“If you read my report, you know that men connected to the Humans First and Last movement started the incident—and fired the shots that killed a police officer and one of the terra indigene,” Zajac said. “Other HFL members attacked the Courtyard’s bus, tipping it over and attacking the Wolf inside.”
“They shouldn’t have been there in the first place,” Commissioner Wallace said sharply. “They should stay inside the Courtyard. Isn’t that why businesses are required to make deliveries? So the majority of our population doesn’t have to deal with those creatures? And, gods below, is there really an entity made of fire?”
There is much more, and worse, than a fire Elemental in the Courtyard, Monty thought, angry that all the effort he and his men had put into creating a dialogue with the Others could be destroyed by fools. Having a police commissioner pretend he didn’t know about the Elementals after the storm that pounded the city back in Febros was beyond foolish; it was a level of denial that could get them all killed.
Zajac hesitated before answering. “It appears to be the case. And it’s unlikely that it was a fluke gust of wind that tore the roof off the building or piled up heavy debris against the other set of doors, preventing anyone from getting out that way.”
“Then the Others should be held accountable, should be required to pay for damages to the building as well as pay for all the cars that were burned,” Rogers said.
“Pay for damages?” Monty repeated. “I guess the pledge you made when you replaced the previous mayor, who died because of his involvement in the HFL movement and his subsequent role in the deaths of several terra indigene, was nothing but political hyperbole.”
“Now, see here . . . ,” Rogers shouted.
“You pledged to work with the Courtyard to avoid future conflicts, and now you’re trying to start a fight?”
“That’s enough, Lieutenant,” Burke said. His voice sounded mild, but his eyes sparked with a warning.
“You have anything to say about this, Burke?” Commissioner Wallace demanded.
Burke stared at Wallace. Then he looked at the mayor. “Three words. Jerzy. Talulah Falls.”
Rogers and Wallace stiffened.
“You may want to check how many years are left on the land lease for this city before you suggest to terra indigene leaders that they keep their residents inside the Courtyard’s fence,” Burke said. “You may want to check how many years are left on the road and railway right-of-ways. If the Others don’t renew the land lease, they can evict everyone in this city, the same as they did in Jerzy. Or they can make sure we can’t leave.”
“Are you suggesting that they’ll block all the routes out of the city?” Rogers said.
“They closed us in with a snowstorm and glaciers blocking every road leading out of the city. I imagine they can be equally efficient even in warmer seasons,” Burke said.
“That may be, but we have to consider people’s reactions if we give the impression that the loss of human life is insignificant,” Wallace said. “The way the Others retaliated . . .”
“The terra indigene defended themselves against an attack,” Monty said. “They defended themselves and their human companions, one of whom was a wounded police officer, from the aggressive actions of humans who were, for the most part, not merchants but men who were there that day for the express purpose of starting a fight and killing or seriously injuring the Others. The terra indigene’s actions were their typical response to being attacked.”
Before Rogers or Wallace could respond, Burke added, “The Others have not yet retaliated for the attack or for the HFL’s attempt to kill Simon Wolfgard.” After a moment of stiff silence from everyone else in the room, he continued. “Let’s stop pretending this was a spur-of-the-moment action by some hotheads who didn’t want a few Crows to buy some trinkets. The HFL wanted to stir things up, wanted to get people stirred up and angry at the Others so that no one looks too closely at what they’re doing.”