Page 135 of The Armor of Light

Hornbeam sat.

Sal decided to keep the initiative. Remembering Spade’s suggestion, she said: ‘You and I have a problem.’

He looked supercilious. ‘What problem could I possibly share with you?’

‘Your new mill has steam-driven looms.’

‘How would you know that? Have you been trespassing on my property?’

‘There’s no law against looking through windows,’ Sal said crisply. ‘That’s what glass is made for.’

She heard Spade chuckle.

I’m doing all right, she thought.

Hornbeam was disconcerted. He had not expected her to be articulate, let alone witty.

Will Riddick went on the attack. ‘We hear you’ve formed a union.’

‘There’s no law against that, either.’

‘There should be.’

Sal turned back to Hornbeam. ‘Of the weavers you have now, how many are going to be told there’s no more work for them when you move into the Piggery Mill?’

‘It’s called Hornbeam’s Mill.’

That might be true, but everyone was calling it Piggery Mill. He seemed unduly angry over this detail.

Sal repeated her question. ‘How many?’

‘That’s my business.’

‘And if the weavers go on strike, that too will be your business.’

‘I shall do what I think fit with my own property.’

Deborah interrupted. She looked at Jarge. ‘Mr Box, you work at Hornbeam’s Upper Mill.’

So they’ve realized that, Sal thought.

Jarge said: ‘You can fire me if you like. I’m a good weaver, I’ll get work elsewhere.’

‘But I would like to know exactly what you hope for from this meeting? You surely don’t expect my father to abandon the new mill and the steam engine.’

Interesting, Sal thought; the daughter is more reasonable than the father.

‘Yes, I do,’ said Jarge defiantly.

Sal said: ‘Our main concern is that weavers should not find themselves out of work because of your steam engine.’

Hornbeam said: ‘A foolish idea. The whole point of the steam engine is to replace workers.’

‘In that case there will be trouble.’

‘Are you threatening me?’

‘I’m trying to tell you the facts of life, but you’re not listening,’ Sal said, and the contempt in her own voice startled her. She stood up, surprising Hornbeam again: it would usually be he who ended a meeting. ‘Good evening to you.’ She walked out, and Jarge and Spade followed.