It was midnight at the Oasis. Except for Harper and Doyle, the bar was deserted. The day had started out in a festive mood with the patrons still celebrating Rhade's victory over the Tans the previous day, but had turned somber when Jeri had one of her seizures. Harper had sent her home, accompanied by Trance and one of Rhade's deputies. With two-thirds of his help gone and the bar in a gloomy mood, Harper had closed early. So, he and Doyle now had cleanup duty alone. The door to the bar was open to catch what little cool breeze was blowing. Harper was behind the counter washing glasses while Doyle was running a broom over the floor. Neither was speaking, but both were enjoying being in the company of the other. Their companionable silence was ruined when Beka stormed into the barroom.
"What the hell are you up to, Harper?" asked Beka as soon as she entered the bar.
"What do you mean what am I up to?" asked Harper as he put down his wash rag. "I haven't been doing anything."
"I mean this umwa thing you've been spouting about," said Beka as she walked up to the counter, completely ignoring Doyle who had stopped sweeping to keep an eye on Beka. "I know you too well. You're up to something. You never get involved unless you see something in it for you. So why are you doing this? What do you expect to get out of it?"
"You're right, Beka," said Harper, annoyed at the unwanted interruption as he moved from behind the counter to pick up some empty glasses sitting on one of the tables. "I do expect to get something out of this. I expect to get a place where I don't have to worry about the company shutting me down on a whim. I expect to get a place where my barmaids can walk home without having to worry about being injured in a riot. I expect to get a place where when Doyle and I have children, they won't live in fear of the company police. That's what I expect to get out of it."
Beka moved so she was blocking Harper's path back to the rear of the bar counter. "Your stupid mudfeet are biting the hand that feeds them," she said. "They should be thanking the company. The company's willing to not just give them a job, but to feed them, give them a place to live, and medical care. And this is how you repay them."
"A slave owner has to give his slaves the same thing, Beka. The company gives the miners everything except freedom."
"They aren't slaves. They can leave any time they want."
"Provided they survive a walk across a hundred kilometers of desert. And even then they'll spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders. The company has gotten the materials we mine listed as strategic assets. Breaking a company contract isn't a civil offense; it's a criminal one, treason. If they're married and take their family with them, their spouse would be considered a criminal as well. Even if they weren't employed by the company.
"Ouray prefecture has some of the toughest mine safety laws on the continent, but Seefra Fuel and Iron has an accidental death rate better than twice that of any other company in the prefecture. The company has the prefecture government in its pocket and is running the mines in a way that would be the envy of the overseer of a Nietzschean slave labor camp."
Harper put the empties on the bar counter and gave Beka a quizzical look as another thought crossed his mind.
"Why do you care anyway?" he asked. "You've never shown much interest in what goes on in south-side before."
"I've heard the talk about how your little operation will bring in more suppliers," said Beka. "I've got a good thing going here bringing in supplies to north-side." Her hand moved to touch her holstered gauss pistol. "I'm not going to let you and your friends screw it up for me by bringing in a bunch of competition."
Noticing where Beka had placed her hand, Doyle put down her broom and came up to stand beside Harper. "You've said enough, Beka," she said. "Why don't you come back tomorrow when you're less upset, and we can talk about this rationally?"
Beka looked Doyle up and down, taking in her work-stained clothing. "If it isn't Harper's animated sex toy showing a little spine. I see he has you earning your keep in another way besides on your back."
Doyle flushed at the insult, but refused to take the bait.
"I think it's time for you to leave, Beka," said Harper, striving to keeping his voice level. He might have been willing to debate politics with Beka, but he wasn't going to tolerate her insulting Doyle.
"I'll leave when I'm ready, mudfoot. Tell me, have you programmed her to make noises like she's enjoying it when you use her?"
"You're ready to leave now, bitch," said Doyle.
Beka's reflexes were fast for a human's, but Doyle was faster. Before Beka could react, Doyle had her in a come-along hold and was marching her out the door. "You really should keep the door shut after closing time," she said to Harper as she pushed Beka out the door and locked it shut. "It keeps the trash out."