Porters
Porters haul goods and must help people on the stairs; Mission’s identifying kerchief draws attention after the blast.
Story so far
Porters move heavy loads through the silo, including the increased traffic following cleanings. They may carry more weight than non-porters, and tandem haulers synchronize their steps to keep loads balanced. Mission Jones says older porters take mail duty because of bad knees. The trade also carries information: Bernard Holland says porters passed on reports of plans to expand the mines.
Porters keep selected delivery records by hand to avoid putting information into wires and watch people ordering certain materials or excessive rope. They carry knives for opening deliveries, cutting food and keeping peace on their routes. When farmers lowered a generator themselves to avoid charges, porters attacked them. Merchants request hauling by tying stamped kerchiefs to the stairs; the chosen rail indicates the requested direction.
Porters also have a duty to help people in need on the stairs. After the blast, Mission’s porter kerchief identifies him to witnesses.
Appearance
Porters carry knives used for deliveries, food and keeping peace. A porter’s kerchief identifies Mission after the blast.
Role
Porters provide hauling and information exchange, guard their occupational privileges and have a duty to help people in distress on the stairs.
Relationships
Earlier in this series
Also appears in books you've already read — spoiler-safe to their endings:
- WoolBook 1
Sources — 12 recorded facts, by chapter
- Porters can carry heavier loads than non-porters are allowed to carry.
- Tandem porters use synchronized steps to keep heavy loads balanced.
- Mission says older porters take mail duty because their knees are bad.
- Mission knows of recently discovered plans to move a heavy object between landings without porters.
- Porters keep handwritten records of selected deliveries to prevent the information from entering wires.
- Porters place people who order certain materials or excessive rope on a watching list.
- Porters carry knives to open deliveries, cut food and keep peace while traveling through the silo.
- Porters attack farmers who are lowering a generator themselves to avoid porter charges.
- Merchants summon porters by tying stamped kerchiefs to the stair rails.
- The rail chosen for a merchant’s signal indicates the requested direction of delivery.
- Porters have a duty to help people in need on the stairs.
- A porter’s kerchief identifies Mission to witnesses after the blast.