Portum by Kate Ridley

Author:Kate Ridley [Ridley, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2022-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6 – Making Paper

The sun was setting as Garad, Edwin and Chris left the paper crafters hut. There was an easy-going camaraderie between them which, given their reputation, surprised Chris. His head was spinning with new knowledge; with words like deckle and furnish, couching and pulping. He had spent the day learning how to break down tree fibres in the first stage of paper making. His arms and back were aching but he had never been happier.

He bid so-long to his new colleagues and went to his accommodation to wash and change ready for the evening meal. His shirt was covered in fragments of tree pulp, which stuck to everything. Remembering his new apprentice pin, he took it from his pocket and put it on his bed. He had just put a clean shirt on when Bertram and Jay came through the doorway.

‘Hey stranger!’ Jay cried. ‘Where were you at lunchtime? We missed you.’

‘Oh, I had lunch at work.’ Chris told him. ‘It’s a bit of a walk to come all the way in, so we need to take ours with us. They shared with me today.’

‘Where have they put you?’ Bertram asked, struggling out of his clothes and dumping them in a pile on the floor.

‘I told you, they don’t ‘put’ you anywhere, you get to choose,’ Jay told him, rolling his eyes at Chris.

‘I’m working with the paper makers,’ Chris told them.

Bertram’s head whipped round. ‘You’re what? How did you land that gig? I thought they were really picky!’

‘They are.’ Chris said. ‘They wanted me, asked Fallaren for me. But I still had the choice.’ He didn’t mention the other offers he’d received. Best not to irritate Bertram any more.

‘That’s fantastic!’ Jay was happy enough for all of them. ‘You learned any trade secrets yet?’

‘Yup, but they’re secret, can’t tell the likes of you.’ Chris grinned at him.

‘Fair enough, fair enough. You off to dinner? You do still eat with us commoners, don’t you?’

‘I’ll consider it,’ Chris was enjoying this, it was almost as good as being with the gang back in Salutem.

‘Wait for us then,’ Jay said. ‘Won’t be a minute, if Bertie gets a move on that is.’

Bertram, grumbling, moved over to allow Jay access to the washing station, and before long they were all sauntering in the direction of the big square and a good, hot meal.

***

Once they had taken their seats, the interrogation began in earnest.

‘What’s it like working with them? Everyone says they’re the most miserable pair in Portum?’ Jay said. ‘Do you think you’ll like it? What’s the work like? Is it difficult? Are they alright really? How hard is it to make a book?’

Chris could hardly get a word in. ‘They’re not miserable!’ he said when Jay paused for breath. ‘They just don’t like being interrupted. It’s delicate work.’ He thought for a moment, recalling the brute force required to strip the bark. ‘You need to focus; it could be dangerous if you lose concentration at the wrong time. If my hand had slipped when I was removing the bark I could have lost a finger…or an arm.

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