wastelands was just as hot.

Despite the hall being too full of people going about their business, the receptionist that was dealing with Alice caught a glimpse of one of the guards by the boss' office snapping his fingers at him. This was followed by a simple gesture of pointing at the client and waving a finger backwards towards the doors.

The receptionist leaned slightly towards his left to see past the queue that gathered in front of his desk. He was looking at the woman that he had talked with just moments ago. "Ms. Coldwell! Ms. Coldwell!" He made sure the woman saw him before pointing towards the unmistakable doors that led to the secured room. "I think they want you there!"

Alice looked up from her book at the sound of her name and saw the receptionist motioning for her to go see the Boss. She sat stunned for half a moment. What could he possibly want with her? This was sure to bring unwanted attention to her. Already she was getting a sidelong glance from a few of the more unscrupulous patrons of the overcrowded and much to hot building.

Trying not to show any shock Alice careful replaced her book into the cargo pocket on her pants and gracefully got to her feet. She glanced at her second catching his eye. As she made her way to the door her second intercepted her.

"What did you pull now?" His voice was meant to sound unworried but Alice could hear the undertone that betrayed the stress he was feeling. She gave a reassuring half smile to her loyal employee and moved her mouth next to his ear.

Whispering Alice made it clear that it was now her seconds responsibility to obtain the package and secure it. "Whatever happens that package must be brought to Compendium."

With a second confident smile Alice covered the distance to the Bosses door and entered.

As the woman entered the room, two guards that were standing inside, closed the doors behind her. The sound of commotion had almost ceased completely. The wooden doors must have had surprisingly good sound proofing done on them. Not to mention the room. There was a single window, currently open, that was looking out on a fenced yard. Not something someone in the 21st century would be proud of, but in the wastelands, it was almost as if a small part of paradise fell on the scarred earth. There were all kinds of exotic plants growing in the small are. However, none of them drew one's eyes to it as the large sac tree right in the centre. How did he get a sac tree there? Or was it always there? No, it was too conveniently placed. As opposed to other sac trees closer to human or mutant settlements, this one seemed to be untouched. The sacs were large, full of the sweet liquid many cherished. It seemed it was the boss' private stash...

The furniture, as well, was a little more special than your usual wasteland office. There were only two chairs inside. One was a well-used pre-war era chair that had seen better days. The other one, on the other side of the large, imposing table, was that of the boss. Albeit scratched and used, it was something one did not see every day. Ironically enough, it was bigger than the boss.

On either side of the table was one row of archives. They must have been important for such a figure to keep them in his own room. The man looked up at the arrival. "Ahh... I had hoped I would catch you, Ms. Coldwell. Please, sit." He motioned to the chair on the opposite side to her.

None of the two guards ever said a word. If the boss didn't speak, one could only hear the wind blowing in fresh air from the window.

Alice was put immediately on edge. She had never been in this room before or talked to the head of the caravan offices. It was no exaggeration to say that this was the most powerful person in Bazzarium. These days power corrupted openly. One was normally always in their best interest when they avoided confrontations with the people in power. It was the polite manner that the man had spoken to her that really bothered her.

"Thank you." Alice moved gracefully forward and lowered herself into the offered chair. A breeze from the open window ruffled her hair giving her a little comfort. It didn't really help much in this heat but a breeze was still something to be cherished.

Alice subtly analyzed the guards. She would be hard pressed to deal with either of them but then she had no intention of attacking anyone. Escape was always a better option. The volumes along the wall interested Alice. She would have loved to get her hands on those.

Alice waited. She had know idea why she was here and thought it best to wait till the boss was good and ready to give her the answer. She suspected it had something to do with her coming trip to Compendium but who knew with this guy. What could be important enough in Compendium for the caravan offices boss to personally speak with her?

The boss slowly opened one of the creaky drawers of his desk and pulled out a full tree sac. With a thick bone needle, presumably a trophy from some kind of a mutant in the wastes, he punctured the top of the sac and let the contents pour into a dirty glass by his side. He took slow sips, savouring every bit of the juice that ran down his throat. After the refreshment, the man looked at the visitor.

"Yes... Alice. I have a rather... interesting and lucrative proposition for you. You have a certain reputation as a caravan leader here in this part of the wastes, which made me think of you as one of the right candidates for the job I have in mind." His speech was much more eloquent than what one could hear from the usual wastelands inhabitant, which made it clear that the boss spent most of his time dealing with high-profiled people.

He motioned to one of the guards, who promptly opened a small locker and brought an average-sized package to the table, placing it down gently. Afterwards, he returned to his original post, all of the time remaining silent. The box appeared to have been made from scrap cardboard, reinforced with aluminium poles and carefully sealed with a mixture of cloth and glue. The boss trailed his hand along the package's edge and let it rest on one of the corners, then looking back at the woman. He appeared much more focused now. "You take this box to Compendium, to a man called Josh Steddon. He will be waiting for you at the local pub."

He leaned back on the reclining chair. "As you are aware of the rules in our business, I don't think it necessary to remind you the box is to remain sealed and only leave your hands to be taken by Josh Steddon and no other." The boss nodded slowly, taking his hand off the package and pushing it slowly towards Alice's part of the table, then leaning back and taking another sip of the sac juice.

Alice expected that the Caravan boss wanted her to do something like this but she still had to control herself when he actually put the package in front of her. In calm demeanor learned from long experience trading Alice pretended to completely ignored the package while desperately wanting to examine it closer to see what was inside.

"Well now, that is very convenient. I just happen to be heading in that direction." She knew that he already knew probably more about her coming trip then she did but she wasn't about to give him that advantage in the coming negotiations. She was good at her job, taking pride in every profit. "Tell me more about this proposal, specifically the parts that are 'lucrative.'"

Alice relaxed and intertwined her fingers across her chest. She was in her element now. The heat and stuffiness of the building was not even noticed anymore.

The boss' face showed a slight smile creeping onto the corner of his mouth. He was right about her, she's business.

Still reclining in his chair, the man spoke up again: "The payment will be higher than the usual fee I pay for special deliveries, as will be the importance of safety of the package." He paused for a moment. "A man in Fort Bragg will give you your payment - after you deliver the package unharmed to Josh - a crate with fifteen fire bee spores and.. one whole kilogram of salt." Another slight smile. "I'm sure you will agree it is quite a hefty payment for such a small delivery.

The boss tapped the fingers of his hands together. They were rather dirty behind the nails. "Deliver this package to Josh Steddon. He will direct you to the man who will pay you." He paused again, now for a bit more than before, and looked straight into the woman's eyes. "All you have to do to seal this deal, Alice, is take the box." The boss pushed the package yet closer to her.

Alice was nervous. Whatever was in this package must be very valuable. The payment was more then fair even for a risky delivery. What made her nervous was the lack of negotiation. This price was more then enough for the job. If she tried to get more she would be laughed at and the deal would go down the tubes.

"That seems a reasonable payment." Alice eyed the package again and then hesitantly picked it up. "I assure you that this package will reach it's destination. Are there any special handling instructions i should know about? Obviously discretion doesn't have to be mentioned. How will I know this Steddon?"

Alice knew she was going to have to hire extra guards this trip. It was already strange that she was called back. If someone saw her leaving with a package she would be a target for every rouge and pirate from here to Compendium. She would have to leave immediately to try and beat the rumors.

The heat of the room suddenly seemed oppressive. Alice's paranoia picked up every twitch and movement of the residence of the room. Every dark corner seemed to hold secrets. It was time to get out of here.

Another, almost indistinguishable, smile crept on the caravan boss' face. His eyes were focused on the woman's hands for the period of her picking it up gingerly. After that, he leaned back, seemingly more relaxed. He opened one of the other drawers of his desk and brought a tobacco plant cigar up to his mouth. A still-working lighter took care of the fire and the man took a few long moments to puff smoke. "Excellent."

He looked at his cigar, while rolling it in his hand, and spoke quite slowly and clearly. "Josh. Josh Steddon. A fine fellow. He will be easily recognisable. "He's of average height and age. Probably the only bald man with an unorthodox hunting rifle slung around his back in Compendium. He will be waiting at the blacksmith's."

The boss took another glance at the package. "There are no special directions on how to carry the package, we have taken care of that. However, if the package is damaged or... opened, my client will not be satisfied and will certainly wish to exact some... punishment." He looked into the woman's eyes directly. "As a warning." And after another moment: "You're free to go, Alice."

The guards stepped sideways to let her through the doors, which one of them opened.