He stares at the kid, and scrubs his bandaged hand hard across his eyes, shaking his head. "No, y'can't. I owe more money then I've ever 'ad, more'n my old Gaffer's hydro-farm was worth. Been chippin' away at it for years, working up to the tunnel crews, and I 'ad my eye on supervisor next, if I kept workin' hard, but now..."
He gives Sam a determined look, but it's still tempered by how haunted he looks.
"I'm Harrison Wittebane. I can-- I can get my uncle to cancel your debt," he says, sharper than he means. "O-or I'll pay it off myself, out of my own bank."
"Yes!" He says it so gleefully, like he's just glad Sam gets it. Not that the miner is scared of the fact. "I can help! I just- let me know what you need, I can get it!"
But seeing Sam before him, halfway to recoiling because he knows who Harry is, the sudden deference, makes him feel nauseous. Is this really how people see him, when they know who he is?
"You- you don't deserve this," he says weakly, gesturing to Sam. As he doubles over to pick up the crutch, and hand it back.
"What's deserve got t'do with it?" Sam frowns, anxiety bright behind his eyes. But he goes on anyway. "I'm still payin' off my trip here. Haven't even touched what I owe fer room n'board the years I've been here. An' this-" He gestures with his head to the hospital bed. "I'll be payin' this too."
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"I'm Harrison Wittebane. I can-- I can get my uncle to cancel your debt," he says, sharper than he means. "O-or I'll pay it off myself, out of my own bank."
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"Wittebane," he says, voice a little choked.
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"Your uncle is... him as owns the mines," he says, the words coming out with an effort. "Sir... who do you think I owe?"
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"I-- I know that, but..."
But seeing Sam before him, halfway to recoiling because he knows who Harry is, the sudden deference, makes him feel nauseous. Is this really how people see him, when they know who he is?
"You- you don't deserve this," he says weakly, gesturing to Sam. As he doubles over to pick up the crutch, and hand it back.
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