by Mari Collier
“Ye have been a busy man.” Amusement glittered in Llewellyn's brown eyes.
Lamar cleared his throat. “Ye left out the part about leaving three Thalians to die in the wild, almost killing two more Thalians, the stealing of Lady of Medicine, and asking your fither's kitchen workers to feed Abs.”
Lorenz lifted his head, the slight scar on the left side of his face became redder and his eyes hardened.
“Marta and her sister, Melanie, asked me to bring her and Timor here. The two of them went upstairs to Troyner, and anytime somebody works for me or I'm protecting them, they eat where and when I say. As for those three out on the prairie, I suggest y'all send somebody after them and throw them in the pokey or turn them into Abs. They were after our own House.”
Llewellyn held up his hand. “Lorenz, first tell me about the kine ye saw this morn, then where the Sisters came from.”
“Papa, all we need to do is round up the kine and drive them in to where y'all have the butchers and processing plants ready. That's meat we can sell now if Rurhran is less than ready to hand over our beeves.
“As for the Sisters, we were going towards the Zark Station when we saw Sisters in a LC bearing down on Lavina and her family. The Sisters wouldn't back off when we flew lower, and they had stunners trained on the three. I used my rifle and shot two of them.”
Lorenz dished out his eggs. “Then I left Laten and Dolo with Lavina and Luman. They took the LC as we figured Don would send someone to arrest the Sisters. I took the wounded two into Medicine where Marta and Timor came aboard and requested a ride here.”
Llewellyn set back. Beatrice and Lamar were too dumbfounded to speak.
A low, rumbling laughter emerged from Llewellyn's full throat. “Ye've managed to throw all of Thalia into a tizzy in a few short hours. I kenned ye'd be good for Thalia. Eat up, laddie. We have a meeting with the Centers' Directors and Keepers in twenty minutes.”
He turned to Beatrice and Lamar. “Do we have enough enforcers to pick up those three?”
Not knowing the answer, Lamar shook his head.
Beatrice answered for him. “Mayhap, Leta will ken who to call in. I dinna think we can use the Army, nay should we use your troops from another world.”
“Aye, see to it.” Llewellyn returned to eating.
Lamar stood. “I have a meeting with Ravin and Rollie regarding the negotiations for the return of our kine.”
“What negotiations? Those kine belong to Don. Why not just ask when they are going to deliver them, and if they won't set a date, demand it.” Lorenz couldn't comprehend the man who in this world was his great-uncle. Lamar risked his life raising Papa, but he sounded like the cattle should stay where they were and Don should accept that.
“Tis a bit more delicate than that. Tis that nay right, Llewellyn.”
“Mayhap, but I too wish to ken when the kine and sheep will be delivered.”
Lamar straightened. “The negotiations involve Lorenz and Rocella Walking the Circle before delivery.”
Llewellyn's eyes widened.
Lorenz hurriedly swallowed his food before speaking, “Hell, no. I don't know the woman and I certainly can't be in love a stranger.”
Lamar ignored him and smiled at Llewellyn. “Ye can see the wisdom of this. Rocella will provide the political alliance we need with Thalia's most powerful House.”
“And I sure as hell don't marry anyone for political reasons. It's not civilized.” Lorenz stood.
“Papa, explain things to the man. I'm going to see about those kids and get my coffee before I tear somebody's head off.” Lorenz stalked out.
Llewellyn looked at his elder. “Lamar, ye dared raising me and giving me a safe haven, and for that ye have my love and my thanks. But my laddie will Walk the Circle when he tis ready. Arranged marriages are considered a primitive practice in his land.” He set his mug down.
“Remember, when ye meet with Rurhran, the kine and sheep are Don's. Ye are to arrange a time for their arrival, nay else.”
Lamar voiced his irritation. “Ye have forgotten the ways of House. We dinna quarrel. Nay do I consider livestock worthy of our Warrior status.”
“Lamar, what else will enable Don to provide employment and education for our Tri's? We need to rebuild our facilities for spaceships, clothing, and leather products. Don tis in sad repair and needs to be rebuilt. I dinna blame ye or Beatrice. The Justines and the Sisters created these deplorable conditions.”
“LouElla tis Director of Flight and ye are Counselor. That will be enough for our needs.” Lamar remained unconvinced.
“It will nay be enough. Don will be a prosperous land again. A date for their delivery must be set.”
Chapter 13: Directors Meeting
Lorenz was carrying his coffee mug as he and his father met at the back entrance to the Maca's domed Headquarters.
“Has the coffee put ye in a better mood?”
“Yes, it has, but importing coffee from Earth will be an expensive proposition. Would coffee flourish on one of the continents here?”
“Mayhap on Troy. Part of it has a high, humid climate where they grow a different variety of Pina pods. Can ye nay develop a taste for the tea?”
“It tastes too much like fake hot chocolate.” Lorenz made a grimace. “Y'all got your list?” They had gone over and over the plans to revitalize Don on their journey. The Centers were the key. They functioned as food distribution stations, the social hub of each sector, and where the few items of clothing or other available goods were sold. Future retail shops would be located in the area of the Centers.
“Aye, the list of projects has been entered into the records, and I will have it on screen.”
“Wait a minute before we go in, Papa.” Lorenz stopped and lit a cigarette. Llewellyn raised his eyebrows.
Lorenz smiled at him after blowing out the smoke. “Yeah, I know. Importing cigarettes would be even more expensive than coffee. Right now, I don't want anyone to overhear us. Something's been nagging at me, but first I need to know how many people y'all have left in Don.”
“According to the rations dispersed, there are about ten thousand in the First Sector, seven thousand in the Second, and five thousand in the Third Sector of Donnick. Nay ken how many live out their lives without the rations. Medicine, which has their House and facilities here, has five thousand drawing rations. There are five thousand one hundred and seventy-eight Abs drawing rations in Don with two hundred more sentenced to Ayran, and the Army has two hundred Sisters here for keeping order during the Guardians of the Realm Council. They will leave once the Abs depart.”
“Is that all the people there are? Is the rest of Thalia so sparsely populated?”
“Rurhran has the most people with some fifty thousand. Betron has about thirty thousand, Troy has at least twenty-five thousand, and Ayran lists twenty thousand, but nay ken how many there are on Ayran. Some of the Tris on all planets trade with the land and fishing Abs and both go back and forth for a living. The Justines did as almost as much damage here as Mither did when she blew their planet apart.”
Lorenz let out a stream of smoke, shook his head, and changed the subject. “Did y'all know the Kenning Woman had more of a following than Lamar insinuated? It seems the Tris listened to her also. Da is her laddie, and according to the one called Ka, some of the land Abs already consider Da their Maca.”
“Why? Such beliefs nay make sense. The Abs rejected the Houses when they revolted against technology.” Doubt was in Llewellyn's voice.
“Call it part of my kenning abilities from Mama; plus last night, Troyner said that Martin was going to use Da as Maca of the Abs to destroy the Houses.”
“Bah! Martin tis but repeating the old legend that the House of Abania will once again rule all of Thalia.”
“When did they?”
“Over three thousand years ago when technology developed to the point that Thalia could have been destroyed, but we had nay yet journeyed to the stars. After a few centuries of Abanian rule
, several Houses revolted. We had another world war like your land tis trying to prevent. The continent Abania was partially destroyed. Later, when the other Houses prevailed, the Abanians eschewed technology and refused a new Maca for the people. Abanians that wished to remain part of the Houses elected to follow the man who was dubbed the Maca of Ayran for the renamed Abanian continent and isles surrounding it. Ye will notice that Jolene's complexion has a deeper rose tinge and her hair tis a dark brown, nay black. Martin tis but stirring up trouble and will nay succeed. Tis this the reason ye are keeping all three laddies?”
“That and I've a hunch we'll be getting all sorts of flak over this once Martin figures out where they are.”
Llewellyn thought for a moment and then shook his head. “We've enough problems to solve without worrying about future revolts.”
“The one called Ishmael thought it was important enough that he needs to talk to me about Da. That should be House enough even for Lamar. I need to talk with Ishmael before I send the boys back.” If I do, he thought and snubbed out the cigarette before they entered the door into the hallway.
As they entered the round lobby, Llewellyn greeted Leta who was manning the console. “Good morning, Leta. Did ye find any Tris for Don's Enforcer Service?”
“Good morning, Maca. I have two coming in this morn.” She saw the Maca's eyebrows rise and added. “Five more from the outer sectors will arrive as rapidly as they can. Our biggest problem tis transport and that will continue after the other beings take the Kreppies out of here.”
Llewellyn nodded. “When Mrs. Andresen arrives, she'll take over your post. She will coordinate the flivs when O'Neal permits the other crafts to fly. I need ye in the Ops Room to eliminate prints and irises. Have the Directors and Keepers arrived?”
Leta made a face. “All but the Director from the First Centor as she tis attending the Burning and Mourning for Bobinet.”
“Her name, prints, and irises are to be erased now!” Llewellyn swung on his heel and headed for the elevator. Lorenz tipped his hat at Leta and followed him.
Llewellyn's face remained smooth, but his lips were drawn into a tight line. Lorenz watched the door to the lift close and asked, “How many others in Don are going to snub y'all?”
“Everyone that has been appointed by the Sisterhood, and that may mean the rest of the Directors will look for a chance to leave.”
They wasted no more words on the ride to the third floor and walked briskly into the room. There were four people seated at the round conference table. The Maca's chair by the inlaid table console was wide and covered in dark blue leather as were the Guardian's and Counselor's chair set on either side of the Maca's. The windows reflected the light from the sun and cast a faint bluish light into the room lit by lowes. “Lowe comes from our eld word for flame,” Llewellyn had explained to Lorenz on his first visit to the Golden One once hidden in the earth of Texas.
The bluish white light did little to lighten the sallow skin of an elderly man seated on the right side in the Head Keeper's chair. His thin, grey hair barely covered his skull, and the wrinkled face and hands conveyed a sense of extreme tiredness. Lorenz realized with a shock that this was the first really old person he had seen on Thalia. The man was dressed in the light blue of Don's Tris trimmed with a sash of darker blue. A woman clad in the darker blue of House and a man dressed as the older one sat on the left. Their clothes were tight fitting as were all outfits Lorenz had seen. The other man seated on the right was clothed as the other men. For some reason, his clothes did not fit as well, nor did his hair look as neatly trimmed. The three appeared to be in their mid-thirties, but then to Lorenz, most of the populace of Thalia appeared to be about thirty to forty when they were between the ages of thirty and three hundred. All of the people at the table rose, put their hands behind their backs, and bowed as they entered.
Llewellyn put his hands on his hips and returned the bow. Then he looked at all of them. “Since ye have attended, I shall take it ye have answered the Maca's Call. The older man fidgeted, and while the one in the middle looked a little uncomfortable, they bowed again.
“Please be seated. We have much to discuss.”
Llewellyn turned to the older man. “Ye are Minn from Medicine. The records say that Minnay, your lassie, was appointed Director of Don's First Center. She tis nay longer my Director.”
The older man bowed his head.
“I have decided to replace ye also. However, since ye answered my call, ye will receive half pay as your pension. The ability of either of ye to open or close the First Center tis removed. If ye need assistance to leave, it will be provided.”
The man's head snapped up and defiance showed briefly in his eyes. Then he rose and bowed formally.
“Thank ye, I need nay assistance; nay do I think Don will have long to pay my pension.”
He left the room as Llewellyn entered the information and hit the transmit command. The others at the table sat straighter.
Llewellyn smiled at them and looked at the woman. “Ye are Levin, Director of the Second and Third Center.”
The woman's angular face softened as she nodded.
“And ye are Linan, her counselor and Keeper at the Second Center.”
Like the woman, the man nodded. He was softer looking until one noticed his large hands. His dark hair was cropped short.
Llewellyn gave a brief nod and looked at the last man. “Ye are Lecco, Keeper of the Third Center. The Second Center tis open five days and the Third but one-half day during food distribution. Tis all this true?”
“Aye.” The Director's voice was a soft soprano which did not match her harsh facial angles.
“Tell me, how did two males acquire such a high post in Don?”
“Our fithers served on Lamar's warcraft during the Justine War.” Linan's voice was a pleasant bass. “While she was Guardian of Don, Beatrice was able to secure us both a position. There was no opposition to my counselor becoming Director.”
“I've noticed the First Center's retail, gym, and pool are opened much longer, yet the Second Center has a higher percentage of profitability. How have ye achieved this?”
Levin and Linan exchanged quick glances and Linan cleared his throat. “I'm at fault. Rather than have the stands with uh, less authorized merchandise set up outside, I've allowed them inside. People can then see the authorized goods and oft times make a purchase of them also. The Director of the First Center will nay allow any but authorized goods inside as the others pay nay to the Sisterhood, or Don.”
Llewellyn smiled. “Where do they acquire the credits to produce the nay authorized merchandise, and how do the people acquire the credits to purchase them and the authorized goods?”
The man and woman were now holding hands, but Linan's voice remained steady. “There are still technicians to run and maintain the energy panels and the transports Don tis allowed. Most of them live in the Second Sector as the first tis reserved for House and for their Directors and Keepers.”
“Who was responsible for allowing the stands inside?”
“I allowed it,” Levin answered as she shifted her body slightly as to shield Linan.
Amusement lit the Maca's eyes. “Tis nay what your counselor just said. Tis he better at selling products and arranging the Center than ye?”
Levin nodded her head yes and worry creased her forehead.
“In that case, I appoint Linan as Director of the First and Second Centers. Ye will be Keeper of both the First and Second Center. If ye find that ye need another employee to stock shelves, keep an eye on the customers, or for any other reason, ye will contact me or my named intermediate for assistance. As for the nay authorized merchandize inside, once they interfere with selling authorized goods, they may band together and request a building of their own next to ye, or close by. There will be a slight charge, but they will earn enough for profit.”
Llewellyn ignored the startled looks on their faces and swung his gaze to Lecco. “If I appoint ye as Director of
the Third Center, can ye remain open for at least half days all week? Could ye find someone, I dinna care whether male or female, to work as Keeper for the time ye are open?”
Lecco dumbly nodded, then realized he was suppose to say something. “Thank ye, Maca. Uh, what do I offer to pay the man?”
“Man?” Llewellyn's eyes lit up. “Ye have someone in mind?”
Lecco glanced at the far wall, squared his shoulders, and firmed his lips. “Aye, as this man helps me when necessary. I admit that I allowed him and his family the use of the pool on the rare days I was allowed to fill it and used part of my pay when nay else covered his hours.”
“Ye Gods, are all the pools dry?”
“All but the First Center, Maca, and that tis open but twice a week.” Linan's voice was crisp. “We have nay swim guards, nay teachers, and nay allotted water. We have nay gym equipment either.”
They watched Llewellyn's hands clench. “What happened to the equipment?”
“The Sisters took most of it and the rest tis locked away and we have…”
Llewellyn stood. “Tis it locked away on the premises?”
“Aye.” The three answered in unison.
“Then those doors will be opened. All of ye are to proceed to the Ops Room below and the information entered. As for payment, I have reserve amount of credits from the Justine's profits off of Thalia. Ye two will receive the Director and Keeper salary for the First Sector's Center. When profits rise, ye retain your wages and hire another Keeper. If ye earn enough, ye both will have a Director's salary. Ye, Lecco, will have one-half the Director's salary for the Third Center and it will be open five half days. If ye make a profit, ye will need to stay open all day during the week and your salary will be a full Director's pay. The man ye hire will receive one-half of a Keeper's salary. His pay will increase when your pay increases.”
“I've sent a list of needed workers to your Centers. They are to be posted in a prominent place. Do ye ken?”
He watched them nod and continued. “Schools are to be reopened. I need a Director of Education for Don, but he seems to have disappeared. Tis he still alive?”
