A Lecture on History, A Positive Vote, Speculating…
“Lord Johnson, what exactly do you want me to explain?” he said standing next to his chair.
“Lord Kearney, about what the founders didn’t know,” Sean was puzzled. He knew Simon had insisted he distribute the book. He did not understand why Simon did not understand what he was asking. Simon sent a quick mental message that Sean would owe him a big favor for this. Sean rolled his eyes and offered Simon a seat at the table on the dais. Simon chose to stand. He was a teacher after all.
“As many of you know, our founders were academics, historians who studied the early history of life on Terra,” Simon began. Sarita knew the lecture he was giving by heart since part of it was spoken each year to the children of their family farm. He then explained how they were interested in how governments were run in the early days before the European Confederation. They found a collection of writings on types of governments and were attracted to the simple, farming life of More’s Utopia. The collection had only a small part of the whole book, but they began to dream of finding a planet where they could set up a settlement based on this short description.
“Most of you know the history of how they raised the funds and eventually got the rights to settle here on Higgins World. What you don’t know is that Thomas More never intended this to be a way to run a country. It was satire. He was making fun of his own society. Had they read the entire book, as I hope most of you have done, they would have realized that what he described was an island with extensive trade connections to the mainland for things they didn’t make or grow.
“We do not have a developed country for trade. Higgins was chosen because it would not get much space traffic. In fact, one of the documents we found with the maps was a dispute with the GC over setting up a space port here on Higgins. The founders refused to allow it. In fact, we found that Higgins World is a restricted world. No ships are to land here or attempt to contact our settlement.”
“Lord Kearney is there any way to get that changed?” a voice called from in the crowd.
“We don’t know,” Simon said. “The fact that the space station was never launched, and the mining operation never started should have been noticed, but we have no way to know. Ships don’t call here, and the debris field keeps most radio transmission out.” Simon’s information brought a gasp from the audience. Sean realized he was going to lose control of the meeting if he did not act quickly.
“I agreed to call this meeting because the settlers in Port want to move to the third land mass off to our east,” Sean said. “They have had an increase in population and do not have enough land to grow the food they need. In talking with members of the Assembly and some of the family heads, the need for more people here in Utopia made them suggest that instead of the excess Port residents moving to the new land, they move here. As an informal vote, will those who support this idea please raise their hands?” Sean had his assistants count the hands. “Now, those who oppose this idea.” Again, a count but far more than the first group. Naomi Gaughan announced it. Those against allowing the Port excess to move to Utopia were more than double those who were in favor.
“I have asked Lady Rourke to organize a formal vote of just those elected to the Assembly. We will vote for the trade agreement after we agree or disagree with allowing the settlement of the third land mass,” Sean said. Lady Rourke directed one of her grandsons to place a large box on the table by Sean.
“You are not going to have a discussion of this issue, your highness?” Lord Murphy said. Lord Murphy was angry, but his son and grandson whispered to him and made him sit down.
“No, we have had an informal indication of how people feel about one possible solution. That is all we’re going to do,” Sean stepping away from the table, he motioned Lady Rourke to the front.
“You will receive a slip of paper with two words, yes or no. Mark your choice. Each of you will drop your vote in the box. Only registered Assembly members or their designates, who had better have a written statement, will be allowed to vote. I will check the list.” Lady Rourke said. “This first vote is for opening the third land mass to settlement. We will vote on the trade agreement after we count this vote so don’t leave.” The Assembly members rose, lined up, and got their slips as Lady Rourke sat at the table checking off the names.
When the Assembly members were finished, Lady Rourke asked Lord Donnell, the high adjudicator, a woman who cleaned the building, and a university student to count the votes. She said that having these three would ensure it was a correct, unbiased count.
“While the votes are counted, I will have Lady Gaughan read what we have offered and the counteroffer from Refugio and Port. We will then discuss these agreements” Sean said.
After Naomi read the agreements, several lords pointed out that they were not producing enough of some products yet to allow some to be traded to the other settlements. The inconsistent supply of some items was a problem after each rotation and one of the reasons the younger generations were pushing for stopping the five-year rotation. Any mention of this point brought loud arguments from the older generation that Sean had to stop by augmenting his voice. He pointed out that item was not on the ballot for this election.
“We have plans for more changes to the Charter but need to get the current ones settled before we make more changes,” Sean said. “Right now, we have these folks here and they want an answer. I need to know if anyone objects to the items we will give or get?” The comments suggested stopping any trade were voiced by a traditionalist. It was a solution that was immediately met with shouts of derision from the crowd. The most pressing need was for the bread meal and other grain products. The families who worked in those fields the past rotation were clear that without more land they could not produce enough for all three settlements, let alone a new one on the third land.
Simon mentioned that the third land was heavily wooded but flat and at about the same latitude as Utopia. It would be good for growing the grains once it was cleared and prepared. The discussions veered off from what would be traded again and again. Sean realized there were many problems that had been ignored by the office of the prince, and they needed to be addressed. Another reason he was regretting his decision.
***
The vote to allow the third land mass to be settled by Port and others has been approved,” Lady Rourke announced. A cheer when up from the crowd outside the building. Sean was surprised. He had no idea that there was that much desire to leave Utopia. It did not speak well for the current conditions. If young people wanted to move, who would work in the fields and produce the goods in Utopia?
***
“Blackie, the move has been approved,” Julie had been resting in a hammock under a shade cloth in the garden of the hostel. Sarita had stayed in touch with her since they were closer. “The vote for opening the third land mass was about double the vote against.”
“Now the work begins, I’ll go get the far speaker to let Spacer and the rest know. We have a lot of planning to do. I’ve never asked you, do you want to go to the new land?”
“I think our sons and their families want to go so if we want to watch those grandchildren grow up, we had better go with them,” Julie said. “I see Tony is asleep down by the other door. I’ll go tell him.”
***
The question of the new trade agreement brought many comments, but Sean wanted to get this over. It was time for midday meal and the room was stifling hot even with the fans. One of the elected members of the Assembly suggested an addition that was quickly approved.
“Lord Johnson, can we insert a statement in this trade agreement that the needs of Utopia come first?” Lady Ryan said. She was head of her family as well as a member of the Assembly. “I heard Lord Rhody’s comment about bread grain and until they get the land cleared and prepared, it will be difficult to provide for all three settlements.”
“I would vote for that change,” Lord Rhody said. “We are still agreeing to do the trades but protecting our own at the same time.”
“You are aware that the raids by the Port ships were to take bread meal and other food supplies?” Sean said. “We trade meal with Refugio now and some of what they receive goes to Port. We all need to eat and as long as we are not wasting the meal, I don’t see a problem with making that change. Does anyone object?” A few shouted that any food should be limited but were shamed by others. Sean called for a hand vote, and few voted against the provision. He motioned to Lady Rourke to come to the dais again.
Lady Rourke announced that the vote on accepting the trade agreement with the addition would be held next with the same set up of the slips. She repeated the warning that if someone was a substitute for an elected member, they had to have a written note for her. She had argued with several people during the first vote only to have the elected person show up in person. They were not happy about sitting in the hot meeting room. Lady Rourke glared at them and announced their names loudly to ensure the entire community knew of their behavior. Sean asked her not to do that with this election but got a curt answer. “No.” He knew his aunt well enough to know he would not win that battle. She wanted them to be ashamed.
The vote went faster than the first vote. The summer sun had warmed the room until it was uncomfortable. Healers were passing out containers of water and small hand fans. Lord Kelly was loudly telling of how his father had said the indoor climate was always controlled back on Terra and of course on the space stations. His family managed to distract him with a cool drink.
“The trade agreement passes with 32 yes votes and three no votes,” Sean said. “I declare this Assembly meeting adjourned.” The heat in the room caused there to be no argument but he was quickly escorted out by Captain Murphy and his team. Far too many people jumped up and headed towards the dais to argue with him or get more information. He wanted out. He had never augmented his voice so loudly or for so long. He was exhausted.
***
Simon, Megal, and Sarita with several other older members of the Assembly had gathered in the hostel garden and were debating what the outcome of the meeting had been. Simon was explaining what had been found in the containers and many of the elected officials were angry.
“Simon, do you have any idea why this material has been hidden from us?” Lord Gaughan said. He was one of the younger family heads and had supported the changes to the charter.
“Yes, we do, Lord Kelly felt it important to explain to us what had happened,” Simon said. He described how the founding families had ordered the sealing of the storage containers and overruled the requests of the majority of the settlers. “The amount of work it took just to survive when we first landed was such that most people just forgot about the containers.”
“So not all of our ancestors were members of the NeoUtopian Society?” Lord Gaughan asked. “I was taught it was only a few families.”
“Not really, from what we have found, it was down to less than 10 percent of the original settlers. Lord Kelly said because the Society paid for the planet, they were in control of the offload and the initial set up. After the transport was destroyed, they did what they wanted, and everyone just tried to survive.”
“It was much the same with us in Refugio,” Megal said. “My great-grandfather was an employee of the head of the company, but that woman was killed so he took over. His son, my grandfather, was a very detail-oriented person and he helped his father get them settled. They had some of the same issues as here in Utopia with the fevers and deaths.”
“But, to hide this essential material, I just don’t understand it.” Lord Gaughan said.
“They were dedicated to a cause, one they really didn’t understand,” Megal said. “I suspect that the materials you are finding in the containers were things the GC believed they needed but didn’t fit the Society’s vision.”
“If you recall, Lord Gaughan, Lord Murphy mentioned being oppressed by the machines when he rebuked his grandson. That seems to be one of the main tenants of the NeoUtopians.” Sarita said.
“What we decided today is going to upset some of those traditionalists, but it has a lot of support,” Lord Gaughan said. “We need more bread meal, and that land will give us more land to farm.”
“I have been to that land,” Julie said. “It is heavily wooded. It is going to be a lot of work to get it to where you can grow things on it. Our people in Port know they will have a lot of work to do, but we will need support to get it done, but we are ready.”
The group went into the common dining room for last meal and then retired to send messages about what had happened. Sarita and Megal joined hands and combined energy to send a complete account of the meeting to Refugio. They had no difficulty falling asleep once an acknowledgment came back from the receiver at the Residency. Francos would have a full report in the morning.
***
Brendon Murphy walked to the door of the Johnson town home as the last rays of Higgins star was lighting up the debris in the sky. He stopped to watch as the sparkles that had captivated Captain Higgins began to sparkle against the slowly darkening evening sky. He loved the evening and the mornings when the sparkles lit up the deep blue. He did not want to see them marred with flying things like the pictures he had seen in some of the material Lord Kearney had found in the storage containers. One of the prince’s many children opened the door for him and led him to their garden behind the house.
“Good evening, Cousin Brendon,” Patty Johnson had refused to be named as Princess much to the disdain of their mutual cousin Sheila Bartmore O’Brian. “Sean has just finished reading to the children. Would you like some tea?”
“No, thank you, Patty. I do need to talk to Sean privately if possible.”
“Of course, his office is just through that door. I’ll let him know you are waiting.”
Murphy stepped into the small room and was admiring the collection of ancient books when Sean joined him.
“Quite a library you have here, Sean.”
“Yes, many of my family treasured the old publications from Terra. Most of them have essential information, but a few have no real value except entertainment. It is amazing some of the things they spent time worrying about on Terra, but what brings you out this evening?”
“We did not set out to do this, Sean. All we wanted was to keep Desmond and Sheila from setting up a dynasty. We did not want to totally upend our society. You must stop these changes.”
“Brendon, as Aunt Bess told me recently, we are trying to close the gate after the animal has fled the pasture. We cannot stop these changes any more than we can stop those volcanoes near Port from exploding.”
“There is real anger among the older generation, Sean, real anger. There is talk of removing you as prince because of the things you agree to. Are you really going to stop the rotation?”
“Yes, you know how much trouble it causes. I have heard you complain about a shortage of bolts and wire for the crossbows. The mess every five years with the three traditionalists and the damage they do by going back to doing everything by hand. If we don’t stop this changing, we are not going to survive. Too many humans depend on what is done.”
“I am warning you, Sean, you are endangering yourself and our settlement.”
“Just like the Overlord had to work to stop the lies in Refugio, I must work to stop the lies here, Brendon. What the NeoUtopians set up in the Charter does not work. We must make these changes.”
“Remember what I am saying, Sean. I did warn you.” Murphy walked out of the office and the house. Sean called after him, but he ignored him and kept going.
| ← Chapter 24 | Chapter 26 → |
Should you want to read the whole story…
Book One
Book Two
Amazon.com: Surviving Higgins World: Change or Chaos? eBook : Gibson, Patricia : Kindle Store