by Nōnen Títi
Frantag was still reluctant. Sure, he would do a speech; it was his duty, but he couldn’t take charge of an emergency government now. He just didn’t feel up to it. Having always relied on what had worked before, he had no idea what promises to make.
Benjamar waited a few more days. It wasn’t too hard to organize the expedition himself; most of it had been arranged before the disease struck. All that was needed was to set a date and add a few new names. Maike would lead it. The first day of the second moon of Station Five was a good time, giving them almost two kor to get ready. However, her leaving put even more pressure on the need for someone to take control of the guards and keep order; to make proper laws.
As Frantag remained unwilling to take the initiative, Benjamar went ahead and called a meeting at his home. Naturally, he invited those who would have formed the new government had the disease allowed it, but Tini and Wilam, having lost as Frantag had, refused to come. That left Roilan, Frimon, and Tigor. Benjamar also invited Kolyag and Yako. Roilan didn’t like either of them and made no secret of it, but that was no reason not to ask them. Yako was never afraid to speak out and his ability to look at things from a different angle might be needed.
Benjamar asked Maike to be in the meeting, so she could represent the needs of the women until Tini felt better, and to make sure no issues with regard the expedition and law enforcement were overlooked. The last two people to attend would be Wolt and Harmon. “You can each write a report as objectively as possible and then compare notes,” Benjamar told them.
Both Kolyag and Frimon objected to the invitation. Kolyag hated politics: In his anger at Frantag after that incident at the trefin he had made plans to find a new place to live. This call for freedom had ensured him a fair amount of followers, all sick of rules and promises, who were willing to leave the colony with him. Perhaps unintentionally, Kolyag was now their spokesperson and as such, obliged to come. Frimon said he had no intention of attending what would turn into another chance to accuse him of foul play.
“Which is what I’m trying to prevent by calling this meeting. You put yourself forward as a potential elected leader and now you will come and represent your vision.”
It still amazed Benjamar how a change from request to order got people to obey. Well, if orders were needed, he’d issue them. This colony had to get its act together and there was no time left to wait.
It was with that intention that he addressed the nine people present in his small home. Only Frantag, who was here no more out of free will than either Frimon or Kolyag, sat on the chest with him instead of on the floor. Benjamar had told him he must come, worried that, in his depressed state, Frantag would let somebody else take over. Even if he was not ready to take on the role of governor, he would have to sooner or later. The elevated position helped emphasize that and it gave Benjamar an advantage when starting to speak.
“Twice we’ve been close to elections. Twice we’ve ended up with struggles for power accompanied by threats, lies, fights, and accusations. Twice we’ve ended up having to deal with a natural disaster without a government in place to take control. Twice that disaster has been used to start up the political debate again. Twice is enough! We don’t need elections or promises for a far-off future. What we need are constructive solutions to the problems we have today. We need rules about what is and what is not going to be allowed, and what our first focus for ensuring public safety should be. I don’t care how much some of you don’t get along with each other: We are going to talk until we all agree on a plan.”
“That will be never,” Roilan objected.
“In which case you can all move in permanently.”
“His people keep attacking me,” Frimon said. “I’m being accused of causing the disease.”
“They are not his people. Nobody owns other people,” Benjamar answered. “And I’m aware of those attacks, which is why we need laws.”
The key was to get Frimon and Roilan to give up their animosities, so Benjamar addressed the fuel and water issues first. He mentioned the need for some basic technology, patiently waited for Kolyag and Yako to finish their protests about his using that word, and then explained that technology did not, by definition, mean mining, big power stations, or destruction of nature. A simple irrigation system or a properly designed water well were technology. They had known that, of course, and were left no choice but to back down. It paid to prepare for a meeting.
He went on to say that technology could also mean getting the generators up and running, since Branag hadn’t worked so hard to dig up every piece of equipment from under the mud for nothing. They could use the power the windmills produced without causing damage, and they could make rules about the uses of technology, as they should make rules for using what nature produced without it.
Benjamar suggested that Roilan get a team together to finish the work Branag had started: He’d be the engineer in charge and to use his time to produce rather than discuss. Without giving Roilan a chance to respond he told Frimon to have a team build a solid drinking well with a pump to avoid contamination. Frimon would be in charge of location, design, and construction. “And, if needed, each of you will take advice from the other. Not only did we lose our prints, but we recently lost a large number of our scientists.”
Then Benjamar sat back and watched Roilan and Frimon look at each other, knowing what he had intended was bound to happen. Though careful in his choice of words, Frimon expressed his concern about Roilan leading the engineers, considering his age and experience.
Benjamar replied by listing all of Roilan’s achievements since SJilai and cautioned Frimon not to let his prejudice take over. “Having been a user doesn’t make somebody subnormal or lazy.”
Equally biased, Roilan couldn’t hide his surprise when Benjamar told him that Frimon was a physicist and therefore perfectly capable of the civil engineering needed for the well. “Being a member of the Society does not preclude being scientific, nor does it mean being dumb.”
The two men could do little but promise to try and work together.
With that out of the way, the focus could move to the other needs of the colony. The tension rose between Yako and Wolt a little later over the need for the media to be objective. Benjamar shut them up by telling Wolt he was present to report only, not to speak. Yako might be right, but Harmon’s presence settled the issue.
But it wasn’t that easy to control the emotions when it came to Kolyag and Tigor. Benjamar didn’t know the two farmers well enough to predict their reactions, and watched them get more and more agitated. He’d not been aware of the trade that was still going on: Some cattle farmers had taken to selling cheese and milk rather than turn it over to the distribution centre. Some crop farmers had started picking the Kun DJar foods before the assigned collectors could get to them. What it came down to was that Kolyag owed Tigor for goods delivered and had not paid. Kolyag said he couldn’t help that, since the disease had taken some of his cattle.
As if by some unwritten law, dictating people had to back up those in their team – the teams of technology versus nature – whether right or wrong, the others in the room chose sides. So Frimon and Yako spoke for Kolyag: he could not be blamed for the disease, while Roilan and Wolt took Tigor’s side: a deal was a deal. Only Harmon did what he was there for and made notes.
Frantag didn’t get involved, though he should have called both men to the fact that all trade was still illegal. Maike only rolled her eyes at Benjamar as if to say “Told you so”. She had, in fact, told him on arrival that a government of only men was an invitation to disaster.
Remembering that, Benjamar now silenced all of them with the threat he’d have them all replaced by women if they couldn’t stop shouting. The confined space didn’t allow him to pace and it was starting to irritate him. “I don’t know about you people, but my hope is still on some sort of agreement rather than spent all night like this,” he said.
Once again, he stressed the need for them to listen to each
other, not to jump to conclusions. “If you can’t do even that, you have no business representing anybody.”
After that, they all tried a bit harder, if for no other reason than to get it over and done with so they could go home. Benjamar held a close rein on everything that was said. It was like being back in a courtroom or in government; he ended up at the centre, mediating in discussions, shutting them up before these became too heated.
All agreed that the fighting had to stop. All acknowledged that the first need was sufficient hygiene to prevent another disease, that Daili had been right – they needed to act in a civilized manner before building luxuries. Yako suggested the removal of all immobilizers, which were the status symbols of the anti-hero. “Only cowards use weapons to control civilians, and only cowards fight each other in wars,” he told Maike.
Kolyag emphasized the right to freedom of movement. “Farmers should be allowed to choose whether they go over the hills, not be forced to.”
He got support from Tigor, who predicted that a new location for the crop farmers would be found. Wolt speculated on the trade that would develop between the farming communities.
Slowly, Benjamar steered the discussion towards the need for all people to have a say and how to go about that. Not even otacy would last forever, but if people had a voice, it would give them a sense of responsibility for the community.
“Every colonist should have a say in everything,” Roilan said.
“What about a referendum?” Frimon asked.
What Benjamar had not believed possible was beginning to happen: The people on the floor were actually coming to solutions – even Frantag managed a smile when they all laughed about that discovery. They did not want elections for representatives, which would result in a popularity contest; instead they wanted to give all people a direct vote on different issues; referendums for all matters of concern.
“That sounds fine, but that means you have predetermined that this here is the government. I, for one, don’t know if I want to be part of that and besides, I’ve signed on for the expedition,” Yako said.
Benjamar let them talk. As long as it was constructive, they didn’t need him. He didn’t say yes or no when asked. His place was to mediate. It would be their government, their town.
Very late that night, the meeting came to an end with the conclusion that Frantag would make a speech to announce the proposals to all the people, who would then get a yes-or-no vote on the process to start with; majority win. If the population said yes the same method would be followed for the most pressing issues: the new hospital, the new well, the generators, and also the new laws of behaviour and punishment. “Fair” was the word used for everything. It was only fair for all people to have a say, fair that the population would be a part of the justice system, fair that punishment should be equal to offence. Fair is fair. Everything should be debated.
Once they left, Benjamar poured Frantag a drink. “Do you think it will work?”
“What do I know? Nothing ever seemed to work before,” Frantag said.
“But to have all those people agree on all this and take Daili’s treyak seriously?” Benjamar felt optimistic. Who knew? Maybe the ideas were a bit simplistic – fair is fair, a life for a life – but the message would be clear. It would make people think twice before attacking others. Adjustments would come with the input of the population, and with time. Depending on their ability to talk and that of the expedition to find new locations, maybe one day they would be able to live as true Kunjari, all over the continent. For now, at least, there was hope.
