by Jeremy Dwyer
Romana greeted her with a hug and said: “I missed you. Sometimes I can get away from this city. Sometimes I can’t because I get caught up in the chaos.”
“I wasn’t gone long, but it’s good to be back here with you. Is something wrong?” Judith asked.
“No, not wrong. I’ve just been busy reviewing the city’s financial performance and the number of arrivals and departures, new employment arrangements and pricing fluctuations,” Romana said.
“Please tell me more about them. I want the details,” Judith said.
“Here. You can look at my notebook while you take a walk with me,” Romana said while handing over a notebook.
Judith opened up the notebook that Romana handed her and began transcribing the contents – sixty-seven (67) pages of notes related to arriving and departing ships, interest rates, employment of residents and visitors in different professions along with their ages and waterbindings, costs of living and tax rates – into her own book. Since Judith hadn’t observed these personally, she indicated that the information was from another book. After two (2) minutes of rapid shorthand copying, Judith said “thanks” and handed the notebook back to Romana.
“You’re welcome! That was fast, as usual. Can you still take a walk with me?” Romana asked.
“Where are we going?” Judith asked.
“To meet Taesa while she gets some exercise during her pregnancy. She said she wanted to talk to me about a book she bought from a traveling theologian. She wants to understand the meaning of religion. Her mother doesn’t want to hear about the subject. Taesa told me she still wants to be open-minded when it comes to learning about God, and has lots of questions,” Romana said.
“Let’s go for a walk then. I want to hear her questions and your answers,” Judith said.
Romana and Judith left their room in the traveler’s lodge, closing and locking the door behind them, and then walked toward through the streets of the crystal city.
~~~
“I look forward to the results of this investigation, Senators,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“You must understand that investigations do take time, Commissioner Wallace,” Senator Paion said.
“We need remediation for these matters, and we need it quickly, Senators,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“Yes. Very quickly. Time is of the essence,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“We will expedite the matter, Commissioners Hannah and Wallace. I assure you,” Senator Nova said.
“But we cannot promise a specific timeframe. The results of the investigation have to be presented to the full Senate and Imperial Financial Council, and a decision must be proposed and voted upon,” Senator Paion said.
“That sounds like a lot of stupid bureaucracy to me. No wonder you have problems,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“The captain is correct about that. Too many formal procedures get in the way of actual progress,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“Please trust us and leave this matter in our hands, Commissioners. We agree with you that there is a problem, and we will act swiftly to protect the best interests of the Ihalik Empire,” Senator Nova said.
“Thank you, Senators. Now, I have to return to look after the best interests of my district,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“I also have urgent matters to attend to in my own district, Senators,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“Good day, Commissioners,” Senator Paion said.
“Thank you for your hard work, Commissioners,” Senator Nova said.
The courier escorted Commissioner Hannah, Commissioner Wallace and his twenty (20) armed guards, Captain Gijsbert and Romey out of the office and down the ten (10) flights of stairs. He opened and unlocked the door through which he admitted them all back into the large main room of the Bureau of Imperial Trade, Finance and Construction. The courier then closed and locked the door and returned to his desk to attend to the needs of other visitors.
~~~
The front gateway of the headquarters of the Bureau of Imperial Trade, Finance and Construction slid open and Commissioner Hannah exited the building. She was closely followed by Commissioner Wallace and his twenty (20) armed guards, Captain Gijsbert and Romey.
“I’m slightly encouraged by their willingness to investigate, but I’m not confident they’re going to act quickly enough,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“I’m nearly certain they won’t act at all. However, the investigation alone may be enough. The central bank will be unsettled,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“Wait! If you’re certain they won’t act, why did you sign the bankruptcy declarations? You’re taking an awful risk for what benefit?” Commissioner Wallace asked.
“Under bankruptcy laws, we can file for substantial relief funding and get rapid access to it. In fact, I’ve already got plans on how to spend it,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“Ah! Yes! Good thinking, Commissioner Hannah. I do have need for substantial relief funding,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“Are you planning on spending that funding to replace my ship that was lost delivering cargo to your district?” Captain Gijsbert asked.
“Yeah, actually, we went with you and provided the documentation you needed to investigate the central bank. We do have jobs to do, transporting cargo, let’s not forget,” Romey said.
“Did you own the vessel, Captain?” Commissioner Hannah asked.
“It belonged to the central bank, but I was in charge of it and made a zero point zero zero one (0.001) percent profit delivering shipments where they sent me,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“How large was the ship?” Commissioner Hannah asked.
“The Staunch Carriage Five was a three hundred ninety-six (396) foot long galleon and it had five (5) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“I’ll arrange to have a ship of that class put under your command, Captain. And, I’ll arrange a shipping contract with better terms, where you keep a zero point zero zero seven (0.007) percent profit,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“How? What kind of contract is this?” Captain Gijsbert asked.
“I also wonder how that can be arranged. That is a rather generous rate, Commissioner Hannah. And do you have a ship of that class available?” Commissioner Wallace asked.
“Can we see the contract and get it signed?” Romey asked.
“We’re going to build a new city, along with irrigation canals, in Western District Nineteen (19). The projects will be designed and constructed by the architect, Fantine. Once the city is operational, the residents and administrative staff are going to need supplies and purified waters. You’ll have a contract signed for delivering them,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“In that case, I’ll provide the ship to Captain Gijsbert. He and his navigator can transport the supplies to you, and you pay me out of your relief funding. Then, I’ll pay the captain,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“You’ll pay me zero point zero zero seven (0.007) percent profit. That was the number I was just promised,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“Yes, Captain. That will be your rate of profit,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“Let’s get the Captain to his ship, then, shall we?” Commissioner Hannah asked.
“Yes, let’s do that,” Commissioner Wallace said. Surrounded by his twenty (20) armed guards, he led the way to the northern river port of Havinalka City and arranged transport on a riverboat. Commissioner Hannah, Captain Gijsbert and Romey boarded the riverboat with him and the vessel sailed along the river toward Northern District Eleven (11).
Once they arrived in his district, Commissioner Wallace led his traveling companions to the docks. Commissioner Hannah, Captain Gijsbert and Romey followed Wallace – who was still surrounded by his twenty (20) armed guards – as he boarded a four hundred ten (410) foot long vessel known as the Industrious Metal Miner North Eleven, having five (5) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails. Three hundred twenty (320) crew members –
a mix of men and women – stood up from their resting positions, hoisted the sails and readied the ship when they saw the commissioner’s arrival.
“This vessel belongs directly to my office as commissioner of this district. I keep it available to augment my supply lines when commercial traffic is light, although that doesn’t often occur. I will place this ship and its crew of three hundred twenty (320) men and women all under your command, Captain Gijsbert, with Romey as your navigator. This assignment will be for as long as you work in my employ at the agreed upon rate,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“That rate being zero point zero zero seven (0.007) percent profit,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“Yes, Captain. That has already been established. There’s no need to remind me,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“I’ll be happy to stop reminding you when I get a signed contract,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“Let’s get the new city designed, constructed and operational first. Then, you’ll have a shipping contract to supply that city,” Commissioner Hannah said.
“Technically, I will have the contract, because my office owns this vessel. Captain Gijsbert will have a subcontract,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“As long as it’s signed with the agreed upon rate of payment, we don’t care what you call it,” Romey said.
“Let’s get to work, then, Commissioner. I’m not interested in wasting my time on bureaucratic paperwork,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“Of course. Time is money, Captain. Fantine works out of the Port of Kemalorin in southwestern Baradaxa,” Commissioner Wallace said.
“Romey, chart a course there,” Captain Gijsbert said.
“On it,” Romey said. She drank anew of the water of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. She learned their paths and positions and used this information to chart a course.
Captain Gijsbert walked across the deck, toward the wheelhouse, and Romey followed him.
“I need to supervise my new officers,” Commissioner Wallace said. Still surrounded by his twenty (20) armed guards, Wallace headed to the wheelhouse.
Commissioner Hannah followed him, as there was nothing else to be done at the moment.
Romey wrote her course down on a blank page of the captain’s logbook.
Captain Gijsbert examined the charted course and then took control of the vessel. He pulled levers to raise the anchor and retract the boarding ramp. He then steered the Industrious Metal Miner North Eleven out of port and sailed it northeastward across the Kazofen Ocean until reaching the western coast of the Glivoran Trail land bridge. At that point, he pulled levers to pivot the masts and sails to the sides of the ship and elevate the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. He steered the ship northeastward across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Medathero Ocean. From there, he sailed the vessel northeastward until reaching the Port of Kemalorin along the southwestern coast of the continent of Baradaxa.
After steering the Industrious Metal Miner North Eleven into port, Captain Gijsbert pulled levers to drop the anchor and lower the boarding ramp. He, Romey, Commissioner Hannah and Commissioner Wallace, along with his twenty (20) armed guards, disembarked from the ship and walked through town. They headed toward the alchemy shop where Fantine was known to work.
~~~
Taesa walked through the bustling city center of the Port of Reliance, on the eastern coast of the continent of Meridianus. She traveled alongside Romana and Judith. Taesa was four (4) months pregnant, but kept up with the other women easily.
As they strolled through the luminous crystal city, Taesa read the next chapter in a book she carried. “So, according to this book, God’s Perfect, Endless Love created humanity to know Him and obey Him. However, the sins of humanity separated us from God when we misused the powers of the oceans.”
“That is correct. Every act of evil – theft, murder, adultery, betrayal, deception, greed, mockery, laziness, anger, pride – distances us from God’s Purpose. The powers of the oceans multiply the damage done by that evil,” Romana said.
“Supposedly there is a place of eternal suffering known as the Maelstrom of Vengeance, where the evil go when they die,” Taesa said.
“We’re all evil. Every single one of us has sinned,” Romana said.
“If this story is true – and I’m not saying I believe it, but if it is true – then we’re all condemned to eternal suffering,” Taesa said.
“The story is true – and you are correct that we would all be condemned – but there’s much more to the story,” Romana said.
“If God’s Love is endless, why would He send us to eternal suffering?” Taesa asked.
“God has forgiven us. We must accept His Mercy,” Romana said.
“What does that mean?” Taesa asked.
“God sent His Son to live among us, while demonstrating Perfection, Truth and Innocence. His Son spoke these things, and many believed, while others rejected the message out of selfishness. The Son of God rebuked the authorities and the elite for their misdeeds, deceptions and oppression of the weak and the poor. In return, they mocked Him, tortured Him and put Him to death. However, He was resurrected from the dead, and our sins are forgiven. He suffered the punishment that was due to us,” Romana said.
“I understand that people are evil in so many ways. How does it make sense for someone who committed no crime to suffer for someone else’s crimes? Where’s the justice in that?” Taesa asked.
“There is no justice. That’s the point. It was an act of mercy. If God punished us according to our sins, we would have to be destroyed. Instead, He demonstrated His Just Anger in a way we could learn from. It was partly a warning to us to turn from our sins. It was partly an act of collecting on a spiritual debt. The Son of God paid that debt,” Romana said.
“I think I get the warning part – that almost makes sense. But spiritual debt? I still don’t understand how an innocent person can pay for the crimes of the guilty. That would create more debt, not pay it off,” Taesa said.
“That is a good question. How does that work? I want to understand more,” Judith asked.
“Let me try to explain it this way. If a person disobeys the Perfect God, that person owes a debt to God. However, that person was created by God, receiving all their gifts from His Benevolent Generosity, and is therefore incapable of making repayment. Who shall pay the debt?” Romana asked.
“It goes unpaid,” Taesa said.
“That is true…if we depend on humanity. However, God arranged a plan. That plan was fulfilled by His Son, becoming human, teaching God’s Truth and Love, suffering and dying for that message and then being resurrected from the dead,” Romana said.
“If humanity killed the Son of God, that’s just another sin. Doesn’t that add to our guilt instead of forgiving us?” Taesa asked.
“Yes. Good. You’re beginning to understand it,” Romana said.
“No. I’m just analyzing it. I don’t really understand it,” Taesa said.
“I’ve seen too many evil actions and suffering in twelve (12) centuries as a Chronicler. I’ve never seen an act of evil that made the world a better place, unless there was something more. I know that God created the world, and we owe Him our love and obedience. I’m still struggling with the idea that humanity can persecute and kill an innocent person for teaching God’s Will and that misdeed can somehow save us. I’m not saying I don’t believe it. I just don’t fully grasp it. Sometimes, I think I do. But now, Taesa’s questions are making me think about this at a deeper level, and it’s just not clear,” Judith said.
Romana tensed up, confused and frustrated that the message was being misinterpreted. She feared that Taesa’s questions were going to undermine the work she had already done to help Judith believe in God.
Judith took Romana’s hands and said: “Romana, I’m not trying to be difficult. I love you as a sister. I just need your help to make sense of it all. This is
a deep and powerful message. Understanding God’s Plan does not come easily, but I am committed to studying and listening.”
Romana said a brief and quiet prayer and then said: “It’s alright. Questions are good. Seeking out God’s Truth is what we’re all supposed to do. It’s not a short journey of a single part, but it’s important that you’re making the effort to go the distance. Let’s meet up with Onora later. She can help me to explain it better whenever questions come up. I’m not the best teacher, and for that, I apologize.”
They walked together quietly for another fifteen (15) minutes and passed by a storefront displaying various fruit dishes in its window – oranges, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and apples.
Taesa stopped and said: “We need a snack.”
“I’m not hungry, but if you are, we can wait. There’s no hurry,” Romana said.
“I mean the baby’s hungry. I’m four (4) months along now,” Taesa said.
“Let’s go in,” Romana said. She opened the store’s front door and immediately felt the cool air. Nine (9) large blocks of dark ice – each eight (8) feet long, two (2) feet wide and three (3) feet thick – sat on the floor underneath long, thin wooden tables and chilled the fruit and pitchers of milk atop the tables. Another dark ice block, of the same dimensions, was situated under the fruit in the window display. A stack of empty wicker baskets lined with paper were arranged on a metal rack near the doorway. Judith entered second and Taesa entered third, closing the door behind her.
Taesa took an empty basket in hand and examined the fruit on the tables. She started picking out oranges, grapes and raspberries and filled her basket.
Judith also took a basket in hand, then looked over the fruit on the large tables and started picking out apples, raspberries and blueberries, placing them into her basket. Next to the pitchers of milk were stacks of ceramic bowls. She took hold of a bowl, poured in milk from a nearby pitcher and dipped some of the fruit into it. She took her bowl of fruit and milk, along with her basket of fruit, to a sales counter at the back of the room. She recorded a description of the store and a list of all the food she saw into her book, minus what she took for herself.