Chapter 1
“Watch what you are doing!” Sarita darted away from the manure pitched down the wagon bed by her foster brother. The shovel’s worth of dung spattered down her fish hide boots but missed her coveralls. “You’ve seen the representative’s car before.”
Her brother stood at the top of the dump wagon where he could see the traffic pass the methane generation plant. The team was unloading the last wagon of waste from the winter barn. Even with the breathing masks, the stench was nearly unbearable.
The boy’s voice broke in excitement. “I just didn’t expect it today.” At 14, he was soon to move into the Men’s House. He was not old enough to marry and manifest his psy power.
The silent electric car passed the plant and went on down the tree-lined road to the middle of the farm. A cloud of dust stirred up the soft tires settled quickly in the warm spring air. It was unusual for Envoy Tony Pesch, the assistant Refugio trade agent, to visit Farm Twenty-Two twice in one week.
“Forgiveness, Sarita.” The boy blushed above his breathing mask when he looked up at Sarita.
“To the showers. Work on your control. You’re broadcasting.” Sarita could sense a leak of telepathic excitement. The discerners had identified the boy as a potentially strong telepath. He needed to work on his control since he was still too young to marry and come into his full power. Adolescents, especially boys, demonstrated some hints of their potential powers as they matured.
The boy swung over the side of the wagon, climbed down, and followed the dirt road towards center of the farm. All farm settlement were laid out exactly alike and all the farm building were supposed to be identical. Some were built of different materials because of what was available in the area, but the Charter said, everyone was equal and therefore, everything would look and operate the same.
As the boy trudged across the yard toward the bathhouse, he took a detour toward the car. Simon Kearney, head of the family Kearney called to the teenager. “Showers first, then ask Ser Pesch’s permission.”
“Sorry, Lord Kearney, Ser Pesch showed me how it works last week.” He blushed and moved off quickly toward the main bathhouse.
Tony Pesch turned to greet Simon. “I knew you used the manure for fertilizer, but that looks like you are collecting the methane. Does Amaurot know you are doing this?”
“Yes, it runs the generators when the wind dies down and we do burn it for heat if it gets too cold. All we have to do is tell them how much cheese we lost when the refrigeration was shut down and there were no more questions. What is going on that we have a visit so soon?’
“You picked a good day to come for your stomach’s sake,” Simon’s wife called to them. “We just finished baking.” She led the way into Simon’s office and left the tray with fresh cookies and a jug of juice on the table there.
Simon poured cups of cold juice. “Now, what brings you here twice in one week?”
“Trouble back in Refugio my friend, trouble,” Tony shook his head and munched one of the still warm cookies. “You know Francos Morales cannot retain the throne for the House Morales unless he has a son and a grandson to succeed him?”
“So, the son must have an heir as well? With the low infant survival rate, I can see where that is wise.”
“Look, you know my feeling when it comes to our survival rate. If the church would spend time looking at simple population levels instead of worrying about whether the DNA helix is as they believe it should be, we would not have the problems we do with population levels! It’s a serious crisis. But it is tradition.”
“How does this concern you? Will it endanger trade?”
“No, my friend, it is more personal,” Tony said. “You know of my problems with the formal representative, my brother Alam. He gets the credit, and I do the work. What I never told you is his second wife was one of my older half-sisters. Alam is the child of a woman of the harem and a guard, not blood related to my sister and I, but the family claimed him.”
“This I did not know. Is this common?”
“Not really, sometimes a man will be rewarded with a night in the harem, but it rarely results in a birth. But this time it did and bah, Alam is a fool! I pity my sister. But news of her is why I came today.”
“From what you have told me of Alam, she deserves sympathy, but how does it involve us?”
Tony then explained that the women of his family were viewed as being able to survive the manifestation of their husband’s psy power with only slight damage. Any family whose men were concerned about killing their bride would have their family arrange a marriage with a Pesch woman. Simon rolled his eyes because he thought he had finally convinced Tony that the women had psy powers just like the men. Tony had agreed with him but said he didn’t think his society would every accept that. The system that was set up after the stranding was working and they just didn’t want to change.
“Alam came to me last night in terror. A marriage broker had communicated with him and requested the names of all virgin women of his family of marriageable age. The new First Successor wants to marry a woman of Pesch. The problem is, Alam has either married off or abandoned all the female births. And, he has never reported the deaths. So, the family looks at the birth rolls and sees a list of female births and requests names. He knows Francos has a violent temper and Alam believes he will come after him if he can’t find a Pesch virgin.”
“Wait a minute.” Simon said. “I remember when the oldest Morales son was injured. Didn’t I recently read the second son, had married? Is he seeking a second wife so soon?”
“Oh, you have not heard about the tragedy. On the second son’s wedding night, a great explosion destroyed part of the Residency killing everyone.” Tony held out his cup for more juice. “The official rumor is poorly trained fire worker having relations caused it. Personally, I believe the fool forced himself on his bride. She had power over fire and protected herself without understanding what she was doing. Now, the last recognized Morales son, Megal, must become the heir, marry, and have an heir or the family Morales will lose the throne when Francos has his sixty-fifth name day. And that is only a few years away!”
“So, what does this have to do with Family Kearney?” Simon realized Tony would not have come to him just to gossip casually about the ruling family.
“Maybe not directly, but I do need your help. I suspect they want a strong woman because there was a scandal about Megal several years ago,” Tony leaned back and paused. “As I remember, his brothers helped him rape a young girl on the hacienda and she died. He tried to kill himself over it. He manifested as a powerful empath, so it really hurt him. The brothers were punished and that was public, so everyone knew about what Megal did.”
“And now, they want another woman who might be killed?” Simon was shocked. “Why are you even involved?”
“Please, my friend, bear with me. There is a reason,” Tony sipped the refilled juice cup. “One of the servants told my steward the last three of my sister’s daughters were brought to the Temple of Life rather than be smothered by the Keepers. Alam didn’t know about it. My sister herself brought the last one several years ago and stayed here according to the gossip. Alam was so embarrassed he told everyone my sister had died.
He turned the cup in his hand. “Isn’t it amazing how fast such gossip travels? No announcement has been made about the search, but this servant comes forward with this information. Anyway, if I could find these women, Francos’ might get what he wants for his family. I know you keep track of the children who are left and record their genetic code so there is no inbreeding. Could any of Rita’s daughters have survived and could we find them?”
“Rita is your sister?” Simon asked. “We were helping foster the abandoned babies and she lived with us. She went to Amaurot five years ago to teach at the medical school. She is a remarkable woman.”
Tony grinned. “All the women of Pesch are remarkable women, my friend. Because of our age difference, I didn’t know her well, but I am pleased she lives and is happy. What of her daughters?”
“Rita identified two of the girls. The other was taken in by another family. Although Rita found her, she is only close to the two who lived with our family. One is life mated, and I must remind you in Utopia, women have quite a bit to say in who they choose as mates. If this were your daughter, would you be willing to marry her to the Morales heir?”
“If one of my daughters were available, I would present her in a moment.” Tony answered. “Think of the opportunity! Our families have tried to outdo each other for years. If we were to join, we would be the strongest faction on the Council.” The representative leaned back in his chair and smiled, reading Simon’s expression.
“Can you think of a better way to bring about change, my friend? The two most powerful houses of Refugio, united with a power-wielding first wife? What is the saying from Terra, ‘May you live in interesting times,’ and perhaps the time is ripe to create some interesting times. Women have power and we need to acknowledge it.”
Simon looked closely at his friend. “May you live in interesting times? Some consider that saying a curse. Would you find it interesting to condemn a woman who is just finding herself to such a role?”
“If she is as strong a woman as her mother, I have no doubt she would be more than a match for the the heir and his father! I would not force her. I would even consult my sister in this. But I believe in my deepest being this opportunity will never come again. We must grasp it.”
“Have you truly thought about what it could mean for your kinswoman?” Simon asked soberly. “The customs of Refugio are very different from Utopia. It could be a disaster for her and for your family.”
“I have, believe me, I have.” Tony leaned forward in his chair. “You have taught me much about the power and how it is manifested and controlled. I have wondered how this could be taught to Refugio or how I could make them aware of the reality of female power. I have a plan, but I would not force my niece. You cannot change a society in one generation, but it must begin somewhere. Why not here?”
“Have you thought of the consequences? History from Terra tells us there is great danger when societies are destabilized, and this is what you propose. From what I have learned, acknowledging women having power would be seriously disruptive.”
“Perhaps, but too many variables could stop it before it starts. She may not be willing. Megal Morales might not choose her. The other families might object because she is not of Refugio. But think of the waste of talent with all our women, their power denied, brain damaged by their first sexual encounter, and then locked up in the harems. Perhaps having a powerful first wife will be a start.”
“The bell rings for the evening meal. Come, I will point Sarita out to you.”
“Her name is Sarita?” Tony laughed. “One of the most powerful and successful women of our house was Sarita Mendez Pesch
Sarita sent her the other members of her team back to the main bathhouse. She drove the puller to take the wagon to the vehicle park. After she parked the wagon and returned the electric puller to its recharge space, she jogged across the yard to get her own shower and pull a change of clothing from stores.
A young man called after her from the repair shed. “Sarita, will you be coming to the gathering next Rest Day?”
She sighed at the call from the stubborn young man. “Can’t say yet. Depends on what duties Papa has for us in the school.” He had pursued her doggedly, even though she didn’t encourage him at all. Sarita liked him as a brother and friend; if you talked about motors and fixing things, he was fine. However, there was only so much she could say on the subject, and then the conversation would falter. Sarita could not imagine spending the rest of her life with someone like the mechanic.
After her shower, she took a short cut through the main kitchen of the Farm Twenty-Two. As with all things, meals were communal. Information about why the Refugio representative was visiting for a second time that week might be floating in the bustle of fixing the evening meal in the kitchen. She was disappointed to find most of the talk was about a science project Papa Kearney had assigned to the children and how the cows were dropping calves all over the fields. She started to help with the meal preparation but was discovered by her stepmother.
“Sarita, come into my room. I need to talk to you. Someone take her place, please. Sarita, you are not on kitchen duty today. You should not let the younger ones talk you into helping.”
Sarita did not want the other children to be punished for her curiosity. “Mama Morianan, I volunteered to help. They didn’t even ask.”
“Oh hush, child, I suspected you did.” Morianan grabbed the young woman and gave her a hug. “I could not let them off that easily.” Morianan sighed. “The discerners want you to be evaluated again. There is a visiting discerner who will sit in on the examination. You are quite a puzzle for them, you know. Most young women your age would be showing signs of where their manifestation will lie. You show a little of several things, but the potential is there for so much more. I think you have them baffled.”
“I don’t mind, Mama,” Sarita said with a grin. “Nathan and Rhonda are in training, so I may get to see them when I go.”
“The discerners want to see you after first meal.” Morianan said quietly. “Now, since you have volunteered to help, you can go help get our family table set. I think the representative may be staying for supper, so be sure they set an extra place.”
Simon looked sternly around the table. “Family, this is Ser Antonio Pesch. He will be joining us for our evening meal. I know I can count on all of you to show him respect by your behavior.” He introduced the children at his family table Tony bowed and acknowledged each child, then stood and gazed at Sarita. She was a strikingly beautiful woman. Blue-black hair, eyes like sunlit amber, and a clear warm tan complexion graced a sturdy, well-proportioned body. She dressed, as did all the women of Utopia, in a raw linen coverall. Her still-damp hair was cut short, barely brushing the bottom of her ears.
“I am honored to meet you, all of you,” Tony said. “Let us not keep this wonderful food waiting.” He looked at Simon for an indication of where he was to sit. Simon motioned to Morianan she should trade seats with Sarita so Tony would be sitting beside his niece. He had not had an opportunity to explain to his wife what the situation was, but after more than thirty years of marriage, and well-matched powers, they needed only gestures. Tony took his place between Sarita and Simon. After the thanksgiving, the food dishes were brought from the kitchen. The food was plentiful but plain. One of the things Tony loved about living in Utopia was the good, fresh food. He spoke to the young woman at his side. “Your name is not a common one in Utopia, but a name of NeoEspania.”
“It is a name of Spanish origin, my lord. My parents were from Refugio. My father ordered me destroyed and my mother brought to the Temple of Life. I was raised by Family Kearney.” Sarita was puzzled and a bit annoyed by the attention from the trade representative.
“Did your mother ever tell you your family name?”
“No, my lord. She said my father had no right to claim me because he ordered me killed. That is why she came to the farm.”
“Ah, did she tell you her family name?”
“No, she believed we were now of Utopia and of the Family Kearney.
“An honest and true argument. She should be respected for it.”
“Thank you, she teaches at the university in Amaurot. Once I am bonded, I may study there.”
“And what would you study, Sarita?”
“I would prefer to study medicine, Honored One, but Papa Kearney has suggested I study to be an advocate or administrator. He seems to think my power will manifest as something of value in those fields.”
“And what have the discerners said?”
“I am a puzzle to them, my lord,” Sarita said with a sigh. “I must go again for another testing tomorrow. They do not see any one manifestation, but they do say I will be strong in whatever comes.”
“I have some skills in discerning myself, Sarita.” Tony was awed by her potential as he scanned her. “I believe you will be strong in many areas.”
When their guest had departed, and the children were finally settled, Simon and Morianan settled into their sleeping platform.
“Now, my dear husband, what was that all about, seating Sarita next to Tony Pesch?”
He always knew he was in trouble when Morianan called him her dear husband. “Awesome and frightening things, my dear. Tony is Sarita’s uncle, a younger brother of Rita. There is trouble at home, and he has asked for our help.”
Morianan laughed. “Rita is of the family Pesch! No wonder she was a bit shy. She had never lived outside the harem.” She had noticed Rita always held back the first time a chore was done. She would join in later but not until she saw what they were doing. She was watching how, so she could learn.
Simon then related the story Tony Pesch had told him about the search for a virgin woman of Pesch.
“You can’t be serious? Allow Sarita to be offered to an arranged marriage, not a bonding of the heart to a man she has chosen?”
“I am worried about it. Tony assures me he will abide by Sarita’s wishes and will consult with Rita. However, he believes it is fate this has happened. He wants his country to change and believes having a First Wife from here would be a beginning.
“Sarita is going to a have a manifestation of power that is tremendously strong, according to Tony. He said she shows signs of several skills and all of them at the top strength.” Simon had read some of the evaluations from the discerners about Sarita and was aware of her potential. “I am concerned she or the young man might perish unless the Guides are strong as well. I was thinking the bond between Rhonda and Sarita is strong enough that with Nathan’s help they could guide the couple through the first night without hurting Sarita. I am not so sure they would not injure the prince.”
“That would not be good, to have him die from the backlash of her power manifestation like his brother did,” Morianan said. “That poor girl, she had no training in control.”
“Tony has agreed to go to Amaurot and discuss this with Rita before we discuss it with Sarita. He may bring Rita back here since it will soon be the end of the spring term. Right now, all we can do is wait.”
“The discerners want to see Sarita again. She will go to them in the morning.”
“That’s fine. She will be able to spend time with Rhonda and Nathan. I do not want to discuss it with her unless Rita approves.”
“As strong as that young woman will be when she manifests, that’s a good plan.” Morianan turned the oil lamp down so it would not burn out in the night, and they slept.