Animals and Savages

Five hundred years into the future, Sam (the government of Merka) has covered nearly two billion acres of open land with white tarp to fight global warming. El Paladino is charged with protecting the tarp from those "cutters" who might tear up pieces to plant a garden, dig a well, or bury a body. Judge, jury, and executioner, the Paladino's motto is "You cut the Tarp, you die."
The Paladino's other remit is to prevent the use of forbidden tech from previous times, which is how he came to bat...