Chapter 4
Karen and Henry Bravia walked to the nearest farm, and from the looks of the place, they could tell it was an independent small farmer. A bit shyly, they knocked at the door of the small farmhouse. A woman came out and introduced herself as Catharine Miller.
�We don�t get visitors very often, especially strangers,� the farmer said. �What brings you two aristocrats to these parts?�
�Well, we need your help,� Karen said.
�I can see that, but what would happen to put you guys in trouble. It certainly isn�t financial trouble, right?� the farmer asked.
�No. We are wanted by the Imperial government because my husband and brother are leading a rebellion against the Emperor, and we wanted to know if you could hide us as relatives visiting from out of town so that we could escape capture,� Karen said.
�Well, I suppose I could do it, but you�re going to need to get out of those refined clothes. No one�s going to believe that you are relatives of mine if you are obviously wealthy. My whole family is known as poor farmers, so you�re going to have to be poor farmers. You can borrow some of my dresses, and your son can borrow some clothes of my son. You guys look about the same age and same size,� the farmer said. �It would help my story if I knew something else about you guys besides the fact that you are on the lamb.�
�Well, my name is Karen Bravia,� Karen said. �My son�s name is Henry. My husband, Oen Bravia, is the Duke of this area and owns most of the land around here. He represents this area in the provincial assembly as well. My brother, Natonito Albright, is the Senator of this area to the Imperial Senate. The two of them are leading a rebellion to make Bravia independent after the Emperor seized Robert Russ III and raised the taxes for this area.�
�Well, you guys are in a heap of trouble then. There�s been Imperial troops all over the area snooping around houses looking for people who might be rebels. I didn�t know what the fuss was all about, though,� the farmer said.
�There were 400,000 troops sent by the Emperor to quell the rebellion,� Karen said.
�They must really want your brother and husband dead, then,� the farmer said.
�Yes, and I suppose we must change in a hurry before the troops come around here again,� Karen said.
�You should do that. It�s just in time for some baling of hay,� the farmer said. �Right now my two sons are doing the work with the men. Your son can change and go off with them,� the farmer said. �Even though your son looks a little frail, he�s probably a lot like my older son, more the academic.�
�You have a son out here that is a scholarly fellow? That doesn�t happen too often,� Karen said.
�No, it doesn�t. He�s got a good heart, but brains aren�t often used around here. I feel sad for him, knowing that he gets picked on by the other kids because he isn�t as brawny as most of the other boys in this area are, not as interested in the outdoors, and because he loves to read and write,� the farmer said.
�Well, thank you much for your help,� Karen said.
�No problem,� the farmer said. �After all, we all support the cause of Bravian independence ourselves. We wonder why it took you guys so long to raise the banner of rebellion. These Imperial troops come in, demand to be fed, and threaten to turn us out of our beds if we don�t toady to them. I can�t stand them myself.�
�Hopefully you won�t have to deal too much longer with them,� Karen said.
�We shall see,� the farmer answered as Karen went to change and gave Henry his clothes to change into.
At this point, Daniel Miller, the smart farmer�s boy, came in to speak with his mother. �Come outside, a whole squadron of Imperial troops is here.�
The farmer went outside and said, �That woman was serious.�
�What do you mean, mom?� Daniel replied.
�A woman and her son, about your age, came into the house looking for sanctuary. She said that there were 400,000 troops looking for her husband and brother, who were leading a rebellion against the Empire. Looks like they�re going to look closely to this village. They must know that the Bravias were the biggest landowners in the area,� the farmer said.
�This doesn�t look good,� Daniel said.
�No, it doesn�t,� the farmer replied.
�What are we going to do?� Daniel asked.
�I don�t know, we�ll have to figure that out when the time comes.
The leader of the troops came over to Daniel and his mother. �Have you seen any strange people trying to solicit help for the rebellion?� the captain asked.
�No, I haven�t,� the farmer replied bluntly.
�Since when do simple farmers have the right to be so saucy to Imperial soldiers?� the captain asked, sneering.
�You have searched over this town three times today,� the farmer said. �Don�t you think it�s time to leave now? We are simple farming folk. We don�t have the resources to feed your soldiers, as we have a hard enough time feeding ourselves. Also, as you can see, we are busy baling hay. School has just ended for the year, and there is a lot of work for all of us to do, even the kids. I don�t see why you can�t just go to another town now.�
�We don�t have to explain ourselves to anyone, and your livelihood is not our concern,� the captain said. �We will keep a close eye on you. I see you have some visitors at your house.�
�Yes, a cousin of mine had problems with her husband and so she is staying with us for a while,� the farmer said.
�Marriage problems?� the captain asked.
�Yes, you know how those things go. Sometimes those people we think are great for us turn out to be different once we marry them. I know, it happened to me, too,� the farmer said.
�And where does your cousin live?� the captain asked.
�Bravia, the city,� the farmer said matter-of-factly.
�And why did your cousin come to stay with you?� the captain asked.
�Bravia isn�t very far away from here, so it was close by enough for her to get to until things settle down back at home,� the farmer said.
�Does your cousin know anything about what is going on in Bravia?� the captain said.
�She just said that there were a lot of troops there too,� the farmer said.
�Oh, so your cousin is not anyone important in Bravia?� the captain asked.
�No, we�re just simple working folk,� the farmer said. �You should know that by looking around here. We spend our time trying to provide for our own mouths. Seldom do we get the chance to know what is going on outside of our little town.�
�I suppose you are right. This is beautiful land, but apparently there are many small farmers,� the captain remarked.
�Yes, we are proud of our land, proud that we own it free and clear,� the farmer said. �After all, each of us needs someplace that we own, our own space where we are the law.�
�That is not the case elsewhere, and it keeps the people from getting too inflated a view of their freedom,� the captain remarked sarcastically.
�People elsewhere may be slaves, but I cannot help but believe they know, somewhere in their hearts, that something is missing in life. They may try to fill their lives with drink or drugs, try to find meaningless relationships to fill the void, to no avail. I know I am a poor farmer, struggling to make a living for myself and my two sons, but I am free, and I never forget that. It is not how much you have that is important, but whether you can say that what you have is truly your own. I am far from wealthy, but I own my life, and I am proud of that,� the farmer said.
�Are all Bravians this proud of their land and their lives,� the captain said.
�Yes. We are all glad to be the freest and bravest people on the face of the earth,� the farmer said.
�Even peasants are proud of their freedom?� the captain said. �What is wrong with you?�
�Nothing is wrong with us. What is wrong with you that you are not so free yourselves?� the farmer replied.
�Some people do not deserve freedom,� the captain said. �Freedom is too precious for commoners to enjoy.�
�Freedom has no meaning unless the commoners enjoy it. After all, only a fool or a demagogue takes freedom away from those who have means. For freedom to truly matter, it must be shared by all, and its responsibility shared by all,� the farmer said. �I know I am responsible for my actions, but I would have it no other way.�
�Do you think that working class people are capable of handling freedom?� the captain said.
�As capable as the middle and higher classes,� the farmer said. �Which isn�t saying much. After all, we have to work harder than anyone to make a living. In other areas of the Empire, peasants have to give unpaid labor to the local lords. Such a thing is unthinkable here. Those who work should be the first to share in the rewards of labor. After all, it was their sweat that was the true equity in the well earned profit.�
�Are you kidding me?� the captain said incredulously.
�I�m being absolutely serious,� the farmer said. �Who deserves the reward? The one who works and labors diligently or the one who manages the whole thing, pushing papers and wasting resources to profit himself.�
�The rich always get richer, regardless of whether they deserve it or not,� the captain said.
�Yes, but the poor do not always have to take it either. Do you not know of such a thing as poetic justice,� the farmer said.
�You speak of revolution?� the captain asked.
�When people are oppressed, they have a responsibility to rise up against their oppressors,� the farmer said.
�Are all Bravians like you?� the captain asked.
�More like me than dissimilar,� the farmer said.
�We are all in trouble then. My troops are done, and they did not find anything suspicious. We will be leaving here, but we will keep an eye on you,� the captain said.
�If you want to be bored senseless, fine with me,� the farmer said as the captain walked away.
Daniel walked up to his mother, �Why was that man so rude?� he asked.
�He is an imperial officer. He expects people to kiss his ass all day,� the farmer said.
�But we are Bravians, we kiss nobody�s ass!� Daniel said.
�That�s right, son. He doesn�t understand that fact, and apparently neither does anyone else ruling the Empire right now,� the farmer said. �Let�s go inside, it�s time for supper anyway, and then sleep. It has been a tiring day.�
�Yeah, I got 15 freznics for working today,� Daniel said proudly.
�Good for you. Did you bale a lot of hay?� the farmer asked.
�Yeah, we got 1500 bales today, and ended up doing 8 loads,� Daniel said.
�Good job. That deserves a fine fried chicken dinner before bedtime,� the farmer said.
�Yay!� Daniel said as they reached the house.
Karen came out and spoke to Catharine. �You have a smart kid there.�
�Yes, I do,� the farmer said. �I wonder what he�s going to do when he gets older around here. This farming town is no place for a scholarly kid.�
�Have you ever thought about having him go to a private school in Bravia or somewhere else?� Karen asked.
�It�s far too expensive. We can barely make ends meet around here,� the farmer said.
�Well, when your son gets to the age where he can go to a baccalaureate program, let me know. I�m sure my husband and I would have no problem sponsoring him if we had to, or in being references for a scholarship,� Karen said.
�Thank you much. I will have to remember that. My son deserves a better life than this town has to offer,� the farmer said.
| Jump to: |
Quick Links: Bobby's Stories | Nathan's Stories | Government | Map | Main