The carrier returned with three receipts and no larger cart.
Lyra had expected the receipts. She was grateful for the cart too, once he brought it into the receiving yard and showed the clerk where another week’s stock would have to fit.
“Here,” he said. “Or on top of me.”
The clerk looked at the narrow seat.
“That would be difficult.”
“It would be expensive. Difficult is what I already do.”
His three light loads incurred Lyra’s proposed fixed processing charge three times. The larger carrier’s single wagon would save money. This was not an imaginary edge case which could be removed by calling small traders inconvenient.
She paid the agreed time for his contribution to the review and asked permission to copy the relevant entries with his customers omitted.
