//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 Import License // Story: DARING DO AND THE COMPASS OF DISCORD // by De Writer //------------------------------// In the harbormaster’s office, Daring Do was explaining the ostensible purpose of the expedition and the reason for some of their more “unusual” supplies. She offered, “You see, Sir, what the Spinel Drift Enclave, near the southern end of the Selene Mountains, has found appears to be ruins of what may be the root civilization for the famous Nil Eya civilization. The news of this possibility has severely upset the Downitall Party. They hold, as a core belief, that it was a ZEBRA civilization that sprang full blown with brilliant writing systems, stone work, and architecture due to the pure genius of the superior Zebra kind. “If this find bears out, as the true Nil Eya root civilization, it will totally destroy one of the basic claims by which the Downitalls hold power.” Daring Do made a twisted face as she observed, “For some MYSTERIOUS REASON, they don’t like that and do not want us to succeed. “The Downitalls totally fail to grasp what success is to an Antiquarian. It will not matter whether what we find is the root beginnings of the Nil Eya civilization, a later thing built by survivors of the Nil Eya slave revolt, or something else entirely. The only real gauge of success will be uncovering the truth of an ancient civilization.” The window pane frames made a fine shadow play with the harbormaster’s tall spiraled horns as he gazed out at the Zebra Confederation’s shot up patrol boat being maneuvered into a drydock. He gestured out at his nearly empty harbor and replied, “I see. Look what their declaration of the Medial Sea being a Zebra Pond has done to our trade. Under the circumstances, I am granting the import license to you directly and noting that it has the formal backing of both the Supreme Matriarch of the Diamond Dog Council of Enclaves and the Joint Crowns of Equestria as well.” He pushed a small stack of papers across his desk. Daring Do began to fill out and sign where necessary. He took the packet and sorted out sheets which he neatly folded and sealed, returning them to Daring Do. “Best of fortune on your expedition, Doctor Do. There is a fair amount of Discordian activity in the area that you will be investigating. I hope that they do not cause you too much trouble.” Dryly, Daring Do replied, “I fear them far less than the Downitalls. That is why we have the special equipment that you have just authorized. We thank you.” She gathered up her papers and fit everything neatly into her saddle bags and left. She had barely closed the door than she was confronted by a bulky zebra resplendent in a Downitall Party uniform! He demanded, “I am war trained! I am a big zebra and you are a mere pegasus, so don’t get any funny ideas! Just hoof over those papers for a Zebra Confederation stamp on each page! Fifty bits gold for each stamp and any page I don’t like gets torn up AFTER I stamp it, so you still owe, got it?” Daring Do wasted no time on chit-chat! A fast poke at the zebra’s nose caused him to shy away sideways! As he was shifting his weight, she kicked the foreleg that was taking his weight, up high, dropping the stripy on his side, like a broken sack of oats! She followed up with a double buck to his exposed gut, driving the wind out of him! Turning to the door, she informed the harbor master, “There appears to be some black and white garbage out here. It is obstructing your walkway.” “I see it, Doctor Do! Thanks! I will make sure that it is taken care of!” Happily humming the Funeral March for Kings from the ancient Nil Eya civilization, Daring Do went down to the Malachite’s dock. The head stevedore examined the papers and ordered his crew, “Begin off loading everything! It has all been cleared! Be careful with those ammo boxes!”