"We made them in the mine. The queen ordered them, and she gave us the instructions to place them if the snows came," Tae answered
The reference to Josie as their queen came close to digging out what Maxxus had buried, but he covered it with anger, "Why was I not informed of this idea? This is my realm."
"We assumed you knew and approved. Josie told you the snows could come. You let them build the greenhouse. This was part of the same operation. She promised to save us, and she is doing all she can," Hesher growled. "You should be glad, not grumbling."
"I do not care to have anything done behind my back," Maxxus stated.
"It was not a secret. I guess you were too busy laughing at her to hear the whole plan when she mentioned the greenhouses. Whatever your problem is, let it go and help us with the rest. You are acting like the Maxxus of old, and it does not suit us," Hesher demanded.
"Do not disrespect me, Commander. I am the king, and I can take away the power I have given you or anyone else." Despite his attitude and sudden harsh words, Maxxus took some of the weight of the dome. He wordlessly helped place each and every one over the tender plants.
Talonians scurried in all directions, never running into one another or blocking a path. They were working as teams, choreographed by an invisible hand. Larger fires were made from wood stacked in the caves. The school children carried packages off the spaceship. Maxxus discovered the packages contained heavy coats and fur-lined blankets.
Women brewed hot drinks and passed them out to those in the tents. Dragons were in the air using their fire to melt as much of the snow as they could or keeping the pools from icing over. Josie had done all this. He knew it in his brain. She wanted Talonia to survive; she cared, but his heart remained hardened.
Out of habit, at least that is what he told himself, his eyes searched for her among the people. She was not there. Why? Had she given all the instructions so that she could pack up and leave without her conscience hurting? Or was she hiding from him, not wanting to face up to her deception?
Night was falling, and so was the temperature. The capital would stay warm due to Josie's preparations and dragon fire. It was time to see to the sick. So many of the oldest and youngest of their species were getting weak. Tests proved it was not radiation or any human illness. They simply would not eat, barely drank, and not even the energy from the waterfalls stayed with them for long. The older ones stopped transforming, and the fire behind the children's' eyes was growing dim.
Daer worked day and night, often with Josie by his side, to find what ailed them. She had stopped sending new formulas up to repair the atmosphere, thinking she was actually causing the problem to grow faster. The next one would be the cure, or she would not send one at all. Maxxus now believed she had surrendered.
