As far as Vlad could tell, this seemed to be the message the humans wanted to convey: this was their home; they wanted to stay; but they didn’t want to die if they stayed. And they understood that any sign of the HFL movement would mean the end of the citizens and town of Talulah Falls.

From the terra indigene, he heard a different message: they were tired of dealing with humans; they didn’t like feeling enclosed by so many human things; they wanted to go home, go back to limited contact with the clever monkeys. But they also wanted an opportunity to observe humans without the responsibility for so many things they didn’t understand.

In other words, they wanted to play tourist for a day or two in a place like Ferryman’s Landing or the Lakeside Courtyard and then retreat to the land they knew and loved.

<What do you think?> Vlad asked Henry and Ming.

<They see Lakeside surviving and Ferryman’s Landing surviving,> Henry said. <They want to survive too.>

<Yes,> Ming agreed. <I smell no lie-sweat. And Steve Ferryman did not say the words that were the signal that he felt something wrong here.>

An Intuit who was the mayor of his village would have a feeling about any deceit that might threaten his own people.

“The Sanguinati have adapted to living in and around human places,” Vlad said, finally ready to say what Erebus had commanded him to say. “We are willing to take over the rule of Talulah Falls, with the help of other forms of terra indigene.”

He saw fear in the humans’ eyes, but not as much as there would have been a few months ago. After having a Harvester walking among them, the idea of vampires running the town was a relief.

“The Sanguinati who would be the leader is known to many in the Lakeside Courtyard. He also has contact with Governor Hannigan’s Investigative Task Force, so he is in a position to consider the needs of the human citizens as well as the terra indigene.” Vlad looked at the terra indigene leaders. <With others willing to take over for you, you can go home if that is what you want to do.>

<When?> they asked.

<Soon. The problem solver has one more task to complete if it can be done. Then he’ll be on his way to Lakeside and then here.>

Done. Since Talulah Falls was now a town controlled by the Others, there would no longer be a Courtyard as such. Vlad and Nyx, along with a couple of human residents, would take a look around the Falls and recommend places where the Sanguinati might live. The rest of the terra indigene who would settle in the Falls would select their new homes according to their nature.

People were in desperate need of some supplies. Could something be done?