“Order! Gentlemen, please.”
The mayor was having trouble starting the meeting. As soon as he appeared on the stage, all the ranchers stood up and started shouting, like a group of starved animals who got a glimpse of a farmer carrying a bucket of corn.
Although everyone knew the mayor, it was Geoffrey’s first time seeing the man in person. Peter ‘Eagle’ Meyer was a man in his sixties with small hands kept in constant motion, either fastening and unfastening one of the buttons on his vest, changing his watch from one pocket to another, or slightly adjusting his monocle.
The mayor’s most distinctive feature was his long nose, which seemed more like a beak. Since he was a child, Geoffrey had heard people call him Mr. Eagle because of it. Seeing the man up close, the nickname was well-deserved. Word on the street was that the mayor himself encouraged it. The politician probably figured that Mayor Meyer was a mouthful and decided that Mayor Eagle was something voters could more easily remember.
This was one of the most powerful men in the city. He controlled the police and ruled over a city that, while part of a nation in name, was more of an international hub. Governments and tycoons constantly tried currying favor with the man in the search for a piece of the biggest slice of the pie of the energy market. Geoffrey felt an emotion he wasn’t expecting at the sight of the mayor. It was a burning sensation in his chest and his eyes. It was a mix of anger and longing. It was followed by a sweet taste in his mouth, a mix of honey and peppermint.
A flash of memories came uninvited into Geoffrey’s mind. That time when he hadn’t eaten in six days and finally found a garbage can with something edible. The joy he had felt after eating something repulsive twisted his stomach.
Then, images of when he was sent to beg, only to give all the money he’d made to pirates. Then, there was the pain of when he was beaten after the pirates discovered he was keeping some of the money for himself.
When Geoffrey was a street urchin, he’d been beaten, robbed, beaten again, and exploited by the scum of the slums. He’d fought with all his might to climb out of the quagmire until he could earn respect. But looking at the mayor, he was reminded that he wasn’t at the top of the mountain. He was nothing but an ant that the mayor’s boot could squash.
An old fire was stoked in Geoffrey’s heart. The flames of uncertainty and the desire for more power were built into a powerful inferno. The voices in his heart were becoming so powerful that they crowded out the choir of complaints around him.
The mayor discreetly signaled toward the police commissioner in a cry for help. Commissioner Fabius clapped his hands a few times. Geoffrey snapped out of his dreamy daze. The man was so large, and his gestures so wide and broad that it was impossible not to look at him. Of course, the thunderous clap of his bear-like hands also helped.
The mayor managed to use the moments of silence created by the commissioner’s help to take the reins of the meeting. “Ladies and gentlemen,” his voice was persuasive and wheezy, “I know everyone is concerned about what happened today at the lake. I spent the whole day consulting with several experts and even hearing some of you out. Rest assured that we’ll help you. As I’m sure you can appreciate, it’s in everyone’s interest that we resume oil production as soon as possible.”
Everyone sat down. Hearing the mayor’s assuaging words, they relaxed.
“I’ve asked Dr. Link, one of the foremost experts in the lake’s ecology, to gather a team and ascertain the situation in more detail. According to the last message we received from him, all animals seem fine for the moment. This is excellent news.”
The audience relaxed a little more. The mayor was indeed a masterful politician. Once he started talking, these wealthy men seemed like well-behaved children in a classroom.
“Time will be needed before we can verify how this event has impacted the lake’s ecology, but according to what Dr. Link has told me, this event is only temporary, and most of the lake’s wildlife can temporarily deal with the new conditions.”
Geoffrey smiled. The human called Link had not even scratched the surface of what had happened in the lake, and they were already so sure it was temporary.
“From what I’ve gathered, the biggest concern right now is the machines. The lipovacuum machines are very sensitive equipment and are essential in extracting the blubber from the sirenians. Additionally, they are kept on the shores, near the water, which means they are all underwater right now.”
The mayor discreetly consulted some notes and continued his speech. “It appears that to get them working again, we’ll have to disassemble them, clean them, and reassemble them. We also have to install them in facilities that are on higher ground and dig canals to bring the animals to the vacuuming parlor.”
A murmur of protest went around the crowd. Before the noise was allowed to grow any louder, the mayor continued. “Gentlemen, I can appreciate your concerns. The operation I’ve just described is costly. I want you to know that the city is ready to help you however we can. We have a fund for natural disasters and are ready to tap into that to help you get through these hard times.
“After consulting with the companies that manufacture this equipment and reaching out to the engineering department of Orca University, it seems this change will take some weeks. But that’s too long. The whole world depends on the production done in our city. May I ask if there is anyone among you whose facilities were unaffected by the flood?”
This is it, thought Geoffrey. The chamber was all silent. Everyone around him was desperate enough. Some part of him felt ashamed at what he was about to do. His eyes focused on Joey. His friend had become so similar to his benefactor. It almost felt like Mr. Jebediah himself was next to the mayor. If Mr. Jebediah were in his shoes, he would have already extended a helping hand to his fellow ranchers. He should honor the memory of his mentor. Joey would also be proud of his willingness to help. As for all the barrels he’d bought, he would just say that he’d bought it so that no one else could get to it before he gave it to the city. Yes, that was the right thing to do.
Just as Geoffrey was about to give up, a cascade of thoughts flashed through his mind. Yes, Jebediah had been kind. But hadn’t he been too kind? Hadn’t that gotten him dead? In business, ruthlessness is kindness. Jebediah had also been the richest. It was easier to help others when there was no one above you. But there are so many people out there who are more important than you, Geoffrey. Look at the mayor. You’re nothing to him. He’s just like the pirates who exploited you as a kid. Yes. You’re not doing anything unlawful, Geoffrey; you’re just seizing an opportunity. Your mentor would be proud to see you become such a fine businessman. Go for it. Go for it.
While everyone remained seated, Geoffrey stood up.
*
Joey tried his best to stay still, but it had been a long day. Whenever he felt his patience thinning, he focused on the ranchers in the crowd. It wasn’t a stretch to think that among these producers was the man who killed his father. The fury that thought ignited in him kept him going.
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If enough extraction facilities were still operational, they could offset the damage, but no one was stepping forward. Too bad his old man’s facilities weren’t well-maintained either. His father had always warned about the dangers of keeping the parlors ashore. This was what happened when you kept all your eggs in one basket.
“Mayor, my facilities are fully operational.”
Everyone turned toward the voice. Geoffrey stood up, facing the mayor. Of course! Geoffrey! He’d learned from his father. How could Joey forget about him?
“Alright, Mister…”
“Geoffrey,” Geoffrey prompted.
“That is excellent news, Mr. Geoffrey. How come your facilities are unaffected by the flood?”
“I studied the records when I set up my ranch. There was some mention of a great lake flood a hundred years ago. My mentor taught me to play it safe. That’s why I built my processing and vacuuming facilities on higher ground.”
The other ranchers turned green with regret. They’d sacrificed caution for profit, and now they were paying for it.
“Your mentor... who was it?” the mayor asked.
“Jebediah Jones, sir.”
“I see,” the mayor said, glancing at Joey.
Geoffrey continued. “My vacuuming facilities are intact. We can process thirty animals an hour. If we work around the clock, that’s seven hundred animals a day. In two weeks, we could handle ten thousand.”
Hearing the numbers, the mayor’s voice grew more confident. “Mr. Geoffrey, you’re very kind in assisting the town in this time of need. We’re all counting on you.”
“Of course, Mr. Mayor.”
Joey felt his exhaustion lift. He was so proud of Jeff and, more importantly, of his father. Who would have thought his father would save the city even after death by nurturing an orphan like Jeff? Joey gave him a bright smile, but Geoffrey’s eyes stayed on the mayor.
“As my fellow producers can imagine, building my facilities on higher ground was costly. I will let everyone use them for a small rental fee.”
Joey’s shoulders dropped. The other ranchers exchanged worried glances. Joey didn’t like where this was heading.
“Of course, Mr. Geoffrey. Provided it’s a reasonable fee,” suggested the mayor.
“Of course. I’ll rent my facilities for 10% of my colleagues’ total herds.”
The room erupted. What was his friend doing? Ranchers started shouting accusations.
“Mr. Geoffrey, you’re being unreasonable. This is preposterous!”
“Why would we exchange our animals for this service? We should be able to pay in another currency.”
“What else could you expect from a slum rat!” one of the producers screamed.
Geoffrey signaled to speak. The commissioner clapped his hands again to quiet the room. Everyone reluctantly allowed Geoffrey to speak, hoping for a drastic reduction in his price.
“Gentlemen, I’m afraid you’re being unreasonable. The alternative would be to resort to the unlawful and barbaric act of killing the herds for their blubber. That would be economic suicide. I’ve run the numbers. You’d need to sacrifice 20% of your herds to keep up with market demand. I’m accepting half of that. How is that unreasonable?
“Besides, our good mayor has already vowed to provide economic support. In fairness, I’m willing to forfeit being part of that financial help package,” Geoffrey added, sounding magnanimous.
The mayor softened his expression somewhat.
“Additionally, don’t you need all the cash you can get right now to move your facilities to higher ground? I know from experience how expensive that is. Here I am, trying to do right by you, finding a way to help you get back on your feet, and yet I’m met with ingratitude. What good are all these animals to me if I’m too busy vacuuming yours, anyway?”
Joey caught some ranchers exchanging guilty looks. The deal wasn’t too bad. They would indeed need every penny to relocate their operations. The demand for labor would drive prices up. Joey’s disgust eased, but he still couldn’t understand why his friend would ask for a price. Couldn’t he just let them use the facilities for free?
“Some of you might think I’m taking advantage of you and should let you use my facilities for free. But let me ask you something—what do you think will become of my vacuuming parlor if I use it 24/7? Do you know how much wear that will cause? Who’s going to pay for that?”
“Now, now… Mr. Geoffrey. No one doubts your intentions. We apologize if we made you feel that way. I think the agreement is reasonable. Do you agree?” the mayor asked the audience.
One hand in the audience slowly raised. Then another. Soon, everyone raised their hand. There was no other way. If they tried to seize Geoffrey’s estate, he could sue them penniless later. Killing and drying out their animals, as in the old whaling days, was also abominable. Doing that would be like killing the chicken to get the eggs.
Joey regarded his friend. So that’s why Geoffrey had asked about his father’s estate. He wanted to know if the ranchers had any other options. He needed to be sure he had the only functioning vacuuming parlors to negotiate this boldly. He’d coated his words in sugar and benevolence, but something about him seemed off.
The mayor continued the meeting. “Thanks to Mr. Geoffrey, we’ll be able to keep up with demand until we stabilize things. Now, onto the next order of business. As you know, we control a third of the world’s energy market. We sell an average of two thousand barrels a week. Our city alone uses about fifty barrels of sirenia oil a month. After checking the city’s coffers, I found we only have one hundred barrels stored. But we have more than just our city to think about.
“I was hoping to ascertain from you how many barrels you have left in your refineries and at the auction house. We don’t want to crash the market, gentlemen. We all remember what happened in 1843 when the whales went extinct. The whole world was set ablaze. Can we pool together our resources for the greater good and ensure the planet doesn’t go dark again?” The mayor let the question hang in the air.
“Mr. Finley, please take note of how many barrels each producer can spare in this time of need. Anyone?”
Joey looked at the ranchers. They were hesitant. Geoffrey stood up again.
“Mr. Geoffrey?”
“I have at least 30 barrels of sirenia at my estate. I’ll gladly give them to the city as a show of goodwill.”
Joey’s heart softened. That was more like the friend he knew. Seeing Geoffrey stand up so quickly and give the oil so generously, the other ranchers looked at him with respect. Another rancher stood up.
“Wilson & Wilson has 20 barrels we can spare. Unfortunately, we can’t give them away, but...”
“No worries, Mr. Wilson. The city will purchase it from you at market price. The same goes for your barrels, Mr. Geoffrey. You all have businesses to run, and the city can afford it.”
Motivated by their colleague’s examples, other ranchers stood up one by one, volunteering barrels. After thirty minutes, the mayor exchanged words with his aide and smiled broadly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your generosity. With this, we’ve managed to secure more than a thousand barrels. With that, plus Mr. Geoffrey's facilities, we can mitigate this crisis. Now, let's move on to the next point on the agenda. Dr. Link suggested we ask if any of you have suspicions about how the lake could have risen overnight. After all, you know the lake better than anyone. Any thoughts?”
“Could a storm in some other part of the lake have caused the flood?”
“Mr. Finley, please write this down. All theories are welcome at this point. Anyone else?”
“What about an underwater volcanic eruption?”
“What about a moon tide phenomenon? Maybe Jupiter and the Moon aligned or something.”
“Maybe an iceberg floated in from the ocean, and it caused the water volume to rise.”
“Good, good. Any other theories?” the mayor encouraged.
No one else raised their hand.
“Very good. These theories will be attached to a report we’re sending to the Science Academy.”
Joey’s eyes widened. The Science Academy?
One of the ranchers spoke up. “Mr. Mayor, could you please include in the report that it’s necessary to study how the change in water conditions, if permanent, will affect the lake’s ecosystem? The cows eat grass, kelp, and other vegetation. I worry the cattle will starve.”
“That request has already been included. Rest assured, we’ll get to the bottom of this and take precautions so it won’t happen again.
“I think we’ve adequately discussed everything. We’ll discuss the financial assistance package and reconvene tomorrow to fine-tune the details if that suits you, gentlemen. Additionally… yes, Mr. Geoffrey?”
Geoffrey had stood up again. “Mayor, for the sake of transparency and good business practice, if you find it appropriate, I’ll ask my lawyer to draft the lease for my facilities. He’ll bring it to City Hall’s legal office tomorrow.”
Joey nodded approvingly. His father had always taught them that it was good practice to put things in writing. Everyone else seemed pleased with Jeff’s words. Having a contract would ensure their rights. Maybe some of them were also thinking about finding a loophole to exploit. They were all seasoned entrepreneurs who appreciated the importance of a good loophole.
Additionally, Geoffrey was one of the newest among their ranks. He was green and inexperienced. Maybe they could use some old trick to soften the blow. The mayor seemed pleased too. He could protect City Hall from any accusations if things went south. He liked the idea of everyone signing an agreement.
“Most certainly, Mr. Geoffrey. We will be expecting news from your counsel. Meeting dismissed.”