CHAPTER 59

If time was money then Ian could not imagine a bigger waste of cash than what he was seeing right now. It was not like the Noveus-Faeyu didn’t already clamp down on Kalean-Erc when things were relatively normal. What did they think that doubling the number of troops on the streets were going to do? Were they putting the city on double secret probation or something? Like it was some secret? It almost made Ian want to laugh.

Laughing is what he did at the road block he stopped at. The elf troopers were no longer keeping their weapons slung these days but, otherwise, things went along pretty much as normal here. This elf sergeant asked for Ian’s identification papers and the laughter is what he got, followed by Ian letting him know, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do with my ID Card. How about I shove it your ass.”

The young elf was about to raise his weapon until a nearby officer saw who was in the car. He rushed over and pushed the kid back, “I apologize sir Ian!” There was no more trouble all the way to Phvengs. Then Ian walked in his office and only felt his frustration level rise along with his blood pressure.

Bruce Arbuckle was sitting lazily on his office couch and the bastard had the audacity to have his feet on the coffee table. Ian tried to ignore the guy as he walked over to a shelf and took a bottle of scotch down with a glass. Ian then asked, “want me to get down another glass or have you already helped yourself to my booze?”

Arbuckle tossed aside the magazine and then crossed his arms, “not thirsty right now. I was just dropping by to check on certain shipments of food, medicine, and munitions, of which have not arrived.”

“Oh,” Ian sat down at his desk and poured himself a drink, “is that all?” After he downed the entire glass he then looked Arbuckle in the eye, “or maybe we should be talking about that little shipment you sent back to the states in my goddamn trucks.” Ian began to pour another glass as he added, “you miserable cocksucker.”

Bruce stood up and protested, “now wait a minute Ian. We got an agreement and I didn’t break it. You haul out my classified material and…”

Now Ian stood up and actually raised his voice, “oh is that what we’re calling it? First things first, Arbuckle, you don’t ship on my trucks unless I know what the cargo is. That was also a part of our arrangement if you remember.”

Arbuckle acted genuinely confused, “I mean I don’t get it. They were just a couple of eggs. Why is everybody getting in such uproar about this?”

“Second,” Ian went on, “they were not just a couple of eggs you immoral son of a bitch. You people went and stole somebody else’s children, and you didn’t think it might raise a few hackles? What do you call it in America? An Amber Alert, or, does that only apply to those people you actually like?”

As Ian sat back down Arbuckle protested, “they’re orcs!”

“And they love their children just like you do yours,” Ian looked up at him, took a swig of scotch, and then said, “then again maybe you don’t but, the fact remains, they’re also protective of their young.”

Still defensive yet demanding, Arbuckle put his foot down, “why would the elves care? Orcs are their enemies!”

“Oh gee,” Ian acted like the question was as stupid as it really was, “I don’t know, maybe they’re afraid you Americans will go kidnapping their young next?” Ian slammed his glass down and said, “then again, maybe if you people had taken the time to notice, Orcs do most of the farm work in this country. What do you think they’ll do if they find out some of their young are on the open market? Every consider that?”

Bruce crossed his arms and practically raised his nose, “ah, so this isn’t the high and mighty moral issue you make it out to be. It all goes right back to money.”

“More like eating,” Ian grumbled under his breath but, then he raised his voice, “for me it’s about the fact that you people don’t give a shit if you steal children or not. You know, there are some lines that even I won’t cross but, holy shit, you guys…”

Bruce then took a stab at what he came here for, “so that’s why you cut us off?”

Ian rolled his eyes, “I didn’t you cut you off. In case you haven’t noticed, which I might add that you people are in the habit of doing, there is a little civil war going on right now, again, thanks to you people. I can’t get my trucks everywhere they need to be. It’s also costing me money to have those same trucks, sitting doing nothing. I don’t suppose the US government plans on compensating me, do they?”

“We didn’t start this,” Bruce protested.

“Sure you did,” Ian replied and then downed another shot of scotch. He then pounded his chest and belched, “where did I put that antacid?” As Ian rummaged through his desk drawers he said, “you came through the Dell. That’s all you had to do. What did your bosses think would happen, Arbuckle?”

“That sounds kind of funny coming from you,” Bruce replied. “of everybody that’s profited from this, looks to me like you’re the one doing it the most.”

After chewing his pill, Ian pointed at the American and told him, “which brings me to my next point. I’ve killed people for doing less than your little stunt. I should kill you just on general principle alone but, fortunately for you, I still have need of your services. Even so, don’t think you aren’t in the dog house.”

Bruce remained smug, “sounds like you need me more than I need you.”

“Ah,” Ian looked enlightened and pointed out, “glad you brought that up. The question of who needs who the most is quite an interesting one. I wonder how all this would look to your bosses back at Fort Meade?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Bruce was a little worried but, only a little, “I’m clean.”

Ian chuckled, “they don’t know that.”

“It isn’t going to work Ian,” Bruce smugly replied, “we deal with people like you all the time.”

“Back on Earth but,” Ian pointed out, “here on this side of the Dell, it’s a little harder to reach me. Of course, just because I choose to live here, don’t think I am ignorant in the ways of America. I wonder how much your bosses would stand up and defend you when all of your activities get leaked to the press? Oh, Americans don’t care if they kidnap some children who happen to look like monsters but, they get really pissy when their spies are involved in moving supplies that aren’t even illegal. Explain to me how that works exactly? I don’t suppose your bosses would want to spend twenty years in Leavenworth but, they would probably sacrifice you.”

The smugness vanished and Bruce simmered before asking, “what do you want?”

The man who came walking in the room did so with the thump of a cane that Ian recognized all too well. He blew off the pleasantries and told his new visitor, “well, well Curwin, I see the arthritis is acting up again. You know I have something for that.”

“Spare me,” Curwin Losmun replied as he stopped in front of Ian’s desk. “I’m here on business.”

“Well I didn’t really believe you’d pay me a fucking social call,” Ian replied. “Course when you say business I am supposing that it does not come with payment.”

“Not the kind you’re used too,” Curwin told him.

Ian looked to Bruce and pointed to Losmun as he said, “and that is the standard line of every free loader I’ve ever known. What is it this time Curwin?”

“The American Rangers,” Losmun told him, “we need to get them out of the Hurtegan, and fast.”

Arbuckle became alarmed and said, “now wait a minute…”

Ian snapped, “shut the fuck up Arbuckle, you’re already in enough trouble.” Ian then smoothed his feathers before telling Curwin, “why would I want to do that? It’s not like I told them to go up there and pick a fight with the Orcs. Somebody should have warned them and, oh wait a minute, that’s exactly what I fucking did. Boo-fucking-hoo if they all get killed.”

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple,” Curwin told him. “Right now, they’re the only thing holding it all together.”

That made no sense to Ian and, besides, he really could care less. He told Arbuckle, “good Samaritan here.” He then looked back to Curwin and told him, “you know, I never can figure out what’s worse. I got you coming here preaching human solidarity, and wanting something.” Ian motioned to Arbuckle, “I got the Americans with their cause and IOU’s, wanting something. If it’s not that then the fucking elves have their holier than thou bullshit, and wanting something. Last but not least I got Cavendish trying to shove a flag up my ass all the time, and wanting something. Starting to see the pattern here?”

Curwin quickly replied, “you’re the one getting cozy with the Noveus-Faeyu.”

“Oh hey,” Ian shrugged it off, “I do business with everybody Curwin, you know that.” Then Ian got somewhat peeved, “the only problem with that is, for some strange reason, all you cock suckers don’t seem to understand that I have to make a living too! I can’t do that if nobody pays me!”

Again, Curwin remained calm and stated, “the Emperor is using the Americans.”

“Tell me something I don’t fucking know,” Ian was unimpressed.

“All right, fine,” Curwin leaned on the desk and got very serious, “he’s counting on the American presence to keep Montceaus and Quintescau from going at each others throats. They’re afraid if the Americans get wiped out then Feyland will be invaded.”

For the first time, Ian actually looked happy. He poured himself another drink and then sounded upbeat as he said, “I never thought old Solenceaus was that smart. I mean I knew he’d been playing the Olyan-Notae off on the Noveus-Faeyu. It makes sense except that it was bound to come back and bite him in the ass one day. I guess that’s also why Solenceaus has also been bending a lot arms on the board lately. Here I was thinking it was just cause the guy is an ass hole.”

Curwin growled, “we can sit here and do nothing or we can let this country tear itself apart. What nobody seems to understand is that the Pomalrij are on the move. I’ve never seen them like this.”

Ian shot a look at Arbuckle, “see what kidnapping children will do to you?” Then Ian took a deep breath and stood up, “let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that I was actually inclined to adhere to your favor, Curwin. What the fuck am I supposed to do about it? I only got trucks. You aren’t going to get them into the Hurtegan and I don’t got no fucking helicopters.”

“Chesterfield does,” Curwin replied, “at RAF Merlin. He’s got enough birds and pilots to airlift all of the Americans out in one shot.”

Ian gestured to himself, “then what are you coming to me for? That prick doesn’t answer to me. Wouldn’t you be better off going to Cavendish for that? I might remind you that I’m not very popular with ether one of those guys?”

Curwin straightened up and smiled, “Norton Somerset.”

Ian rolled his eyes and sat back down. He was a bit more irate when he said, “you want to play that fucking card. Since you used to be one of my oldest and dearest friends, I should remind you that you’re treading on very dangerous ground there.”

“Ian,” Curwin stood his very dangerous ground, “we’re already on it. Just call Chesterfield and get those birds moving.” Losmun walked out of the office, confident but, with a parting warning, “let’s just hope they’re still there.”