In the tradition of Lysistrata…
Ser Roberto Malfe was met by his steward at the door of the Malfe compound. “Ser Roberto, the women of the harem are gone. All the female servants went with them. I don’t know what is happening, but we will try and have your midday meal.”
“What do you mean all the women are gone?”
“Ser, this morning air cars arrived, and some women and the children got into them and left. They have bundles with them. Then later in the morning, the rest of the women came out the front door and began walking away. I have been told by others that the same happened all along the street.”
Romerie joined his father at the door. “My wives and my mother all went with them?” He noticed the men of his following who lived close-by were being met by their servants in the street.
Some called to him, alarmed at the news of the women leaving their homes. “Keeper Malfe, is there something at the Cathedral that we should know about? What is going on?”
“I do not have an answer yet,” Malfe said, “but I suspect it is that woman from Utopia who has caused this. Our women are not competent to organize this sort of thing. It has to be that Rita Pesch.”
“Romerie, when will you admit our women are not stupid or brain damaged?” Pedro Barra asked. “I know my wives are not. They run my house and my business.” Barra had moved into the Casbah neighborhood recently. He was the first Unspoken to have enough credits to afford a house in the neighborhood. Most of those on his street were from the Council Houses, especially those connected to the Keeper of the Blood. “I don’t know what is going on, but my senior wife told me not to be alarmed, and to get my own meal.” His comment caused a wave of laughter among the men gathered in the street. He waved to the rest and went inside his house. Several of the other men left as well, but those who supported Malfe gathered near him.
One of the men in the crowd spoke up. “Keeper Malfe, I have heard from others that some women are not damaged by a man’s manifestation. Have you ever heard of this?”
“It is a rumor from Utopia, which does not protect its women or its blood lines. It must be stopped and corrected. We are Humanos Verdaderos. Those fools are mongrels who only look human. I must return to the Cathedral at once.” Romerie stalked away, followed tentatively by some of his supporters, only to be called back by his father.
“Come first and eat, Romerie. No one thinks clearly on an empty stomach.” Roberto was sure there had been some mistake. He could not imagine his sweet Magdalena would simply leave like the steward said.
***
Across Refugio, women left their homes and places of work to join the demonstration. Marta Morales, Fernanda Pesch, and Magdalena Malfe had organized it well. The anger and grief from the women about the news of the Keepers’ practice made it easy. The air car hanger was an obvious choice. The large building protecting the air cars had been built when the Humanos Verdaderos were evacuated to the continent. It was a sturdy building that had lasted over 200 years. It was still used as a parking area for the few vehicles that still needed it, but there was room for the hundreds of women and children who lived in the city. Information had gone out to the haciendas of what had been revealed about the Keepers. The women of the countryside were moving into the fields to show support for the cause.
As the women quickly organized into groups to set up sanitary stations, food and water, Marta kept Francos and Rita informed of what was happening. Not all the women of the Residence had come, nor had the many of the women of the Unspoken. It was widely known that many of their children were never examined by the Keepers.
“How dare she come!” The younger woman noticed a late group arriving. It was Lucia Mendoza Malfe, senior wife of the Keeper of the Blood.
“Be kind, she has lost, just as we have,” Magdalena said. Her daughter-in-law had suffered more having lived for nearly twenty years with Romerie. Lucia found a ladder used to gain access to the top of the air cars and climbed up so all could see her. She had a loud speaker with her to boost her voice.
“Hear me sisters of Refugio! We are late arriving because we had to act. When the evil from my husband and his office was made known to us, his wives, and our spoken women, we had to show him what he had done. I have lost four sons to Romerie’s decisions, and the women of our house have lost eight more. To show him what he had caused, we gathered infant clothing, one for each child, smeared it with our own blood and left it on our joining bed. Twelve of Romerie’s own children he has caused to die. He must be punished.” After a moment of silent shock, the women began cheering for her.
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