A trip to Amaurot, family news…
Tony borrowed a local car for his trip to the administrative center of Utopia, Amaurot. He usually enjoyed his trips to the largest city. However, on this trip he was apprehensive. He had promised Simon he would talk to his sister about his niece. Now, he was uncertain he could get to talk with Rita. Simon had even offered to message ahead to let Rita know Tony was coming. Tony appreciated the offer, but since he had to slip away without Alam knowing he was gone, he would leave when an opportunity presented itself, not at an announced time. He had a lot to deal with before he could leave, since Alam had been avoiding contact with Refugio.
There was a danger if Alam learned Rita was alive and might be in contact with the Morales family. He could cause an incident, even demanding they be under his control. Tony wanted to present Sarita only as Rita’s daughter. He did not want her father to have any contact with her until the marriage contract was negotiated and the marriage blessed.
He had been truthful with Simon. This was an opportunity for the two most powerful houses in Refugio to unite, but Tony had personal reasons as well. His older brothers would be eaten up with jealousy and he really didn’t care. They had divided up the family enterprises and left him with little to do. He was the younger brother, son of a third wife, insignificant. Now he would be the most important if he succeeded. Certainly, Sarita would rely on her uncle for advice. She seemed a biddable young woman.
The batteries of the electric vehicle were only good for half the trip. Tony stopped at a way station on the main road. The attendant offered him a recharged vehicle, but he decided to wait until the one he had driven from Northwest Trade City had its batteries switched out. The switch only took a few minutes, and as was the custom in Utopia, there was no charge. That practice had been difficult for him to accept when he came to Utopia. Here, all the necessities, food, a place to stay, clothing, were commonly owned, so you didn’t have to give credits or keep track of what you doled out. Back home in Refugio, every micro credit was closely monitored, and you paid for everything.
Tony arrived at Amaurot as the evening sun was highlighting the spring foliage. It was late, so he decided to wait until morning to contact his sister.
In the morning after first meal, Tony gathered up his courage and placed a comcall to his sister’s office. She was not in, so he left a message he wanted to meet with her. He left his contact information. Then there was nothing to do but wait.
***
Rita Pesch Kearney returned to her office after her rounds at the teaching hospital. She was glad the spring term was over. Perhaps she could manage to get down to see her new grandson before summer term began. She almost skipped her messages but decided at the last moment to listen to them.
“Sera Rita, I am certain you do not remember me, but I am here in Amaurot and wish to see you. I am your younger brother, Antonio Pesch. I come on a very important matter for the family Pesch. I am staying at the Main Hostel in room 45. I will await your call. If I do not hear from you by third day, last meal, I will depart and not attempt to contact you directly again.”
Rita was taken aback. Did she have a brother named Antonio? Yes, she remembered, but they called him Tony. They shared a father but not a mother. He had been a bright child who made the nursery exciting with his curiosity. How in the world had he found her? She would not go back to Alam. Because of that, she hesitated to return his call, but he had said it was on Pesch business he came. The call was short. Rita gave Tony directions to her residence building. She would meet him in the commons area.
Tony was apprehensive. What did she look like after all these years? How would he know her? As he entered, he recognized her immediately, even wearing the standard coverall worn by everyone in Utopia. Women here wore their hair short, sometimes cut as short as most men in Refugio. Rita had kept hers long. She wore it braided and wrapped around her head like a crown.
He approached her and bowed deeply. “I am honored to see you again, daughter of my father,” Tony spoke in the rigid formality of the NeoEspania aristocracy. She seemed surprised, then smiled and returned his bow.
“I am honored to see you again, son of my father. Please, we can be private in the garden court.” Rita led the way into a central courtyard where benches were arranged under awnings.
“I know it will please the women of House Pesch to know that you still live, Rita. Alam had told me you had died in childbirth, and I had notified the family.”
“Is Alam still the trade envoy?”
“Well, yes, I am his deputy, but he still spends most of his time at cards.”
“The man will never learn,” Rita sighed. “I take it he does not know you have come to see me?”
“No, I come on family business, and I don’t want him to know about it. It was your maid who told my wife you had gone,” Tony said. “Alam sent her to me because she cannot work as much as she did. I allowed her to move to the senior house with Family Kearney. It seems she had friends there.”
Tony hesitated but finally began and recounted the story of why he had come, and of his promise to Simon.
“So, you want my Sarita to bond to the First Successor? What does she say of this?”
“Simon and I decided to wait to speak to her until I had talked to you.”
“That at least was wise. I am torn about this Tony,” Rita said. “Sarita is my youngest, but she has not found an anamcara. I message with her regularly and she is very impatient. She is suffering from waiting so long.” Rita realized if she convinced Sarita to return to Refugio with Tony, she would be able to go back herself. She could teach Sarita how to survive the manifestation of her power in an arranged marriage. That is, if she could convince her to go. Sarita was stubborn at times. She was strong and her own woman.
“So, what do you want of me, Tony?”
“Will you help me present this possibility to Sarita? If she is willing, work with me to train her in the ways of the harem, so she will be an honor to Pesch?” Rita laughed.
“Men. What in the world do you think she needs to learn about living in a harem? It is not such a mysterious world, as you men want to think it is. I would need more time to teach her the ways of the Pesch women than of the harem.”
“So, there is something unique about our family!” Tony was jubilant. “I have wondered why the women of our house seem to retain some intelligence in marriage and manifest power. Women of other houses, like my own wives, become such sheep after the first night. Is that what you would teach Sarita?”
“You have lived in Utopia far enough to know women also have power. Our great-grandmothers discovered if a woman was passive and emotionally distant from the first act, she would retain her sanity but manifest her power. For me, it was easy. Alam is a fool. He was more afraid of me than I was of him. My power manifestation almost overpowered him, but I was able to control it. Yes, I will help you present this. It would be nice to be back in a civilized place where I can be different. I have more freedom here in Utopia, but everyone is supposed to be alike. It will take a few days, and then I will join you at Farm Twenty-Two.”
“Is there some way I can be of help to you?” he asked.
“You go on ahead. I will have little time for you while I get all my affairs closed. I will come on the lighter to Northwest when I get it all done. I’ll message you with the details and you can meet me and take me to Farm Twenty-Two. I agree we should not discuss this with Sarita until I am there. Now join me for the evening meal. At least the food is good here in the residence hall.”
“Of course, one of the joys of living in Utopia is the wonderful food.” Tony smiled at his sister. Rita laughed and led the way to the dining room. Tony was short for one of the Regals and his love of food had given him a noticeable paunch.
Should you want to read the whole story…
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