The road was cobblestone all the way to the harbor. That was about the only thing that remained constant on the way to the ship.
As the descended into the city proper things became more run down and dirty. Even the air became worse and worse as the made their way toward the harbor at the lakefront. At first the buildings were set back from the road with gardens and walls around them, echoing the palace, and almost as well kept. As they descended at first it was the outer walls that weren't kept as clean, then the houses themselves.
Finally, after a good mile of gradual descent, the yards disappeared. The buildings now lines a sidewalk with little extra room. With the loss of the yards, also went the clear blue sky and the defined sun.
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As they left the palace, that faded, replaced by other, less noble, but no less delightful flower smells. Soon, there was only the smell of mown grass. Then a slight, almost agreeable wood smoke odor. That grew stronger and along with the smell of burning coal and other less identifiable, unpleasant odors.
A good two miles from the harbor the time they reached the city proper. They prayed for the good, honest smell of rotten fish and stagnant water. Foul sulfurous stenches would waft in. Then something dead and rotten, followed by the reek of steel and hot metal. The noise was
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An early death from disease?"
"Well that can happen, but if you're careful a man can make his fortune. Where many people gather together there is money to be made, my dad always told me."
John could not let that pass.
"You told me you father left you when you were a young boy!"
"Well, he did, but he said it a lot when he was there, let me tell you."
John rolled his eyes and kept walking. It was getting more and more difficult to make headway in the crowd. It was like swimming up stream. All movement ceased. The crowd began to make angry noises. He took the folio out of his pocket and held it in his clenched fist. It was more difficult for the cities pick pocket's to relieve him of it if he kept a tight grip on it. Not impossible, just more difficult. It would take an expert, and he wasn't that great a target by his appearance.
"Is this one of those times where we needed to be more careful, Albet?"
Torvald could not have sounded more sardonic if he tried.
"Yes. Yes I think so. This crowd could get ugly. I wonder what the hold up is?" "Well Gov'nors, I've just been up in the building here and I can tell you what the hold up is. Good mornin'