Venn’s service column reached the western approach before the freight did.
Iven recognized the Compact mark above the tank wagons, then the man standing beside the unloading frame. Mael Venn had his coat off and both hands on a connected lifting bar while two ordinary riggers eased a full water vessel toward its seat.
The vessel was too heavy to be anybody’s casual display.
The frame carried its weight. Venn’s counterweight pattern moved the last uneven demand through the tackle, keeping the lower corner from striking the receiving wall. His hands stayed in contact with the connected assembly. When the riggers called the seat clear, he eased the movement down and let the physical support take it.
The local keeper checked the tank’s source mark before opening the receiving line. Its last fill had been at a protected spring two road stages west, not hauled unchanged from Long Pool through thirty-six thirsty days. The column had carried empty capacity where water was scarce and taken the actual load where a station could sell it without losing its own reserve.
A driver stood beside the tank with the last two source accounts, tired of explaining them and still willing to explain them again.
