Ogreness, Black Lake-book5

Chapter 22
~

When we recessed for lunch, Nuel acted a bit snippy when I walked away sayin’ I had to check my messages. While I’d warmed to her a bit since last week, my world didn’t crash around me because she’s unhappy with me.

My phone had been constantly vibratin’, so I knew something was up. Others were whippin’ out their phones too as I edged north, into the thicker woods.

Message after message dealt with the various bureaucracies that monitor the business world, and the justice department. For years a cold war has been simmerin’ for the supposed monopoly Ogre Industries holds in various markets, which include Ogreware in software. As of today the war had heated up. New briefings had been delivered to the three-judge panel hearin’ the case.

In other news, various, what I’ll call anti-ogre bills, were initiated up North. Take some readin’ to find out what all the fuss is about. Everyone on the ogre side was freakin’ out, so collectively the lawmakin’ insanity couldn’t be good.

Then the next message added a little meat to one of the bills. Elimination of the Range as an independent democracy. Those freaks. As though they have that authority, or ability for that matter. Did they want another race war? And we aren’t a democracy. We don’t call ourselves a democracy. We’re proud of our hierarchial clan heritage and our comonwealth.

Never get out of committee, but just the fact DC could find sponsors for that kind of butt-rub would burn holes in a lot of guts.

A message from Gozer came up as I reached Ezra’s cabin, since I’d decided to put a lunch together for myself, spend the break in privacy. Accordin’ to my neighbor, the hood was officially in the toilet. Houses being egged and otherwise vandalized. I didn’t look forward to seein’ my place.

And the worst news—gasp. Gozer’s new neighbors are indeed orcs. The troll’s beside himself. The world is comin’ to an end.

My phone buzzed as I deleted Gozer’s message. Zug. I sat on the porch and answered the call.

“Ya on break?” he asked.

I answered with a hmm.

“Ya hear?”

“About the race war, Ogre Industries, or the breakdown of society?”

“So ya’ve heard. I hope ya geniuses come up with some good ideas. I’ve decided to retire.”

“No,” I hissed. “Not with everything goin’ on. We need folk with sanity in positions of authority right now.”

“Not my problem. I’m feelin’ tired. Worn out. My hen needs a little peace.”

“Please,” I begged. “Not yet. Can ya give us a few months? We’ll need ya.”

“I got together the statistics ya asked about,” he said.

I waited.

“Emailed ya a spreadsheet. The data freaked me out, and I thought I had a grasp on the problem. I’m afraid I’ve let my people down. Time for me to go.”

“We’re gonna need people who understand the problem, and can manage the whitewater,” I said, and explained what I meant, asked who he thought would be good to involve to work with him. He didn’t so much think he should be on the list but I threw a few good arguments at him. Amazin’ how genius strikes me when I’m least expectin’ it.

“We’re either gonna need generals, or statesmen, or it’s just gonna get worse,” I said.

“Ya get generals together, don’t think it will improve for a long time.”

I smiled. “See what I mean?”

“Either way, it’s gonna get ugly. I’m not—”

I wouldn’t let him say he wasn’t up for it. “Ya’re the perfect authority to be speakin’ for us.”

He groaned.

“So who do ya wanna do this with?” I asked.

“I’ll participate, if ya chair the committee,” he said.

Committee? I closed my eyes. Hate that word. Don’t I have my fingers in enough swamps full of snappin’ gators? “The group has to decide upon its own leadership.” That was a good out.

“Ya have to keep yar trolls on patrol,” I hurried to add. “We need friendly giant faces doing good, front and center.”

“Help if our guys didn’t backhand the citizens and break their necks.”

I hmmed in agreement. That was another problem. “So who pushed for the bull’s prosecution?” I asked.

“May come to ya as a surprise but I’m amazingly out of the loop with the humans uptown.”

“That has to change,” I said softly.

He groaned.

~ Nuel ~

The jerk stormed away without giving me a chance to straighten him out. The idjit needs to stand up and get this gaggle of fools organized. I couldn’t see any of these gray-haired buffoons bringing them together.

Ike strode into the woods, head down, glaring at his phone. He had people here he needed to communicate with. He can message others when the council adjourns. Isn’t that why they’re face-to-face this week?

Today, I’m feeling a little embarrassed to call myself an ogre.

~