Read Online In this Night We Own (The Commander Book 6) by Randall Farmer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Randall Farmer
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many Focuses had been falling through those cracks in the past few years. “How are you doing?”
Gail didn’t answer for a long moment. When she did, her voice was almost reluctant.
“Based on what I’ve figured out, I’m not sure I want some other Focus helping me out. I certainly don’t want any other Focuses giving me quote unquote suggestions that turn out to be orders.”
Okay, pissed off Focus here, with more problems than an early encounter with Wini. “I’m here to listen, answer questions, and give advice, if you want, Gail,” Tonya said. She heard complete disbelief in Gail’s breathing. “And, yes, I am a Focus, and…” making a guess Gail already knew, based on her ‘figured out’ comment and the ‘journalism major’ quote on page 3 of Gail’s file “yes, I’m on the Focus Council. We’re not all ogres. I won’t lie to you, though, some of us are utter bitches.”
“Thank you for being honest with me,” Gail said, voice still flat with repressed anger. “I’m willing to let bygones be bygones, though. If your organization leaves me and my people alone, I’ll leave you alone as well.”
Tonya’s eyebrows shot up. “You think you’re protecting your household?”
“Damned fucking straight.”
There had to be a way to salvage this debacle. Gail was an instant away from hanging up on Tonya, turning the difficult into the impossible. Tonya decided to try turning the young Focus’s over-protectiveness into a positive. “Then in my mind you’re a real Focus. A peer. Keep that in mind when judging the actions of other Focuses and their people.”
“Adkins and Cottsfield were being nasty to protect their people?” Gail snorted. “Their slaves?”
Cottsfield? Dammit, why Cottsfield? Talk about bad luck. “Yes. Focus Adkins is a power among Focuses, and would rather her neighbor Focuses, like yourself, followed her lead on all things. When she protects her political power, she protects her people. Focus Cottsfield, on the other hand, is a politically weak and marginal Focus who can’t afford to do anything except keep her people fed without risking further political problems. If she dealt with a Focus like you, and made any mistakes, it would be a disaster for her household.” No need to sugarcoat things for this newbie Focus. Someone willing to go nose-to-nose with a known Council Focus over the telephone, at five months in, was no easily flustered sheltered wallflower.
“Oh,” Gail said. “Okay. I got it. The ‘protect the household’ thing is something all of us Focuses get. I shouldn’t be surprised, given the number of lies and omissions we’ve documented in the pamphlets the Transform Clinic gave me. I guess I shouldn’t come down on Focus Cottsfield too hard, given my own strong feelings on the subject.”
The ‘we’ in Gail’s statement had Tonya’s interest, as well as the word ‘number’. Also Gail’s omission of Wini from her faux apology. “So, how are you and your household doing?”
“Things could be better,” Gail said. “We’re living out in the open, on a farm, except for a few people in a small farm house. We were saving up to find a place to live, but – ah – but the man who was managing the household’s money…” She stopped then and took a breath. Tonya sensed the effort it cost Gail to control her voice. “Anyway, he ran off and took all our money with him a little ways back,” she said. No sobs, but Tonya did hear in Gail’s voice the tears rolling down her face. “We’re doing some scrambling, trying to figure out how we’re going to cope with winter – we do live in Michigan. That’s our major worry at the moment.”
Tonya’s heart ached for her. So young, so ignorant. “Oh, Gail, I’m so sorry,” Tonya said. “So very, very sorry. Did you report the theft to the police?”
“Yes, the next day. They don’t think they’ll
Gail didn’t answer for a long moment. When she did, her voice was almost reluctant.
“Based on what I’ve figured out, I’m not sure I want some other Focus helping me out. I certainly don’t want any other Focuses giving me quote unquote suggestions that turn out to be orders.”
Okay, pissed off Focus here, with more problems than an early encounter with Wini. “I’m here to listen, answer questions, and give advice, if you want, Gail,” Tonya said. She heard complete disbelief in Gail’s breathing. “And, yes, I am a Focus, and…” making a guess Gail already knew, based on her ‘figured out’ comment and the ‘journalism major’ quote on page 3 of Gail’s file “yes, I’m on the Focus Council. We’re not all ogres. I won’t lie to you, though, some of us are utter bitches.”
“Thank you for being honest with me,” Gail said, voice still flat with repressed anger. “I’m willing to let bygones be bygones, though. If your organization leaves me and my people alone, I’ll leave you alone as well.”
Tonya’s eyebrows shot up. “You think you’re protecting your household?”
“Damned fucking straight.”
There had to be a way to salvage this debacle. Gail was an instant away from hanging up on Tonya, turning the difficult into the impossible. Tonya decided to try turning the young Focus’s over-protectiveness into a positive. “Then in my mind you’re a real Focus. A peer. Keep that in mind when judging the actions of other Focuses and their people.”
“Adkins and Cottsfield were being nasty to protect their people?” Gail snorted. “Their slaves?”
Cottsfield? Dammit, why Cottsfield? Talk about bad luck. “Yes. Focus Adkins is a power among Focuses, and would rather her neighbor Focuses, like yourself, followed her lead on all things. When she protects her political power, she protects her people. Focus Cottsfield, on the other hand, is a politically weak and marginal Focus who can’t afford to do anything except keep her people fed without risking further political problems. If she dealt with a Focus like you, and made any mistakes, it would be a disaster for her household.” No need to sugarcoat things for this newbie Focus. Someone willing to go nose-to-nose with a known Council Focus over the telephone, at five months in, was no easily flustered sheltered wallflower.
“Oh,” Gail said. “Okay. I got it. The ‘protect the household’ thing is something all of us Focuses get. I shouldn’t be surprised, given the number of lies and omissions we’ve documented in the pamphlets the Transform Clinic gave me. I guess I shouldn’t come down on Focus Cottsfield too hard, given my own strong feelings on the subject.”
The ‘we’ in Gail’s statement had Tonya’s interest, as well as the word ‘number’. Also Gail’s omission of Wini from her faux apology. “So, how are you and your household doing?”
“Things could be better,” Gail said. “We’re living out in the open, on a farm, except for a few people in a small farm house. We were saving up to find a place to live, but – ah – but the man who was managing the household’s money…” She stopped then and took a breath. Tonya sensed the effort it cost Gail to control her voice. “Anyway, he ran off and took all our money with him a little ways back,” she said. No sobs, but Tonya did hear in Gail’s voice the tears rolling down her face. “We’re doing some scrambling, trying to figure out how we’re going to cope with winter – we do live in Michigan. That’s our major worry at the moment.”
Tonya’s heart ached for her. So young, so ignorant. “Oh, Gail, I’m so sorry,” Tonya said. “So very, very sorry. Did you report the theft to the police?”
“Yes, the next day. They don’t think they’ll
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