Off-Grid
Pacazahno
Majel was weary.
In the end, he had chosen a team from the Cardfall’s staff, they being the people he knew. That had involved appointing Seylin, his chief of security, a strong Talent and a trained security officer, as head of the team, and directing her to bring whomever she needed to make a thorough investigation.
Seylin had chosen Ander, their lesser Sensitive, and Beni, their eldest bouncer.
“We’re going to be working with shields up,” Seylin told Majel. “It’s plenty noisy, even at Pacazahno. Ander’s been studying the security course with me—and doing well at it, too. Beni’s got a fine eye for a detail, and I haven’t seen the trouble she can’t handle, yet.”
So they left, leaving Nester, Seylin’s second, in charge of security, and Mily, the night manager, in charge of operations.
They had come to Pacazahno in the late afternoon, been shown the damage, and the team presented to Constable fuJang, who took them in charge.
The village manager—Konsit joiMore—had then escorted him to the school, where he heard the tale of the vandalism from the teachers and students who had found it. After, he had returned with Konsit to her office, where she called for tea, and upon its arrival sat down in her chair with a deep and gusty sigh.
“Your pardon, Councilor,” she said, sitting up straighter.
Majel held up a hand, forestalling any more apology.
“I’m weary myself, and my day has been nowhere near as adventurous as your own.”
“Adventurous,” she repeated. “One tends to forget that adventure is so tiring. We’re usually much more relaxed here in the village.”
“It was good of the Haosa to send Talents to assist you,” Majel said.
“Ribbon Dance Village has always been a staunch friend of Pacazahno,” she answered, and waved a hand toward the tea tray.
“Please pour for yourself, Councilor. No disrespect intended.”
“Of course not,” Majel said, rising. “May I pour for you, as well?”
He saw her hesitate on the edge of refusing on account of his rank, but then her face relaxed into a rueful smile. “Thank you, sir, for your courtesy.”
“It’s the least I can do,” Majel told her with perfect truth. “What will you have in your cup?”
“Tea, and only tea,” she said. “I’m a simple woman.”
Majel smiled, and poured, handing her the first cup. He kept the second—tea and only tea—for himself, and returned to his chair.
“If I may ask, what are your plans going forward?”
“Outside of the investigation, you mean? Ribbon Dance Village has offered to host a few teachers and some compatible students. They have a pair of children in care, and no one near their age. The proposal would have our children and teachers go to Ribbon Dance for a half-month at a time, perhaps. Regular school will be held, supplemented with life skills taught by the Haosa, who depend on technology even less than we do here. The educators have been talking it over today, and I get the sense that they think it will not only be workable, but beneficial. And it will build closer ties with our neighbors.”
“That sounds a very good notion,” Majel said. “I’ve lately come to think that the Haosa are our better allies.”
“Better than Civilization you mean?” Konsit sipped her tea. “I remember when we were Protected. My parents lost their business, thanks to a corrupt mentor. They packed up everything they had left, my brothers, me, and the cats, and hired a truck to take us to Pacazahno, without any idea of how different it would be. How rugged, compared to Haven City. But there was the other thing, living among people who are like you, and experience the world as you do, and don’t believe you to be . . . ”
She looked aside, biting her lip.
“Lesser?” Majel offered. “Disabled?”
“Either or both of those will do,” Konsit said, and sighed again. “Now, sir. It is coming late, and there’s no more for either of us to do until we’re called. There are several families who have room for a guest, if you don’t mind being separate from your people—”
“I’ll be going back to the City this evening,” Majel said. “My team knows their work. I expect them to be of use to Constable fuJang, and to understand when they are no longer needed, or if they are more hindrance than help. If—”
There was a clatter outside, and Nattie threw the door open.
“Your pardon, Konsit—Councilor. Constable fuJang is calling from the library. He says that Ander found a match.”