John Ringo: East of the Sun, West of the Moon

“What would we do without you, Shanea?” Herzer said, grinning.

“Tell me when you’re ready to dump whatsername and we’ll find out,” Shanea said with a wink and a wiggle as she left.

Mike’s mouth dropped open at the byplay but Megan just rolled her eyes.

“Shanea, and Meredith for that matter, were with me when I was incarcerated by Paul Bowman,” Megan said, shrugging. “Each of us dealt with it in our own way. In Shanea’s case, it helped that she was a minx. And still is.”

“If it’s not too personal a question,” Courtney said, hesitantly, “how did you deal with it?”

“By making myself busy,” Megan answered honestly. “By creating projects for myself and by planning his assassination. And, finally, by carrying it out. It wasn’t pleasant and I prefer not to talk about it, much more than that. And please don’t ask Meredith about it at all.”

“I won’t,” Courtney said, shaking her head. “I’m very glad, though, that you were a strong and capable person and I’d like to… well…” she ended, holding up her glass. “Good luck to you and Herzer. He’s a very good guy. I hope you’ll be happy.”

“That I’ll drink to,” Mike said, holding up his own glass of beer.

After they had sipped, Megan set her glass down with a clink and looked at them gravely.

“Okay, why do you need a friend in court?”

After Mike explained their dilemma Megan frowned.

“Meredith?”

“The legislation initially had a number of competing distribution plans,” Meredith stated. “The one that came closest to the final bill included both a lottery and a proven distribution plan. It was killed in committee primarily by a few commons that were heavily supported by various ag corp lobbyists. Since a number of the higher ups in the Agriculture Department have worked for ag corps they clearly felt they could get a better distribution plan through the bureaucracy than in congress. And they were right.”

“It’s not right, though,” Megan admitted. “Agriculture is still the basis of the UFS economy and, correct me if I’m wrong, but the majority of agriculture is still small farmer. Correct?”

“Eighty percent thereabouts according the last report I scanned,” Meredith said. “I haven’t been concentrating on it, though.”

“Exceptions we could use?” Megan asked, nodding.

“Military members,” Meredith said. “They can apply for a grant with a very long proven period and only a portion of the property has to be proven. Herzer, for example, could apply for up to six thousand hectares and only have to prove out six hundred within twenty years. And he can buy additional land at a very low cost. How low was not specified in the legislation and depends upon the value of the property. There are no exceptions, however, for general farmers. Not in the legislation.”

“That’s not right,” Courtney said. “Nothing against the military, Herzer, but…”

“I suspect it’s a means of retaining trained officers,” Megan said. “It reverts if they resign their commission?”

“All but proven lands and even then they only can retain up to twenty percent,” Meredith said. “All lands revert to their heirs upon their death in service, proven or unproven, with no penalty.”

“That’s why,” Megan said musingly. “What about council members?”

“Up to one hundred thousand hectares,” Meredith recited. “Only one thousand need be proven within twenty years. Dukes up to fifty thousand, same conditions.”

“I wonder if Duke Edmund knows that?” Megan said, smiling slightly. “Mike, how much land could you manage?”

“I want my own farm,” Mike temporized. “My own land. Not to manage tenant farmers.”

“Oh, we can arrange that I’m sure,” Megan said, musingly. “And it doesn’t solve the basic problem of the bureaucracy screwing people like you. There are several ways to approach this and I think we should use most of them. The first, Mike, is that small farmers like yourself need to get more organized. Preferably, form a political party but at the very least form some sort of a union that can hire lobbyists and make political contributions. Sorry, but that’s how the system works and you either use it or you get used. There are enough farmers, both as a source of funds and direct voters, that with a little organization the commons will not dare ignore you. The second layer will be directed specifically at this problem. I could, frankly, use an income that’s not dependent upon my subscription from the government. Therefore, Herzer, myself and possibly Duke Edmund will apply for grants of land and consider buying a few more parcels with the agreement that you manage them. The last point will be to ensure that the bureaucrats know you have friends in high places. I think we’re going out to dinner.”

“Dinner?” Courtney said, clearly confused.

“Somewhere where people will see Countess Megan Travante and her fiancé consulting with their agricultural manager,” Megan said, grinning. “And by tomorrow, anyone that is anyone will know who you and Mike are and I’ll guarantee that you’ll have a different reception at the Agriculture Department.”

“I don’t like this,” Mike said, shaking his head. “I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this. Maybe a letter to somebody in the department that would get me a better, or at least higher, meeting. But this is…”

“Underhanded and indirect,” Megan said, nodding. “Herzer, you want to try to explain.”

“Well, it’s how the town works,” Herzer said, shrugging. “I don’t like it but as Duke Edmund says, democracy isn’t the best government just the best that’s ever been discovered. And this is how it works. The politicians get up and make speeches but where the deals get made are at parties and small meetings like, well, this one. You realize that you’re doing a tit for tat, right?”

“No?” Mike said.

“Think about it. Megan makes sure you get your farm and you manage hers. That’s how the town works. And it means that you’ve got an ear in Washan when something happens because part of her income is dependent on you being able to do your job. And it means that from now on you won’t have trouble with bureaucracy or the ag corps. Everybody is a little afraid of councilors. But, right now, I think Washan is more terrified of Megan than Queen Sheida. Sheida sits in her aerie and manages things at long distance, not really getting involved in the political hustle-bustle. Megan walked into one party last night and walked out with agreements to build a new legion and upgrades to the Nawlins ports, both of which were dead in the water before she walked in.”

“Oh,” Courtney said, looking a little pale.

“I’d agree to help you even if you didn’t agree to manage my farm,” Megan said, looking at Herzer and frowning. “Because you’re friends and you need somebody who understands the system. This is not a tit for tat.”

“Well, hell,” Mike said, shrugging. “I’d do it anyway because you’re friends. But, hell, I’m not sure about a hundred thousand, two hundred thousand hectares. That’s big management.”

“All of it doesn’t have to be proved out,” Megan pointed out. “And I trust you where I wouldn’t trust one of the ag corps to manage it.”

“If you think we’re up to it, we will be,” Courtney said, still looking a trifle pale.

“And now, I think we should consider where to go to dinner,” Megan said with a smile. “And we can talk about old times and you can tell me all of Herzer’s secrets and embarrass him.”

“So where did you three meet?” Megan asked as they were being seated. She’d carefully chosen a restaurant that would not be too upscale for their clothing and had changed to match. Herzer was still in undress day uniform, which fit closely enough. The restaurant, however, was a frequent hangout of congressional aides if not the commons and peer members. When Ashly had sent a hurried message that Megan wanted to dine there, the staff had nearly had apoplexy.