From prisoners of war to slaves

Everyone left the room and went about their business. A few minutes later Mahara went to Afonso's room, who was alone.

The room was large and there were two beds. They had legs that kept them above the ground. Both the clothesline, the bed frame and the headboard were made of black wood.

The clothesline was tall and rectangular in shape with several wooden carvings decorating it. The clothesline was mainly used to support a white veil covering the entire bed at night to protect against mosquitoes. The headboard was a work of art all carved in sinuous shapes.

In the room there was a large wooden window. The sides were entirely made of crimson wood, with the top part being slightly curved upwards.

The leaves that opened inward were made of black wood. In addition to the hinges that held them to the crimson sides, there was also a latch in the middle of the leaves that joined them.

On the crimson sides there were wooden supports attached to them that served as accommodation for a white painted wooden slat measuring just over half a meter in length. Once the slat attached to the supports was a second lock for the window, but Mahara, upon entering, saw the white slat lying on the floor close to the wall, the window was open and gave a view of a bush. The fresh air, clean of the foul odors coming from the village streets, entered and invaded the room.

Mahara took a deep breath.

– Afonso, I know you would like to go with Henrique to the underground city...

– Make no mistake, uncle. My life is here in the village, I have plans, you know? I intend to make a career in the camera, I already have good contacts there. I have no intention of going out into the world looking for mystical cities. My life is here in Vila de São Páulo.

There was silence for a few moments.

– I feel a little guilty for having convinced Henrique to embark on this journey. – Afonso said finally.

– Do you think he's in any danger?

– It's not that. It's just that his departure breaks my mother's heart, it makes me feel guilty, but I want that poncho above all else. I want it to be mine and my family's. You understand this?

– There is nothing wrong with having ambitions and dreams, and especially fighting for them, you have nothing to feel guilty about, Afonso. – Said Mahara, stroking Afonso's hair and then leaving the room.

A noise was heard coming from outside and they smelled a characteristic odor.

– Our father has arrived. – Henrique said to Teunie. They had just entered the room.

The door opened.

– Dad, this is our uncle. Mahara. He came from Gehucht to visit us. – Said Henry.

Alípio smiled and extended his hand.

– I'm happy to meet you. Isa always spoke a lot about you. If she allows me, I need to complete some household chores. We'll talk better at dinner. Boys! Help your mother with the wood stove. – Afonso had just entered the room.

– Dad, when are we going to have a domestic slave? – Afonso asked.

– Go fast. – He ordered Afonso that he was bored with the assigned task.

Alípio turned to Mahara.

– Isa does not accept subjecting a human being to the condition of a slave. I don't agree with that, but I do what she wants. I hope you do not mind.

– I'm not bothered. We don't actually have slaves in Gehucht.

– True. I was already forgetting its origins. Excuse me, I have to go.

Two hours later everyone was sitting at the dinner table. The table was full. The aromas were inviting and whetted the appetite. Teunie was happy just to smell them, but the predominant smell was that of smoked pork. A wind brought it from the pantry where there were many of them hanging.

– What is your work? – I wanted to know Mahara.

– I work at the town council. Bureaucratic work. And you? What activities do they carry out?

– I'm a fisherman. Teunie is a skilled tracker.

– Hmm... Very interesting. Tomorrow I will introduce you to the most experienced fishermen in the village. You will like it. The day after tomorrow I'm taking Teunie to meet the Indians, they know the whole region like no one else. They have unparalleled techniques. Our society would not be possible without their knowledge and skills. You will enjoy getting to know them.

After dinner Alípio went to the kitchen where Isa was cleaning everything.

– What are you trying to do Alípio? – Isa asked about Alípio's invitation to her brother and her husband.

– I'm trying to hold them back in the village. Who knows, maybe they'll like it here and decide to stay. I know how important your family is to you. Miss them.

– Will you marry me?

– I'm already married.

When they went to sleep, Isa let Alípio know about Henrique's decision to go and spend some time in Gehucht. Alípio was surprised, but it was only for a moment, he always had the impression that Henrique had an adventurous spirit, unlike Afonso. After the scare, Alípio supported the decision. They slept peacefully.

That week Alípio introduced the fishermen and the Indians to the two. With mastery he managed to make them fall in love with the village. For almost a month they barely saw each other, they were so committed to exchanging experiences.

Three months passed. It was already night. The visitors were lying in their room on the double bed.

– I am worried.

– With what?

– With my dad. It's been a long time since you heard from me. He must be terrified. But I knew it would be like this, after all, how could I give him any news?

– What do you intend to do?

– I will come back. I need to see him again, I left there practically fighting with him. I don't want to carry this last memory of him with me forever, otherwise I won't have peace. – They were a little silent. – I was thinking about our decision to set up our life in Bahia. As we traveled to the village we talked a lot about it and came to the conclusion that the village of São Paulo would not be the best place for us, but...

– You liked it here, didn't you?

– Yes; I would like to live here with you. I feel happy here.

– I approve the idea, but we have some pending issues in Gehucht.

– For right. I must say goodbye to my father, and you must fulfill your promise to Henry.

– I want you to go with Henrique. I must stay a little longer. I made commitments to fishermen. I can't leave now. I'll meet you a month after you get there.

– Where will we accommodate Henrique? In my father's house it will be impossible.

– With Derrick. Without her husband and son, she was left alone at the mill. He needs help at work in addition to needing company. I'm sure Henrique's presence will be very welcome.

Three days later Henrique leaves the village with Teunie.

Mahara remains involved with local fishing, he barely saw the day go by. He had already decided that he would live there with his beloved. Two weeks after their departure, Alípio arrives home nervous after working at the chamber.

– Mahara, we need to talk. Isa! Alfonso! - He screamed. – Come!

– What there was? – Isa entered the room, drying her hands on a kitchen towel.

– Sit down, dear.

Isa settled down on one of the wooden benches while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Afonso entered the door scared. He adjusted his suspenders and sat down.

– I don't bring good news. The governor general of Brazil appointed Almor Manuel Correa Laços, his godson, as his trusted man to intervene in Vila de São Paulo.

He paused and took a deep breath.

– Almor was wanted by three soldiers, one of whom was Almor's uncle. These three men were the only survivors of the war with the Dutch at Gehucht many years ago.

– That's not possible. All Portuguese were killed in that fight. – Said Mahara.

– Except for these three, my friend. They convinced Almor to make a new attack against the Dutch. They know that region and the weak points of the Dutch.

– I can't believe the governor general agreed. – Isa said.

– The governor is in Bahia and from what they say he is likely to embark on a trip to Portugal. He knows nothing about Almor's decisions.

– But how could three soldiers convince the governor's trusted man, surely he is not an ordinary person who allows himself to be convinced by any conversation, even if one of them is his uncle? – Asked the wife.

– They weren't convinced, actually. They just showed up at an opportune time. Farmers, miners and everyone in Vila de São Paulo made written complaints to the ombudsman. There is a law that prohibits new wars with the Indians, this is the ruin of society. There is a great shortage of slaves. With war prohibited, it will not be possible to meet the demand for slaves and society will collapse, at least that is what they say in the document. Almor felt pressured and decided to listen to the advice of the three soldiers. Gehucht covered a tribe of Indians. A war against Gehucht will involve the Indians. With the defeat of the Dutch, they will be expelled from the country and the Indians will be prisoners of war. It won't be a single step from doing slave work, and everything within legality.