“Okay, what’re we lookin’ at, here?”

Gerrin, Reilly, Aldous, McGarrity and their guest sat at the end of one of the tables in the town’s main lodge. The man started with the story:

The man drew a breath. “A few years back this local guy sold our boss this land that wasn’t turning out the crops like he’d hoped. Us and the boss and a few others started workin’ the land and after a couple years the crops started growin’ like they used to. Now the old boss wants it back”.

Gerrin met his gaze. “And your boss doesn’t want to sell”.

The man nodded. “The old boss was offerin’ ‘bout half what our boss paid for it, said it was ‘dee-preciation’ and all, but everyone knows that’s a load of shiong mao niao (panda urine), and our boss don’t want nothin’ to do with it. Hell, we’re the ones worked and got that land to grow again”.

Reilly broke in “But the old boss won’t take ‘no’ for an answer”.

The man shook his head. “His boys been comin’ ‘round tearin’ up fences, runnin’ of cattle, tearin’ up crops – everybody knows who’s doin’ it”.

“How many’s he got?” Gerrin asked levelly.

The man shrugged. “Couple dozen or so, maybe. Nobody’s ever seen ‘em all”.

Gerrin shifted his gaze toward Reilly. “Wanna take a look?”

Reilly shifted toward him. “You taking this?”

Gerrin slid his chair back. “Doesn’t hurt to see it first”. Standing, he added “You coming?”

“No we got a ditch to dig, remember?” Reilly quipped as he slid his chair back and stood up.

“I thought so”, Gerrin mused as he turned to the door.

The four of them stepped out of the lodge in time to see Loomie round the corner, storming toward them, water dripping from her modest bath wrap and hair. “Nick, we got a problem”, she glared with fire in her eyes.

“Woa