Soldier at the Door(45)
Mrs. Hili did not. “What some call character, others call provincial.”
By the blank reaction on his face it was obvious the distinction was lost on Perrin.
Mrs. Hili decided to educate him. “Captain Shin, consider the wisdom in building with block. You can have smooth walls and any kind of shape you want!”
“As long as it is roughly the same shape as the house next door,” Perrin pointed out. “I’ve seen what they’re doing in Idumea. And you have to hire men specially trained to build them.”
“Well it’s easier and faster to build all of them the same shapes.” Sensing that she was losing the argument, she turned to Mahrree, “You should come see them. I think you’ll be impressed. It’s what everyone wants this year.”
“Not me,” Perrin said shortly.
“But you should!” Mrs. Hili insisted.
“Why?”
“A grand house would prove how important you are to the community! To show your position!”
“My uniform does that,” Perrin said coolly.
“Not well enough,” Mrs. Hili countered with the air of a woman truly in the know. She glanced around their gathering and eating room that showed the remnants of the dinner, washing, and playtime. “This is hardly the way to impress others.”
Mahrree shrugged, never having been much concerned about Mrs. Hili’s opinions. “I’m not worried about impressing others. I don’t even know who I should worry about.”
Mrs. Hili rolled her eyes in her plump face. “You need to impress everyone! You need to get ahead! Attention! Progress! My goodness, what does a captain need to do to become a major?”
Perrin folded his ample arms across his broad chest. “Kill someone.”
Mrs. Hili went deathly pale.
As much as Mahrree approved of her husband’s answer, she chuckled to lighten the mood. “Not exactly. He trains the men well, has them prepared for attacks—” and, because she couldn’t help herself, she added, “I mean, he’s already killed a dozen men.”
Mrs. Hili began to swoon backwards.
Perrin smiled smugly.
Gripped with guilt, Mahrree groaned and caught Mrs. Hili by the arm before she fell over. “What I’m trying to get at is, we’re simply not worried about impressing people. We’re more concerned about what the Creator thinks of us.”
Mrs. Hili shifted her gaze from the terrifying captain to Mahrree’s deliberately sweet expression. She snapped out of her reverie.
“Yes, yes of course. Although I think you’re completely wrong, Miss Mahrree. I mean yes, we worry about the Creator’s opinion, but we live in the world. We have to impress the world.”
“Why?” Mahrree genuinely wanted to know.
Mrs. Hili blinked. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
“What I don’t get,” Perrin started, while Mrs. Hili looked at him uneasily, “is why people would spend so much money on those houses? They cost three times what our home cost.”
“At least!” Mrs. Hili puffed up proudly, straining the seams on her dress. “And the increasing values will multiply capital within the safe realm of speculative ventures.”
Perrin and Mahrree both stared at her.
“What does that mean?” Mahrree asked, not able to bear the suspense anymore.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Mrs. Hili confessed. “Our money manager explains it so much better than I do. You should come by and look at the houses.”
“No,” Perrin said resolutely. “I don’t see the reason at looking at something I know I don’t want.”
“Oh come now,” Mrs. Hili said. “What would it hurt?”
“A lot,” he said. “After I met Mahrree, I didn’t go looking for any more women. I was satisfied with what I have. Same with my house. Why look for something more if I have all that I need?”
“And you’re from Idumea?” Mrs. Hili asked incredulously.
“I barely escaped in time,” he deadpanned.
Mahrree snorted and made a mental note to kiss him later. “Besides,” she said to Mrs. Hili, “the new houses are too far away from the fort.”
“That’s not a problem!” Mrs. Hili said with a chubby finger in the air. “There are plans to build another housing development on the old catapult fields!”
Mahrree’s face fell. “You can’t! What about Catapult Day?”
Mrs. Hili scoffed. “Nonsense. Housing is far more important.”
“Maybe, but I won’t allow anyone to build there,” Perrin told her.
“Why not?! Who are you to say who can build there?”
Mahrree had seen that look in Perrin’s eyes before, but only directed at an obstinate mule. She gently squeezed his hand in a useless attempt to calm him.