Kapitel 29: Reaching Bangor Harbor!
"Sir, we've arrived. This is Bangor Harbor," Kenny announced as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the Green Vine Inn.
Leonard lifted the curtain and peered outside. The gravel road stretched ahead, bordered by three- and four-story buildings with weathered but sturdy facades. Pedestrians filled the streets, their faces rosy from the crisp air, dressed in thick coats and scarves to stave off the harbor's chill.
'So this is Bangor Harbor,' Leonard thought, taking in the bustling scene. It was a far cry from the muddy dirt roads of his hometown, where rain turned paths into treacherous traps for clean trousers. The harbor town, though not a grand city, had a vitality and order that impressed him, especially after the rugged scenery he'd witnessed along the journey.
"Sir, the remaining fare?" Kenny asked hesitantly, breaking Leonard's thoughts.
Leonard handed over the remaining coins, which Kim accepted with repeated thanks.
"Sir, do you need a ride somewhere else?" Kim offered. "I'll be staying here for a couple of days, giving the horses some rest. Plus, things are cheaper here than back home, so I plan to bring some goods for my family."
Leonard glanced at his teacher, Alfonso, who was engrossed in a magic book, seemingly indifferent to the exchange. Leonard had learned by now to interpret his teacher's silences, and this one signaled no objections.
"If I need to find someone, do you know anyone who can help?" Leonard asked.
"The innkeeper should be your first stop," Kenny suggested. "They usually know all kinds of people around town."
Taking Kim's advice, Leonard approached the innkeeper through the coachman's introduction. The innkeeper, a shrewd man with sharp eyes, gave Leonard a quick once-over. 'Not a noble,' he thought, 'but renting a carriage for such a distance means he's got money.'
"If you're looking for someone," the innkeeper began, "you'll want to talk to Big Gold Tooth at the docks. He's got plenty of lackeys and knows more about the local news than anyone else. But fair warning: he'll squeeze you for every coin he can."
Leonard nodded. "Understood. Please help me arrange it."
The innkeeper smirked slightly, already calculating his cut. With a gesture, he summoned one of his bodyguards and instructed him to bring someone. A short while later, a man stumbled in, a drunkard with a foul stench, his hair greasy and unkempt.
The innkeeper gave Leonard a brief nod and walked away, leaving him with the disheveled man. The drunk held up five dirty fingers. "Five silver coins," he slurred. "Give me five silver coins, and I'll take you to my boss."
Leonard's expression didn't waver as he pulled out the coins and handed them over. The drunk inspected each one meticulously, biting the metal with yellowed teeth and sniffing it as if verifying its authenticity. Satisfied, he shoved the coins into a pocket at the back of his pants and grinned.
"Follow me," he said.
The man led Leonard out of the inn, weaving through narrow alleys and side streets. Leonard stayed close, his mind focused on the encounter ahead with the infamous Big Gold Tooth.
Leonard frowned and called out, "Wait a minute."
The drunkard stopped mid-step, turning back with a quizzical expression.
"I have another companion," Leonard explained. "Wait here while I go find them."
He returned to the front of the hotel, only to discover the carriage empty. His teacher, Alfonso, was gone.
'How does a grown man just wander off?' Leonard thought, exasperated. He asked Kenny if he'd seen any sign of Alfonso.
Kenny shook his head nervously. "When I got off the carriage earlier, there was no one inside."
Leonard turned to the hotel owner, who also claimed to have seen nothing. Silent for a moment, Leonard considered the situation. 'The teacher wouldn't just vanish unless it was intentional,' he thought. Alfonso was resourceful and more than capable of taking care of himself. If anything, people with ill intentions should be more worried about him than the other way around.
'He probably wants me to focus on what I came here to do.' Leonard nodded inwardly. Alfonso had shown no objection when Leonard mentioned finding his family, so he must have his reasons for stepping away now.
With that, Leonard returned to the side door, where the drunkard was waiting.
"Finally," the man grumbled, taking the lead again. He stumbled forward, circling through streets with practiced ease. Leonard followed with a calm demeanor, hands in his pockets, his eyes betraying no emotion. Beneath his feet, he could feel the subtle movements of two iron earthworms trailing along, hidden in the soil.
The night before, Leonard had sent the creatures ahead in the direction he would travel. They had burrowed quietly through the ground, a precaution in case of trouble. Now, they moved in tandem with him, an invisible safety net in a city where trust was a luxury.
'In this chaotic world, the line between transaction partner and thief is thin,' Leonard mused. He wouldn't be caught unprepared.
They crossed a bustling street as seagulls cried overhead. Along the endless blue coastline, large ships rested at the docks, while the canals teemed with life. Workers in short-sleeved shirts unloaded crates from the ships, while others loaded new goods onto the vessels. The air smelled of salt and spices, mingling with the scents wafting from nearby restaurants and bakeries.
Tourists, clad in vibrant, exotic clothing, disembarked from steamships to explore the seaside streets. The whitewashed buildings, adorned with conch and mermaid statues, sparkled in the sunlight. Bars, specialty shops, and cafes lined the streets, drawing both locals and travelers alike.
A whistle pierced the air, signaling the arrival of another steamship. Black smoke billowed from its chimney as it docked. Passengers leaned out over the railings, many with flowing purple-black hair and elegant lace hats.
The drunkard sneered. "That's a steel ship from the Fisher Empire. Those purple-haired tourists are loaded. Look at those brats with the flowers and shells, they make more than I do leading the way."
He spat on the ground, his envy evident. "This is the 'new dock.' Even the laborers here have noble connections. Every shop along this stretch belongs to some powerful family. The money they pull in could keep me drunk for a year."
Leonard's curiosity deepened. "Is Big Gold Tooth connected to this dock?" he asked, intrigued by the potential influence behind the name.
The drunkard shook his head. "Nah, our boss works out of the 'old dock.' This one's full of fancy foreign ships. The old dock is for merchant ships, mostly from the kingdom. That's where we're headed."
They moved away from the lively streets of the new dock, the roads growing shabbier as they went. The surroundings became quieter, with fewer pedestrians. After walking for nearly half an hour, the path became increasingly run-down, potholes marking the uneven ground.
Then, as they approached the old dock, the streets grew busy again, the air alive with the sounds of shouting sailors and creaking ropes. The energy here was rougher, grittier; a stark contrast to the polished elegance of the new dock. Leonard glanced around, his senses sharp as he prepared for the encounter ahead.
The old dock had a completely different energy from the bustling new port. While the new dock gleamed with activity and modernity, this area was steeped in age and wear. The buildings, mismatched in height and weathered by time, told stories of generations past. Drainage pits lined the front of each house, and a woman casually poured out water from a basin into one as Leonard passed by.
On the distant coastline, crates and barrels were stacked high on the docks, while workers, drenched in sweat, strained to move cargo. Their shouts mingled with the clatter of crates and the hum of busy labor. In the alleys, dark-skinned children, clad in nothing but tattered underwear, darted past, their laughter echoing despite their naked vulnerability.
"This is the old dock," the drunkard announced, nodding as if to confirm it for himself. He gestured for Leonard to follow him into a narrow alley. "Oh, and don't call the boss 'Big Gold Teeth.' His name is Hampton."
Soon, they stopped in front of a house that looked no different from the other crumbling structures in the area. Two burly men with dark skin and tattoos lounged against the wall near the entrance. The faint sound of chatter and dice rolling leaked out from inside.
"We're here to see Hampton," the drunkard said.
The two men eyed Leonard skeptically, noting his calm demeanor and youthful face. With a shrug, they waved him inside.
---
"Big! Big! Big!"
"Small! Small! Small!"
Inside, a group of burly men surrounded a table, cheering and cursing as dice clattered against the wooden surface. Copper coins gleamed in small piles next to their fists, evidence of a heated gambling session.
Upstairs, in a room with an open window, a rotund man sat on a worn sofa. He wore a tilted hat, and his sparse beard gave him a disheveled appearance. This was Hampton, the man they called Big Gold Teeth. A cigar smoldered in his hand as he leaned forward, his eyes locked on Hamilton, who stood across from him.
"I heard from Jeffs that you're strapped for cash," Hampton said, his voice smooth but weighted with an unspoken menace. "I can lend you some, but it all depends, will you do what I ask?"
Hamilton stood silently, his massive 1.9-meter frame dwarfing the room. His mind churned. The doctor had warned him just yesterday that his wife's illness would only worsen if they stayed in this damp, cold port. Moving to a drier place was essential, but it would cost money; a lot of it. On top of that, he had to support his family, pay for treatment, and now, somehow, track down Ava. The weight of it all was suffocating.
Last night, he had wanted to confront the two thugs who took Ava, but they must have sensed his fury and avoided home altogether. Hamilton had come to work at the dock today, trying to suppress his rage and despair. A fellow loader had noticed his sour mood and, after some prodding, introduced him to Hampton.
Hamilton had heard of Big Gold Teeth before, or "The Dock Rat" as some called him. The old dock was filled with shadows, and Hampton was one of its most notorious figures. Shady dealings, smuggling, and underground networks, Hampton had his fingers in them all. It wasn't the kind of man Hamilton wanted to associate with, but desperation had a way of dissolving principles. If Hampton could help find Ava, it might be worth the risk.
"I'll do it," Hamilton said after a heavy pause. His voice was steady, but his resolve wavered inside.
Hampton smirked, taking a long drag from his cigar. "Good choice."
Just then, a knock came at the door.
"Boss," one of Hampton's men whispered in his ear after stepping in.
Hampton's smirk widened. "The drunkard brought a little fat sheep," he said, laughing. "Let's go meet them. Hamilton, you might enjoy this."
He stood, straightening his hat, and headed downstairs with a swagger, eager to see what business opportunity awaited.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein