When he didn’t continue, Tolya said, “We are listening.” Then to Joe, <He is angry, but I think he fears punishment.>

That was Joe’s opinion too. <I want to hear why he’s angry.>

Tolya relayed the message.

“They expected us,” Tobias said. “Maybe they knew the fuel truck hadn’t reached Prairie Gold yesterday, and anyone coming up to Bennett would be looking to buy gas. You could afford to pay that price today, and I do appreciate it. But tomorrow the price might double again, and what’s the next person coming to town supposed to do? Gamble they’ll have enough fuel to get home because they can’t afford to pay those prices? Hope the fuel truck will have made the delivery to our gas station?”

“I can assist Joe in finding out why the fuel truck didn’t arrive in your town,” Tolya said. “Between us, we should be able to find a more reliable vendor—in other words, an oil refinery that belongs to the terra indigene and is run by Intuits.”

Tobias blinked. “There are such places?”

“One or two. Enough to ensure that Intuit villages have what they need for essential transportation and machinery. Production is limited, but I think we can arrange for your town to be supplied that way from now on.”

Joe tried not to growl. Had Tolya come to Prairie Gold to take his place as the leader of the terra indigene settlement? If that was the case, he should have been told, since he’d been selected as the new leader here less than a month ago. Although having a terra indigene around who knew about these human things like refineries would be useful. He had been among the terra indigene who could pass for human, and he’d had some human-centric education, so he could deal with humans on behalf of his own kind. But unlike Simon, he had never wanted to run a Courtyard or even live in one.

“We understand about supply and demand, Mr. Walker,” Tolya said. “When there is a glut of prey, predators come in from other territories to hunt and feed. There is enough for all of us, and our young survive and grow strong and, in their turn, learn to hunt. When the prey becomes thin, predators travel back to their own territories, or else they end up fighting among themselves for a share of the kill. Not all of their young survive, nor do the weakest among them. Eventually Namid’s balance is restored, and there is enough food for both predators and prey.”

Tobias swallowed hard. “So you’re saying there’s a glut of prey in Bennett?”

“I’m saying Bennett isn’t the concern of the terra indigene located in Prairie Gold,” Tolya replied. “Shall we continue?”