The old man was genuinely stunned this time. He had long since given up hope for his own fate, and had never once imagined returning home. Now, the fellow laborers who had suffered alongside him were his only family. The old general had simply wanted to stand his last watch, wait for Earth to send new administrators, then retire and await death. Earthlings were at least a civilized people. Surely they would let an old, sick, disabled Mazawi retire? Surely they would give him at least a little something to live on?
But who would've thought? I'm ready to retire, and you Earthlings are really going to squeeze me dry before I die?
And now I'm supposed to be a mayor, a chairman...
General Longba felt sure he'd misheard. After a long pause, he hesitantly said, "Your Excellency, I'm not a citizen of the Community. In fact, I don't even have an identity."
Yu Lian countered, "You spent some time among the Marauders. Do you happen to know Dr. Xie Yiwei?"
Yu Lian thought they ought to know each other. Though the two old men had worked on different workships, they were both nomads of the Silver Heart, and nomadic "settlements" crossed paths. Workships responsible for production also had to dock regularly to exchange resources and goods. Under those circumstances, laborers from different kinds of ships had to work together, giving them a chance to meet.
After all, both men had been leaders among the laborers. One had plotted a revolt; the other had organized a prison break that had nearly succeeded. Perhaps they'd even shared ideas about resistance.
Sure enough, General Longba's eyes lit up. "I've met him a few times. From what you're saying, is Dr. Xie well?"
"Fit as a fiddle. He's even put on another five