And in the morning he stashed away his belongings under the floorboards and away from the prying eyes of the innkeeper and then he marched back down the steps and into the musty streets of Harar where overhead was heard the screaming of Nighthawk missiles as they thundered through the sky and headed northward. Minutes later Wade arrived at the old storefront which housed the local offices of Agency representative Javier Gomez where the inside remained a barren landmark of time in memoriam. The representative himself sans a robust staff scribbled on a notepad at his desk with his back turned against the window facing the northerly Urbana Mountains. Nighthawks continued roaring overhead and were barely muffled by the brick and insulation. Wade noticed Gomez’s hand shaking.
“You think it’s bad here,” he told the representative, “think about how bad it must be for the people of Nain.”
Ignoring his comment and not looking up, Gomez continued his pointless jotting. “What can I do you for Wade?”
“Milner wants to make a bid,” he said.
Gomez dropped the pen and clasped his hands on the desk. “On what?” the representative asked.
“On the lands northwest of the Siana. Just on the border of Milner’s.”
Gomez shook his head and resumed the jotting. “You’re a little late,” he said.
“Why’s that?”
“It already has a bid and I doubt you could beat it.”
“By who?”
“You know who.”
“The Shepherd?”
Gomez nodded.
“Do you know where he is? Perhaps I could discuss the matter with him.”
The representative once again looked up. “That’s not a good idea. As of lately negotiating with him hasn’t been good for one’s health.”
“Are you referring to Tollum’s land?”
“How do you know about that?”
“I passed through it on my way up.”
“Then you know exactly what I mean.”
“But you’re the agency. Can’t you facilitate some sort of arrangement?”
“It doesn’t work that way and you know it.”
“Then maybe I should go up there and take care of that problem for you.”
Gomez’s face turned a bright red and he lifted a finger towards Wade. “You listen to me goddamnit! You keep your mouth shut! I won’t have talk of killin in my offices!”
“I said nothing about killin, Javier. You did.”
“I’m not a fool! I know what Milner pays you for and I don’t like it!”
“Have you been to Tollum’s lately? Women and children dead in the streets with their bones getting picked apart by old hermits. I suppose you’ll cede that land to the Shepherd as well? What good is an agency if it can’t stop this lawlessness?”
Javier piped down and lowered his head back to the notepad. “Alright then. If you want to negotiate with the Shepherd then that’s your business. And unless a lawful agreement can be reached, I don’t want to know about it. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
The Internet Ruined Everything 