Free Charles Ingrid - marked man 02 The Last Recall by Charles Ingrid Page A

suddenly, there would be an abundance of Protectors ... in a time of peace when Protectors were needed least. He tasted the irony of it. "Why don't we work the room long enough to be polite? I'd like to go with you."
    "All right. I want to find out what happened with the nesters."
    He would not bring it up, because of their argument weeks ago when he'd left, but was relieved she had because he wanted her advice. Thomas looked down at her. "All right," he said agreeably.
    The foyer opened up into a spacious living room and dining room, the far walls of tempered glass extending the horizon as far as the Pacific. The horizon was muddied now by the clusters of people standing and talking, drinks in hand despite the time of day. Thomas made Governor Valdees his target. The chunky man, his thick, brutish brown hair liberally salted with gray, stood with his back to them, his voice cutting through closer conversations. Governors were responsible for the military and revenue structure of each county while the mayors handled trade and city planning, with the DWP being the power that wove them all together.
    "So, I said, what is the difference between horse shit and a nester? And he says to me, no one minds stepping on a nester!" As the conversation broke up in laughter, Thomas gained his objective.
    Valdees turned to him. "Sir Thomas! You made it for the ceremonies, after all! Good to see you."
    One of his audience, Governor Irlene, smiled coolly. She wore a dusky pink riding jacket over her trousers. Her glance slid over Lady and Thomas wondered why sudden enmity showed. He was not aware that the two had any history. She extended her hand. "Thomas, you missed one hell of a barbecue by leaving so early. That wolfrat rodeo was only the beginning."
    He shook her hand, acknowledging that Judge Teal threw a good party; however, his eyes were on Valdees. The governor shifted uncomfortably. ' 'Is there something I can do for you or is this visit merely social?"
    "Actually, Governor, there is something you can do for me. When are you next exchanging duty shifts for Boyd's troops?" Military coverage for large operations was still standard though raiding had dropped down considerably.
    "Near the Prado?" Valdees looked surprised. His shaggy eyebrows did a small dance. "Several days after I return home, probably. Why do you ask?"
    "Send a courier with them. Suggest to Boyd that his military protection hinges on opening up his wells and keeping them open. Remind the cattleman that we have a water rights treaty with the nesters and you've got the guts to enforce it."
    The room was suddenly quiet. Across the room Art Bartholomew lifted his chin as though it aided him to hear.
    Lady muttered, "My God, Thomas, I thought you came in to mingle, not start a war." Valdees heard her, but few others could.
    The governor's expression remained guarded. "Is there a problem I should know about?''
    "I executed a man for poisoning a well. He did it. I have no guilt. But what we were not told at the trial was that the water had already been allowed to go bad and new wells hadn't been opened up. Boyd's getting water from the Prado, he doesn't care if he loses the wells— but as long as he leases his rangeland from the counties, he has to abide by our treaties the same as anyone else would. I think he needs to be reminded of it."
    The amber liquid in Valdees' glass shook almost imperceptibly. He said, "I will do that, Lord Protector."
    In the background, from a direction Thomas could not pinpoint, someone muttered, "Nester lover."
    He looked around. No one hated nesters worse than he did—miserable curs who refused to cooperate and accept responsibility for mutual survival. But as long as they lived, there was a possibility they could change, could come back. They were not like animals who went feral and remained unreclaimable. And, there had been Clancy's warning. "I would like to remind anyone within earshot that the nester clans would be of considerable size if