Linda returns with Tom from the Merchant Center; though she could have brought what information Tom had, he decided to see Hondo and Fernando in person. Linda heads back to handling customers as Tom talked to them from the barter's side of the bar.
"Hope you like the service." Tom begins, "Linda told me you had some questions?"
"Nothing important on that you had to be dragged here." Fernando answers.
"Then ago ahead and ask." Tom says.
"What are the plans for the treaty signing, as in, how many of them are coming and how long it should take. I already have a treaty to put together, I just need to print it out." Fernando says.
"I hope it is an unconditional and total surrender." Tom says.
"That's besides the point. It is not as you may think of it as an unconditional and total surrender. But it is an agreement to all those involved to be cooperative in a joint endeavor which would benefit everyone greatly. In short, they have technology you want for expanding your markets and you have goods and services that they want to improve their position. But importantly slavery ends and slaves are to be freed and restored to their families and communities. Thing is, some slaves may be hundreds of miles away, and they need to be found and restored. Hondo and I will do what we can in what we find but both your communities must do the dirty work of getting that done once we are gone to Texas." Fernando explains. He notices that Tom is not all too happy to hear this.
"We wanted these people jailed." Tom puts down his statement.
"Not all of them are slavers, Tom. It is a town controlled by them but not everybody were involved. Besides, you need them to expand your market. Unless you can fly an airship like they can, you will not be able to get to a town 300 or more miles away directly. As is the convoy would take 2 maybe 3 weeks to get there, an airship can get there in a day or two. Wouldn't that be great for your markets?" Fernando tells him, "Besides, it is not just for this village, but for all the neighboring villages. I'm sure in hearing the news by now, their leaders are coming over, which leads to my second question: how many are coming?"
An
Indian Chief in full ceremonial dress walks in with his medicine man and a couple of warriors, in equally impressive ceremonial dress.
"Hello Ray." The chief says as his group walks to the bar.
"How it's going, Johnson?" Ray replies.
"Johnson?" both Hondo and Fernando says to themselves.
"Johnson, these two are those responsible for making the slavers surrender." Ray points out Fernando and Hondo to them, "Hondo, Fernando, this is Chief 'Running Water' Johnson of the Yellowstone Indian Confederation."
"Howdy." Hondo says to them as Fernando follows with "Greetings. What confederation do you represent?"
"Many. Before The Happening, we were many tribes over thousands of miles and we gathered ourselves together for communal defense and survival." Chief Johnson says.
"I see." Fernando says, then he turns to Tom, "Despite it all what I wrote is for the good of all, not just for some. If we go in and rip apart the former slavers' town, we would be better than they are, in fact we would be worst because they are defeated and we took advantage of them, free people do not do that."
"We'll discuss this later. The Slavers requested to come in early and bring in more than just their one vehicle with their 'leader.'" Tom says.
"If I have anything to say, let them come, even if they bring an airship. We are to respect them as they are to respect us. You people need to be prepared, as they are trying to insure that their leader is not arrested or assassinated. I do not blame them in that. Remember, I took care of the leaders of the slavers - what's his name - Biggus Diskus? This leader they have now may not be a slaver, so it is best that she is given respect as a leader. I do make provisions in that anyone taking part in future slavery will be taken cared off by the community that captures them. So if you want peace, you need to work on it. I'm just setting the rules for it and rule number one is Slavery ends." Fernando tells him.
"Then we all need to meet and discuss this treaty you made." Tom says.
"Good enough for me. I need to get it printed out. Lets say in an hour good enough for you?" Fernando tells him.
"An hour is good." Tom says.
"I too want to see this treaty." Chief Johnson says.
"You're welcomed to read and sign it." Fernando says.
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After Chaos (Read 185722 times)
