He looked down at her and chose not to pursue it.
Chapter 17
Greed needs curbing this day. Sharpen your incisors, Mister Wolf!
~ Tattle’s Blunt Adventures
Echolone
Two Fork Tree
IT SEEMED THE whole of Echolone turned out for the meeting.
Villagers of every persuasion in natural clothing packed the field, and many shamans were visible in their more colourful robes and headdresses. It also seemed as if every miner in the universe had shown up and, with them, more environmentalists than had gathered in one place for a long time. Spaceships by the dozen orbited and a host of small surface travellers parked in any viable open space.
Two Fork Tree was famous.
This was precedent, and those beyond the skies awaited the result expectantly.
Torrullin and Caballa, arriving with Allith, were astonished and then dismayed.
“This could get out of hand,” Caballa murmured.
Allith looked over the host with anxiety. “So many?”
Torrullin was more sanguine. “The more who leave here with our perception of balance, the longer we have to stave off anarchy.”
A surprise awaited, and this was a pleasant one. As Allith preceded Caballa and Torrullin into Two Fork Tree’s headman’s home for the formality of introduction, they found others there.
Torrullin grinned. “Tristan!”
His likeness rose from a seat beside the headman and came to share an embrace. “Torrullin. Thought you could use support.” He smiled and then drew Caballa into his arms for a quick and intense hug. He whispered in her ear and they drew apart.
“Absolutely,” Torrullin laughed, and winked at Declan and Quilla, who grinned his way.
Introductions were made and then the headman - Masif - made clear his standpoint. There was to be no mining on Echolone.
It would not be easy to find a workable solution to satisfy all parties.
HALF AN HOUR later, the hastily erected platform groaned with weight.
Set at the upper end of the field, it overlooked a gathering divided into three distinct parts.
The miners, tough, hardened executives, took up position down the centre of the field. Clearly, they manoeuvred into position early. To the left were shouting environmentalists, and to the right the silence of Echolone’s own.
Masif, as Two Fork Tree’s headman, was on the platform and with him Echolone’s head shaman, a man known as Phinius. Allith’s father elected to remain in his village, not comfortable with travel. Allith herself, as Echolone’s civic representative, was there, as was another woman of like status - Meredith. The rest of the party consisted of Torrullin, Tristan, Caballa, Declan, Quilla and two geologists, one of whom was from the mines of Lintusillem. The other was a tiny woman from Xen, known as Tara.
The meeting was brought to order, although the greeners took time to quieten.
Masif possessed an imposing voice and used it well.
“All gathered, we are here to find a solution to the problems a few nuggets of gold have wrought,” he boomed. “Before this meeting degenerates into debate, I ask that each of you choose a spokesperson to state your views.” He gestured at Echolone’s silent villagers and shamans. “They are here to witness, for their voices are already on this platform. We ask that you nominate your own.”
He gestured at the miners and greeners, and voices were raised, for all desired to be the voice. Masif, sighing, gestured to Torrullin, who inclined his head and stepped forward. He raised his hand.
Silence returned immediately. Many came to see and hear Elixir also.
Torrullin said, “I trust you know who I am.” A ripple of laugher answered that. “Good. Then you must also know I have no patience with senseless arguments. All shouting at once will get us nowhere, do you agree?” Many nodded. “Very well. From among the environmentalists, I nominate … you and you.” He pointed at random. “Come forward, please, and state your names.”
A woman in her thirties came to the foot of the platform and a young man joined her.
“I am Tether of Excelsior.”
“And I am Lothin of Xen,” the young man said.
“Are you comfortable with speaking for the environment?”
Both nodded.
Torrullin pointed into the miner gathering. “You and you. Come forward and introduce yourselves.”
Both were men, middle-aged and tough.
“I am Jackson Class of Beacon. My friends call me Jack. And, my Lord Elixir, I cannot speak for all here, for my interests will clash with theirs.”
“Understood,” Torrullin acknowledged. “But we are not here to decide which of you gets a slice of the pie. We are here to decide whether there will be a pie. You can speak to that end, can you not?”
Jack bowed. “I shall do my best.”
Torrullin looked to the other.
“I am Shimi of Lax.” He appeared shame-faced, but only for a moment. “I am aware of the aid Lax is receiving, yet I am of the opinion we need be self-sufficient and that requires resources, my Lord.”
Torrullin gave him an expressionless look and lifted his eyes to the gathering. “These four will speak for you, and Allith and Meredith …” and he pointed the two women out, “will speak for Echolone. Agreed?”
Some sighs of disapproval sounded, but no one argued.
“Excellent. Shimi of Lax, considering you have already angered me, you may speak first.”
Smiles broke out on the podium and someone shouted from the miners, “My Lord, that’s biased!”
“Let it be known I am biased. I would kick the whole lot of you off Echolone this very minute were the choice mine alone.”
The greeners erupted in wild cheering.
Torrullin lifted a hand. “But I give you voice here this day. I suggest you use it well. Shimi, please.” He retreated.
Shimi cleared his throat. “Well, my Lord, as I mentioned, Lax requires resources …”
Tristan interrupted. “Never mind what Lax needs. Tell us why mining on Echolone is good for Echolone.”
Shimi threw his hands in the air. “Jobs? Money? Technology … there are many advantages.”
“You would share money and technology, when Lax has none?” Tristan said. “Spare us, please. But, for the sake of argument, let us say you do, for some of your friends there do have resources, how would you equitably ensure the people of Echolone share in the wealth you haul up?”
“They would be well paid for their work, my lord. We would institute training and build new homes, bring in technology to boost Echolone forward. As I said, there are advantages.”
“And the gold, the diamonds? Would they share in that wealth?” Caballa asked.
“We would have contracts,” Shimi said. “A percentage will return to Echolone.”
A villager muttered, “Never happen.”
“Echolone is poor, like Lax is poor, and we would both benefit from the mines. There would be new infrastructure, new goods and services, tourism, and many other spin-offs.”
“Echolone is not poor!” an irate villager shouted. “We have different values, and you have no right to dictate to us!”
Shimi ignored that. “Business of this magnitude is about give and take. We bring the experts, the equipment, the money. Both do the work and both get paid in the end. I do not see the problem.”
Allith opened her mouth, but Torrullin said, “Not yet. Shimi, do you have more to add?”
The Laxian shook his head.
“Allith?”
“The problem is that you do not own this land. I hear you about jobs, but know every man, woman and child here already has work according to his or her talents. I hear you about money, but know on Echolone bartering of produce, craft, expertise and service serves us well. Money is a piece of paper or a coin and we can do little with it. As for technology, we have what we need. Anything you bring in will simply pollute our world …”
The greeners shouted acclaim.<
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“… and further, we do not trust the minerals removed to be sold elsewhere will bring back dividends. We do not require infrastructure, for we are happy with what we have. New goods? We have abundance, so hold your goods. Take them where they are needed - to Lax, maybe.”
Laughter from the Echolone section.
“My point is this, had we been as poor as you describe, you may have a case. As we are not, and as we do own this land you seek to destroy, we formally decline offers you would make.”
Loud cheering from both the environmentalists and the villagers.
Torrullin pointed to Tether.
The environmentalist nodded and began to speak.
“Thank you for this opportunity. Echolone is a beautiful world, untouched by greed until men and their machines came looking for wealth. In itself, we admit, the search for wealth is not a bad thing, but it is progress only when such wealth is properly shared. The issue here, however, is not wealth, but damage to the land. Mining, by definition, is delving, blasting, scraping, digging and removing. Not only are mountains hollowed out, but giant holes are dug, and every rock and grain of sand must be dumped somewhere. These are huge scars on a landscape.
“More than aesthetics, is the destruction of habitat, and not merely human. Insects, rodents, birds, reptiles and mammals lose their homes. If they are not murdered in the delving, they slink away in fear to die somewhere else, and that is a crime, my friends.” She pointed at the miners. “You may promise to close your holes and beautify your dumps, but nothing can restore the delicate balance of nature or return those dead little creatures to life. You must be stopped.” She smiled up at Torrullin. “That is all.”
“Well said,” Torrullin said, and the greeners went wild again.
“Who will stop us?” a miner shouted. “Where is Echolone’s army?”
“You indict your kind with those words,” Torrullin said. “The Kaval is Echolone’s army! If you seek a peaceful solution, ask it in peace or feel my boot in your arse!”
Great gusts of laughter shook the field.
Torrullin looked down. “Jackson Class, the field is yours.”
The Beaconite stepped onto the platform and faced the Echolone gathering. The shamans stared back stonily.
“My friends, please, let us hear each other before final choices are made. I admit to you we were hasty in our manner of arrival. We should have thrashed these details out before the first machine was switched on and I apologise for my colleagues and myself. At this point I realise pretty words are useless, so let us be real.
“Mining can be a project with minimal impact, if properly surveyed. A site, once identified, can be humanely cleared of wildlife, removing them to new, similar habitats. Trees and shrubs can be replanted elsewhere and water sources can be protected. Rubble could be deployed as contour walls, used for dams and roads, even houses. From an environment point, we could have little impact, with fair yields also.
“As far as wealth goes, formal, unassailable contracts could be drawn up and we could work at every detail until all parties are satisfied before signing. Under such conditions dividends would return to Echolone, for the projects will be long term, and one does not stab a provider in the back.
“There would be jobs and we will give our word no foreigners other than mining experts will be brought in to do the work. Infrastructure and goods will be come in only as need requires and, again, all parties would agree before it is done. Now, I do understand mistakes have been made, but we promise to rectify those before negotiating anew for the future.”
He had full attention, for his reasonable tone spoke well to reasonable people.
“Beacon has a reputation as exploiters and it is admittedly earned, but Beacon has also learned valuable lessons, largely because the Kaval kicked our butts on numerous occasions …”
General laughter.
“… we would not do that here, this I swear, and I do so before Elixir himself. However, and this is probably the most important point I am to make to you, mining with little impact and great yield is long term and must be achieved with patience and dedicated effort from every party involved. It takes money, friends, to do it that way, big money.
“If you must kick the miners out, kick out those who will use you and not care, but if you hear me when I say it can be beneficial for all of us, choose those who will sign on a line promising to mine in a manner we can live with. Yes, I mean Beacon, for we have both the money and the patience, and you, friends, have the land. We could, I believe, deal.”
There was uproar and Shimi shouted his disgust at Jack. The greeners booed, the miners shouted accusation and the villagers were torn. Some were thoughtful and others loudly denied everything.
Torrullin let it go on and then approached Jack. “Will you do as your words imply?”
Jack nodded. “I swear it. Beacon has lost much due to over-exploitation. Resources that could have lasted years if properly managed were used up in months, and destitution left in our wake. We realise we cannot do so, for soon nothing will remain. Beacon will fail without long term solutions.”
“I hear you,” Torrullin said. “I am not giving you carte blanche, but I will get you a hearing after this mess is cleaned up. Know you may spend money on clean up and still be turned away.”
Jack bowed. “Every investment has risk. We accept that.”
Meredith and Allith had approached and overheard. The two looked at each other.
Torrullin lifted a hand for quiet. It was slower in coming this time.
“Meredith will now speak for Echolone.”
She stepped forward, shook Jack’s hand and asked him to leave the platform. “I never thought I would shake the hand of a miner.”
There was some laughter.
“Until this man spoke, I was willing to deny all rights. I still don’t like the idea, but I’m willing to talk …”
Cheering now from the miners.
“But we will talk only to those who have the money and patience as Mr Class suggests, and we will talk only after every mine currently in operation is closed and all scars covered. When you have taken your machines and dynamite away, then we begin. And at every meet there will be a greener whose sole purpose is to protect Echolone’s natural creatures, and every tree, bush and flower. You mess with a flower and you are not welcome.”
The greeners went wild again.
“However, none of this will happen unless you and I both know we have the support of an army.”
“What?” Allith blurted.
Meredith smiled at her and faced forward again. “On behalf of all here who wish to protect Echolone, I formally request from the Kaval the support that will see every promise kept.”
Huge cheering erupted across the field, with only miners downcast. Most of them were going home poorer, and they knew it now.
Tristan stepped forward. “The Kaval pledges absolute support!”
Again, wild cheering.
Torrullin grinned down at Lothin, who said with a smile, “I don’t need to add my voice, I think. The environment is safe.”
Torrullin reached down to shake his hand, and the young man accepted the clasp.
Jackson Class was a hero among his cronies and an enemy to others. Shimi walked muttering from the field. Tristan watched him go and murmured to Quilla, who nodded.
No doubt, Shimi of Lax would find himself the centre of attention again before long.
Chapter 18
It isn’t always wise to drag others into a foolhardy scheme.
~ Tattle’s scribe
Two Fork Tree
THE GATHERING OUTSIDE Masif’s home was loud and drunken and filled with congratulations, laughter and a huge measure of relief.
Tristan and Caballa huddled together, laughing and whispering, and Allith and Meredith entertained Declan and Quilla.
Torrullin was in discussion with Jackson Class and two other Beaconites, while the shamans and many villagers danced and stamped walking sticks.<
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Food and drink flowed freely, with Lothin and Tether expounding on the natural elements in the drink. Those two would fall over soon.
With twilight, lanterns were lit, with fires soon after. The gathering grew into a crowd and it was a celebration. In the background disgruntled miners headed out to the skies in their shuttles, never to return.
At one stage Torrullin used magic to conjure kegs of cider and ale, and the laughter flowed apace with the liquid.
INTO THAT REVELRY came Elianas.
He stood in the flickering shadows of a tree, watching.
Obviously the meeting went well, but he had not doubted it. Torrullin used balance to achieve balance. As expected. The man himself, he noted, danced and weaved in and out among circles of other dancers. Declan, the Siric, with two red spots on his cheeks, danced also.
So, the Kaval put in an appearance. That would have helped.
He saw Tristan embrace Caballa, the two dancing to a personal rhythm away from stamping feet and high velocity twirls. Quilla bent the ear of a group of shamans. Trust the birdman to use even a celebration to learn something new. It was part of his charm.
Everyone had too much to drink, especially Torrullin. Drowning sorrows? He watched the man dance - a good dancer, therefore a great swordsman.
He thought he was unobtrusive, hidden even, but silver eyes found him anyway, hectic activity notwithstanding.
I feel you, Elianas.
They rarely spoke via mind sending, for both were aware hidden thoughts could change everything. Elianas thus sucked at his teeth in surprise before replying.
I know.
The brief communication set his blood to coursing. Perhaps because it was so rare.
Torrullin twirled out and sauntered over, walking unevenly.
“A few too many?” Elianas smiled.
“A lot too many,” Torrullin laughed. “Join us.”
“I am not in the mood, and you won’t be soon. I have news.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 79
