Shintaro had seen trains during his travel from San Francisco and in the city itself but he hadn't seen any being built. It seemed odd so many people would follow the rails as they were being laid especial what sounded like a mobile town. But American had so many different things going on, many of it he still didn't understand but had accepted even if some he didn't like at all.
"Hmm, it can see where you need as many lawman as possible. I'm sure I can keep rail workers and their followers in line to ensure Kalispell isn't disrupted too much." Shintaro was starting to like the whole idea of being a deputy, even if his employment may end once the rail tracks were lain and the 'Hell on Wheels' moved on along with their followers. Still, having a railway going through Kelispell was likely to bring more people, especially those looking to settle on land.
"The more I hear about this position the more I'm interested in it," Shintaro admitted out loud. "I haven't heard anything yet which would make the job unsuited for me, though I do have one question. Is this a position which will end once the rail tracks have been lain and the builders have moved on?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
The offer is not about a part-time job, no, this is a full-time job that will be yours until you give it up, or maybe a change in the local government. No sir, Shintaro, this is yours as long as you want it." Speed explained, then went on to say, "I'm looking to get out of this job as soon as I can get competent men to take over. I have Valentin Caine on board, and he has been to school for it, something I didn't know they were teaching.
"I have a couple of copper mines, the minerals business across the street, and I'm getting married, so it seems like I need to move on and take care of these other jobs I've gotten myself into, not to mention a wife. But I will stay on as long as it takes to get good men to take over. And Pike, my former deputy, he and I will be available if we're needed. So, that's the truth of the matter."
"Ahh sokka," Shintaro responded, nodding. The position definitely was permanent baring the situations the Marshal gave. In truth, the job sounded more than he could have hoped and his gut told him turning it down would be a very bad idea. He really didn't need time to think about it, his martial skills included non lethal ways to subdue a criminal as he demonstrated in the saloon the other day and he was a good enough shot with a pistol if it came down to it.
He gave a grunt of acknowledgement as the Marshal explained he had other responsibilities demanding his time and planned to step down as Marshal. He didn't know the other names the Marshal mentioned but assumed he will be introduced to them in time. Having a wife to take care was a responsibility all men needed and very important as well to ensure continuation of ones family or clan. It was the one thing he regretted, never having fathered a child, something he will have to remedy soon. Either by adopting a suitable boy or marrying once again. He wasn't ready for marriage, not this soon but he was duty bound to find a new wife when the time was right.
"I have thought about your offer sufficiently and cannot pass on this opportunity," Shintaro stood straight before bowing formally as he would to any superior. "I accept the job, it is far more than I could have hoped for."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Well then, raise your right hand and repeat after me." Speed began getting to his feet, "I, state your name, swear on my honor, to serve the town of Kalispell to the best of my ability, so help me." He was unsure what the man prayed to, so he left the word God out of his makeshift oath. No sense muddying the waters with a word. Besides, he gathered that honor was very important to the people of Japan.
He turned, opened the drawer, pulled out a tin star that was stamped Deputy, and handed it to Shintaro. "Welcome to the office. If you need to take care of anything, feel free to go tend to it. When you get back, we'll make the rounds, or wait til the hour before we set out. I like to get out every couple of hours to see what's going on around town."
Things were shaping up, two new deputies, and they would be a real help as far as this big festival was concerned, not to forget the coming of the railroad. The Town Council had never been opposed to hiring help, and since they collected the taxes and fines that paid their salaries. He'd take a note up to the mayor's office shortly.
Shintaro didn't know why the Marshal asked him to raise his hand, it wasn't something he had been asked to do before. Fortunately he figured out what it meant by the time the Marshal was on his feet and started talking again.
Standing about as straight as he could get, he raised his right hand straight above his head. It took a bit of further instruction from the Marshall before he positioned his hand where it was required for this ceremony. Once that was settled, he focused on what he was to repeat.
"I, Shintaro Takahashi swear on my honour to serve the town of Kalispell to the best of my ability, so help me." He waited after, suspecting there was something more to follow but when the Marshall turned away to get something out of his desk, Shintaro lowered his hand, slightly confused. He wouldn't call himself an expert in English but the sentence just felt like it was hanging, waiting for something to be added.
Shintaro accepted the star in both hands and bowed, recognizing it as s symbol of his new position as a Deputy. He knew he should attach it his clothing but was uncertain if what he was currently wearing would be suitable so kept in his hands for the time being.
"Besides the badge, is there anything specific I should wear to signify my new position?" Shintaro asked. "Also, will you be opposed to me wearing my swords? I don't think I would feel comfortable keeping the peace without them but I will make due if inappropriate here."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"No, sir, that badge should be enough," Speed said, "And I don't see any reason why you can't wear the swords; folks will have to get used to seeing them as part of what you wear. Actually, I think folks will take to you once they have a chance to get to know you. One of the reasons we'll have you here on days is so that folks see you on rounds, stopping in their businesses and such, talking to them on the street, that sort of thing."
It would be a chance for people to see a person from another land, with different customs, and a different manner of dress, and speech from their own, and seeing Shintaro as a man dedicated to their protection. This was going to be a learning experience for everyone.
Shintaro had expected there would be some kind of standard uniform, even if just the type of clothing worn. If all he needed was the badge, he could wear his Shinsengumi haori over either Western clothing or what he typical wore in Japan. either way he would need an obi to wear his swords properly. He felt the old pride again, even if this time he'll be serving the town instead of the Shogunate.
"I still need to find a place to stay so I can wash up and dress appropriately. If you have any recommendations on where I could find lodging, I would greatly appreciate it." As eager as he was to start his new job, Shintaro wouldn't want to make a bad impression on his new boss even if a temporary one, or the rest of the townsfolk. "If all goes well I shouldn't need more than a hour or two, if this is acceptable to you."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed thought for a moment, the options were slim, the hotel, which was expensive, or the boarding house, which was affordable, the food tolerable, but the [lace was clean. He sort of shook his head, "The boarding house is probably your best bet at his point, though you might look for one of the cottages when you have time. They are reasonable and it give you a lot more privacy than the boarding house."
There were still places to live in town, but they were drying up like water on a wet rock in July; the cottages were cheap, and they opened up with some regularity as folks came and went, either leaving town or to a house that was open to buy or rent. That happened with some frequency.
"There's always options, you just might have to wait for the right opportunity, depending on what you want, that is." He said. "You get settled in, and first thing I'll show you around town, introduce you to folks, how's that sound?"
The description of the boarding house reminded him of the barracks he had stayed in as a new member of the Shinsengumi. He hadn't liked it at all, most of the others staying in the same barracks were slobs and clearly worse than peasants. Though he was only a low ranking samurai, he would have kept his quarters far cleaner than he was able to with so many Burakumin. He definitely didn't want to stay in the American version of such a place.
A cottage sounded better but it sounded like they would be difficult to acquire on short notice. He would definitely try, he really didn't have any other option at this time. He then remembered another place which might still be vacant which could serve for a short time.
"What about Boyd's residence? I wouldn't mind staying there, if the building owner hasn't rented it out already. I would move out once a new pharmacist arrives to take over the shop." Shintaro suggests. "Unless he wasn't alone living in that space."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Now I hadn't thought of that option, and well, Boyd lived alone, and now I know why. He owned the place outright, so it would be property of the Territory as far as I know. The bank here has no claim to it, at least that I know about, but a quick visit to the bank should clear that up fast enough. But the place is uninhabited right now." Speed explained, actually unsure of the legal status of the property.
"I have no idea how things work in your country, but getting a druggist out this way is pretty difficult." He continued. "Even a man with just a basic knowledge of medicines is hard to come by. So we'll be locking the place up as is, drugs, books, the works, until we can get someone who has an idea of what he's doing. Out here, a man is taken at his word as to who and what he is until he shows us something different, like Boyd. But saying that, I'm sure ol' Phin up at the Union will put an advert in the paper for a pharmacist."
