Learning to Govern, A Family Party…
Sarita and Megal worked with Serept to understand the messages he had received. “These are reports we get on activities at each of the haciendas and from the city patrol. Most are very routine and are just for our information about what is happening,” he explained. “Ser Francos usually leaves them to me to read and filter. If there is a problem or something that might become a problem, I pass it on to him. This seems to me a good way for the two of you to understand what is involved in the office of Overlord.”
“Many of these mention the size of crop or losses to wild animals,” Sarita said. “Does the Overlord control how much is produced or how it is distributed?”
“No, the office does not control it, but we have to be aware of shortages. The problems with carnivores may mean that the security force may send out hunters to help thin the numbers. We do not want to wipe them out because we don’t understand the balances yet.”
“There is a history of serious problems on Terra due to the extinction of species,” Megal said. “We don’t understand exactly the role of these carnivores, so we just discourage them and guard the herds.”
“I can see how the rotation in Utopia affects life here. Many needed things just don’t grow well. I don’t think the people in Utopia are aware of that,” Sarita said.
“From what I have experienced with the way things are run there, I don’t think many of them care,” Megal said.
“Sadly, I have to agree with you.”
“Sera Sarita, I am surprised. Surely your people care about others,” Serept said.
“Serept, I was raised to always be conscious of how my actions affected others, but the policies of the governing council only consider maintaining the requirements of the Charter. Most of the renegades were people who would not conform.”
“Many of the complaints we got about the way we punished the renegades showed that, Serept,” Megal said. “The head of their legal system told us that some of the traditionalists wanted to use the death penalty on them.”
“One of the issues that has long bothered the family heads here is the low number of people,” Serept said. “Your grandfather was concerned when he realized how few humans were left after the fevers and other deaths on landing. A successful colony must have a minimum of 10,000 and with all the groups combined, we were below that. It was a goal of the corporation to grow the Humanos Verdaderos until we were large enough to have our own planet. The money we would have made from the mining expedition was to help pay for it.”
“I was not aware of that, Serept. Obviously, Malfe and his group were not aware of it either,” Megal said.
“The idea of genetic purity and raw numbers has long been contentious among our people, but the infanticide was evil and did not address what was the true argument against genetic manipulation.”
“What exactly was the true argument, Serept? I have read that much of the manipulation was done so that humans could live on different planets, like with lower oxygen or higher gravity.”
“You are correct Sara Sarita, but many of our people saw it as playing with the Three’s creation without permission. It was a faction of the church but not a main teaching. Unfortunately, the clergy who volunteered to serve on the space station were from that conservative group.”
“Poh Juan’s family were not of the church to begin with, but he felt called and joined,” Megal said. “He was mostly a teacher.”
“The numbers are still a problem,” Serept said, “But ending the Keepers of the Blood will help and getting more trade going.”
“All the more reason for everyone to cooperate,” Sarita said. “Megal and I have talked about it often, how it is better to work together than to fight.”
“It has long been the goal of the Family Morales, Sera Sarita, even before the journey,” Serept said. They spent the next hour reading and trying to understand what being the administrator of the settlement entailed.
***
“Papi, among the notes Serept had us review was a mention of a young man claiming to be the son of Benitos.” Megal reported to his father. Of all the messages they had reviewed, this was the only one that Serept said to report to the Overlord.
“And what proof does he have?” Francos was surprised.
“So far, only the tale that his mother, who is conveniently dead, claimed she was Benitos’ bed partner when she lived at Casa Morales.”
“Questionable from the beginning. Benitos and Marianel stayed at Casa Grado instead of Casa Morales or here at the Residency. I suspect it is another ploy by Malfe. I wish we could turn the family control over to Sera Magdalena or Sera Lucia.”
“From what Sera Marta has heard, it really needs to be. Casa Malfe is not working well. The steward left just after the wedding and fled to the farthest hacienda according to the rumors.” Megal suppressed his laughter. This was a serious issue, the number of family homes struggling to accept women playing a role in the running of the house was constant gossip. It seemed fitting that one of the most conservative of families was having the most noticeable difficulty.
“See if Tuban is still in the city, not that he would remember a servant girl from years ago, but I will ask Marta to talk to some of her sisters.”
Serept interrupted Megal’s meeting with his father. “Ser Francos, Ser Malfe has filed a claim with the House of Justice that he has someone who claims to be your grandson and should replace Megal as First Successor. Ser Path says it is foolish but by the law he has to have a hearing.”
“Megal, please handle this and quickly,” Francos said.
***
Ser Path worked quickly. He ordered Ser Malfe to present this individual before his court the following week. He invited Ser Tuban Morales and Ser Javier Grado. Both men would have information about Benitos early life. Megal would represent his father.
The morning of the hearing, Megal, and his uncles walked to the House of Justice. There had been much discussion about who this person could be. Both of the uncles insisted that any child fathered by Benitos would have surfaced when Marianel died. They both speculated it was a ruse by Malfe to get control. The hearing was held in the court room, a small room because it was seldom used.
Ser Malfe accompanied the young man claiming to be Benitos’ son. The boy was beardless and frightened. He bowed awkwardly to the adults in the room.
“What is your name?” Ser Path said kindly.
“I am called Francos, Ser.”
“Who are your parents Francos?”
“My mother is with the ancestors, Ser, but my father, I think is on another hacienda, but I don’t know which one.”
“Do you know his name, Francos?”
“My real father or my house father?” Ser Malfe caught the boy’s arm and hissed something into his ear. Ser Path warned him to not interfere with the interrogation.
“I have been told my father is Benitos Morales and he lives at Hacienda Morales, Ser.”
“And how old are you, Francos?”
“I have twelve years, Ser.”
“Simeo, that can end this right now,” Tuban Morales spoke up.
“You are certain, Tuban?”
“I am not proud of what I did but my brothers and I anticipated a day like this,” Tuban looked embarrassed. “Megal, it was for the family we did it. We did not want to have contention about succession and knew early that Benitos would never recover. To protect Marianel and you, shortly after Benitos came to Hacienda Morales, he was castrated so he could not father children. Your father was unaware of it. This happened at least two years before this boy was born.
“The healers assisted us, and it was done quickly. The healer agreed because Benitos did not remember what his erections were about and was very public about displaying it. He is much like a small child now, happy herding and living with the wool bearers.”
“Ser Malfe, you will pay a fine for this especially convincing this boy to lie for you.” Ser Path said.
“This is not a lie. The boy is the son of Benitos before Tuban so cruelly neutered him. Perhaps he is mistaken about his age. His mother was fostered to the harem of Casa Morales but sent home when she became with child. She admitted to her mother that the child was of Morales.”
“Ser Path, Casa Morales is close by,” Megal suggested, “perhaps we can ask my aunt who has been senior wife for many years to come and testify to this incident. If a girl was sent home, she would have record of it and perhaps, who the father was.” Ser Path agreed and Tuban contacted his senior wife at Casa Morales. The woman arrived quickly and joined her husband at the front of the room. She immediately noticed the boy and called out to him.
“Bartholomew, what are you doing here?”
“Sera Morales, you know this child?” Path asked.
“Yes, he is a grandson of Morales, a child of my second son’s bad behavior. His mother is a girl we fostered from House Malfe. I have kept track of him.”
“Ser Malfe, your behavior in this matter is reprehensible.” Path said. “To convince this child to lie for you and attempt to present him as a First Successor deserves more than a fine. I will require you to surrender control of your family’s business to your wife Sera Magdalena. Additionally, you are banished to your most remote hacienda until the end of your punishment from the Council of Houses.”
“But it is true, he is a son of Morales, this woman said so,” Malfe cried out.
“Yes, he is of Morales, but by one of my sons,” Tuban said. “He is my grandson, not Francos’ and his name is not Francos. He is a bit slow, so he was easily persuaded.”
“My business will be ruined if my wife runs it. You are making a beggar of me,” Malfe said. He sunk down onto a bench against the wall and wept. Sera Morales took the hand of the frightened child and bowing to Ser Path, let him away. Path declared the hearing adjourned and thanked the men for attending. He looked with disgust at Malfe and walked out of the room. Megal and his uncles followed him out of the court chamber.
***
Megal was hesitant to report to his father but needed his advice as to what to tell his stepmother. Benitos was her son after all. “Papi, the boy is a Morales, but my cousin Ivan’s child. Sera Gia knew him immediately. He is only a child, born years after Benitos went to live on the hacienda. But Tio Tuban gave us news of my brother that may upset Sera Marta. It may be better if you tell her.”
“Tuban spoke of what they did to my son?” Marta had entered the room behind him as he spoke.
“He did not think you knew.”
“Yes, I knew. Healer Maria was involved and asked me if I objected. She had known almost from the beginning, he would never get better. I was not happy but realized it was for the best. He is like a small child. The cutting made him more childlike. If news gets out, it will keep anyone else from challenging your position.”
“Did you know about this boy?”
“Yes, Gia had told me years ago. He is a sweet child but a bit slow.”
“You and Sarita handled the reports well, Serept says,” Francos smiled at Megal. “Thank you, it is a help.”
***
Megal and Sarita worked closely with Serept to understand what was expected of the office of the Overlord. Much of what they reviewed was raw information that needed only to be collected. Megal attended several ceremonies opening new school rooms and businesses. The changes that opened the way for women to join the gymnasium and the advanced studies as well as new businesses called for recognition. He was getting used to it but always had to shield himself. His empathy was strong, and he was bothered by the swirl of emotions at the ceremonies.
Sarita got an invitation from her cousin’s wife for a celebration at Casa Pesch. Internally, it was addressed to both of them, but the envelope only had her name. “Is this common, Megal?”
“No, but I suspect who ever addressed them was not sure of proper protocol,” Megal said. “Before the women’s revolt there would be a gathering for the women and a gathering for the men. We never met together.”
“Well, we are both invited to celebrate the betrothal of one of my female cousins and a male cousin’s finishing gymnasium. I need to talk to Mama so I can understand who is related to whom.”
“Don’t worry, I have lived here all my life and still am not sure,” Megal laughed.
***
Sarita was checked frequently by the Residency midwife who was pleased by her progress and encouraged her to keep walking. She and Megal took a walk each evening down the hill to the main plaza where they would chat with town residents. The new Poh had added benches and a fountain that fascinated residents of the city. His history searches to develop the new liturgies had shown him what the church plazas in Old Spain had been like and he liked the community feeling. As summer turned to fall, Sarita was surprised by how active the baby she carried could be. Megal would laugh when a bump caused by a tiny foot or head would slowly show on her stretched abdomen. Privately, Sarita hoped it was a girl because she was going to be Esperanza, Hope for the family and the future.
***
“News of trouble in Utopia, Ser Morales.” A runner from the far speakers brought a message to Megal as he was leaving the dining room after first meal. It was from Douglas Stewart. There had been an attempt to remove Lord Johnson from office and several people were arrested. He was now in charge of the Rangers. He also reported that the Port sailors had taken two fishing boats to the third land mass without permission. The last news was not a surprise to Megal. The settlers in Port needed to move and wanted to before the next storm season. They understood the amount of work that would be needed. The rest of the news was alarming. He called Sarita to meet him at his father’s office.
***
“The NeoUtopians tried to throw Sean out of office, but Doug and the Rangers have things under control. He is the new head of the Rangers.”
“He will do well at that. I was impressed with his intelligence when I first met him.”
“Port has volcano problems,” Megal said as Francos and Serept entered the office from the patio. They had been up on the observation deck because there was an unusual haze over the hills to their south.
“I wonder if that haze we see is ash from an eruption?” Serept said.
“It may well be. They may need to evacuate some folks due to a shortage of fresh water.” Megal said.
“Let them know we’ll welcome them but the closest is Hacienda Valentino and we’d need his permission. Serept, be sure they and Hacienda Carbajal are warned. Those shakes can throw up dangerous waves.” Francos said.
| ← Chapter 39 | Chapter 41 → |
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