335 Bringing in more people (2/2)

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”You want me to tell George what?!” Mindy spluttered. Then she closed her eyes, sank back in her seat and groaned. ”All I wanted to do tomorrow was fly around on a prototype corvette engine with Chirpy.”

Remian nodded empathically. ”And all I wanted to do today was run around with the wolfcats, but these things are time-sensitive. The sooner they get done, the better off we all are.”

Mindy threw up her hands. ”Aren't you going to go hunt that Steiner-whatever guy and put him through the wringer for kidnapping you and all? The lynxmice tell us he's hiding out at an old temple in the slums.”

”No, I really can't be bothered with that right now.”

”But he's going to come back for the oil. You know he's not going to give up so easily.” Mindy stressed. ”He has no respect for us, no recognition of our authority over Wildlands.”

”That's because we don't really have any. The real authority over the far south is the Flame Emperor, and right now she's in no shape to stop a Libertarian expedition.” Remian pointed out.

”That's why we need to stop him here, preferably outside the Wildlands.” Mindy agreed. ”I'm only the Flame Emperor's Comrade, but I feel I should speak for her when I say they can't be allowed in her territory, and I should also speak for her in asking for your help.”

”Me? What can I do?!”

”Hunt him down and kill him for kidnapping you. Or imprison him, if you prefer. Just stop him.” Mindy said, coldly.

Remian stared. ”Did you just ask me to kill somebody?”

”Yes, I did.” Mindy's tone was cruel. She gave Remian a level look. ”I'm not that sweet little girl who kept running to you for snacks any more, Remian. I am a veteran of war, and a champion of too many dire battles to count. I've seen more people die than I have eaten meals, and killed more Spectres and Wilds than I ever want to think about.”

”But not people. Killing people is different.” Remian pointed out.

”Is it?” Mindy's eyes narrowed. She glanced at Chirpy on her shoulder. ”Is it so much worse if a human dies than if a bird dies? Is it any less an issue to kill a Wild than it is to kill a man?”

”That depends.” Remian drew a deep breath.

”On what? How smart they are?” Mindy scoffed to herself.

”On our relationship with them.” Remian pointed out.

Mindy frowned.

Remian elaborated. ”For example. Some Wilds would kill us. They are dangerous, threats to our lives and safety, they would cause us direct harm. They are our enemies. Killing them would be self-defense, a necessity, and a praiseworthy, even heroic deed.”

”Like the Beast Waves early on.” Mindy understood.

Remian continued. ”Other Wilds would cause us indirect harm, ruin our crops, destroy our homes and endanger our resources. Those are pests. Killing them would be protection of property, a service and a safeguard to us and ours, and a good work.”

Mindy nodded. ”Like locusts eating our fields, or termites in our houses, or houseflies in our food, or mosquitoes trying to suck our blood.”

Remian didn't stop. ”Then there are those Wilds who don't bother us one way or the other. If you're hunting them for food or hides, killing them would be an acquisition of resource. Otherwise, killing them would be a senseless waste.”

Mindy frowned, but didn't say anything.

Remian kept going. ”There are also Wilds who are beneficial to us. They help us do things, like plow fields or dig tunnels, or make honey. To kill them would be loss, a regretful and sorrowful issue that would be avoided unless necessary.”

Mindy thought for a bit. ”I guess you're talking about the farm Wilds.”

At last, Remian took a deep breath. ”And then there are Wilds who are our friends, and our family. Killing them would be an outright betrayal. Killing them would be murder.”

Toward that, Mindy glanced at Chirpy.

Chirpy glanced back. Neither of them said anything.

But then, Mindy turned back to Remian. ”So, if this same measure is applied to people, where does Steiner fit in? An enemy? Or a pest?”

”The scale is different for humans, because I'm human too.” Remian grimaced. ”But if I had to peg him in one of those five categories, I'd say he was a pest.”

”So are you going to kill him?” Mindy pressed.

”Probably not.” Remian sighed. ”But I'd certainly like to smack him.”