Every Man's Fantasy Ch. 06

Because Mirselene realised that her argument with Dagma was distracting her from her chiefly duties, she made it a point to take an interest in everyone's problems, knowing that the business of the tribe could not stop just because of one sullen disobedient girl.

When she got to Ezra to ask him how he was getting on, and if there was anything he needed, he told her how he had been thinking about salvaging his tools, clothes and some other things from his space-ship.

"It took five of us a week to build the Honeymoon Lodge and I am still adding parts to it a month later. With my laser and plasma tools, I could have completed it on my own in two days."

"And you'd give these tools to the Mariners, as well?"

"No, I'd share out the metal and metallo-plastic tools. They don't need to know about the laser and plasma tools, if you don't trust them."

"I don't trust them but they'll realise they're being fobbed off. Earthside technology is like magic to us. Why do you think the Cloners are so powerful and all they have is medical kits and cloning apparatus? Besides, wouldn't the Mariners have to do most of the work?"

"Yes, most of the salvage work."

"So you want me to make an alliance with the Mariners to get them to accept the lesser part of the booty in exchange for doing the greater part of the work?"

"You make it sound like a trick."

"It is a trick, though I'm not averse to tricking them. They cheat us all the time. I just can't see why they'd agree."

"Because they could have me, at least for a time."

She looked angry.

"I see, so even before you've done your duty to all the Woodlanders, you're thinking of moving on to the Mariners?"

"Of course not! That's completely unfair, Mirselene!"

Indeed, she had spoken out of bitterness and frustration for her daughter's sake. She smiled and patted his arm.

"I know. I'm sorry. But now is not the right time to argue about it. It's a moot point, anyway, until Wildchild and Tamar return."

He started to speak but she stayed him with an upraised hand.

"If you can find where your ship sank ..."

"If you can salvage it ..."

"If the Mariners will help ..."

"If they don't betray you and steal all the booty ..."

"If the Herders do not ambush you ..."

"If the laser and plasma tools even work after being drenched by the x-rays that crippled your ship ..."

"If all of these, then I will support you."

Ezra had nothing more to say, though he was dissatisfied and a little angry at her imperious manner - or was this just his sexual frustrations talking? The urges rising in him that were so easily satisfied just two weeks ago now massed themselves behind a dam of Mirselene's authority and Dagma's recalcitrance.

In two days was the monthly trade. Ezra put all his energy and frustration into his work, piling up a surplus that would bring an extra income to the tribe. Everyone else did the same, concentrating on their jobs rather than risk reigniting the dangerous argument by a careless word.

So there was an uneasy calm in the camp as the night fell and the Woodlanders retired to their huts to be thoughtful or disappointed or angry or frustrated and to try their best to sleep.