Chapter 1 #3
Tuur was a bear, massive and quiet. Thano didn't know him well, but Armelle, the leader of the bears, trusted him, so Thano believed he was a good fit for the board.
Last to arrive were George Hillburn and Theodore Carner who came together. They were rough-looking men, both of them. Their clothes were worn thin, and their bodies looked like they were used to hard work. Both of them had cold, unflinching eyes. Thano was sure these were men Romeo would avoid.
Romeo knew humans. He could often tell if someone was dangerous or not simply by looking at them.
Thano had tried to catalog things about the people that made Romeo stiffen when they were in town, but he still hadn't mastered the skill.
Maybe he should bring Romeo to a meeting simply to see his reaction, but it wasn't important right now.
"Are we ready to start?" He looked around the table once everyone was seated.
There was a murmur, and Mabel brought out a notepad.
It always surprised Thano when she did. Pens and papers were forbidden, but she had some, and she did nothing to hide them.
It was something about her being the secretary and therefore having the right to make notes for the sake of the settlement, but where did she get them?
If one human could get them, surely the rest could too.
"Last week, we discussed having the people from Fisherman's Lake pay a fee to moor at the dock." She tapped her pen.
"I don't think it's a good idea." Charles glanced at Thano only to quickly look away.
"We need the money." Mabel stopped tapping.
"We also need to eat."
"With a better economy, we can make Last Hope better. If the city core is in better shape, people might want to come here--"
And off they went. Thano tuned them out and looked out the window.
Why humans couldn't trade favors like normal individuals, he didn't know.
He could see the lake between two buildings.
He'd only been to Fisherman's Lake a few times, and it had been many years ago.
It wasn't big. A few farms and a cluster of smaller houses near the lakeside.
Thano believed about fifty people were living there.
"Let's vote." Mabel's voice cut through his thoughts.
Thano caught Raven's gaze, and she gave him a barely-there shake of her head. What had he missed?
"Vote about what?"
Mabel huffed. "The toll."
"What would the consequences be?"
Charles nodded and gestured at Thano only to then pale as if Thano would bite his hand. "Exactly. Consequences."
"We've discussed it--"
Thano cut Mabel off. "Who would be affected by this?"
"Everyone!" Charles curled his hands into fists. "Since a great portion of our food comes from Fisherman's Lake, Eli would have to pay more to get it into his shop--"
"No, they're paying the toll, not Eli." Mabel sounded angry now.
"Don't be naive. They have to live just as much as we do.
If they need to pay a toll, they'll raise their prices so the profit is the same, then Eli has to raise the prices so his profit is the same, and then we have to pay more for food.
Unless they take their products somewhere else altogether. Then we'll starve."
Thano nodded. It sounded logical. He might not know a lot about the human system, but if the people of Fisherman's Lake could make more of a profit by selling their products elsewhere, then it made sense for them to do so. "Has anyone asked Eli?"
"Asked Eli what?" George was annoyed.
"What it would mean for the shop if there was a toll for everyone coming over the lake? What would it mean for his business?"
"He'll adjust."
Adjust. Was it a matter of adjusting? He looked at Tuur, Fala, Conal, and Raven. "I don't think this is something that will affect us. If they starve to death, nothing will change for us."
Mabel all but snarled, but Thano ignored her and focused on Conal. He was usually the one who could predict the humans' behavior the best. "What do you think?"
"I think you're right. It won't affect The Moonlight Ranch unless Eli starves to death. Then Ciar and Draven will be...displeased."
"No one will starve! It's to get more money to Last Hope.
The board gets the money, and we'll invest it in...
the sheriff's office or something. We still don't have a sheriff.
It's been ten months, and we don't have anyone making sure the law is followed.
" Mabel's cheeks were flushed. Maybe Thano should help her get rid of some blood. He was hungry.
There was money in the budget for a sheriff already. Thano had hoped Emeric would take the position, and there was a glimmer of interest in his eyes every time he mentioned it, but he always declined.
"Talking about the sheriff." Theodore cleared his throat and looked around the table. "I have a suggestion for the position."
Mabel visibly brightened. "You do?"
"An acquaintance of mine, Jack Ambrose, is in town looking for a job. He worked law enforcement in New Town for many years."
Thano didn't want a human sheriff, but since no one had asked for the position, it might be a good idea to hire someone. They could always eat him if he misbehaved.
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