Damned!

Outrage Part 1

They came on horses, in cars, rickety bicycles, and on foot. Some dressed in traditional cloaks, more dressed in layers with sleeping bags, signaling a long night ahead. True to Imama's wishes, they gathered peacefully in groups and spent the early afternoon setting up tents in small village formations. The elderly led prayers, the young adults huddled together with makeshift signs ready to confront the workers, the tiny ones played games together running in between the tents, not quite able to understand whether this event was serious or in jest.

After speaking with her grandson, she gathered the people together to relay plans.

On the other side of the town, Archbishop Dominez was having a heated discussion with Father McNalster, upset that he had not successfully addressed the relocation effort. Angry that his orders had not been followed, he steered Father McNalster towards the edge of town and the river's edge, insisting that he address the makeshift camp parked outside the fenced in excavators.

They walked together towards the camp. Father McNalster had pleaded their case with the stark truth, that he could not persuade the people to abandon their homes. He expressed his worries that chaos might occur, to which Dominez had released the knowledge that Homeland Security had been ordered to be on site and might engage in conflict should the need arise. They were in agreement with each other that they wanted to avoid violence and Father McNalster said he would plead with the people to go back to their homes.

When they came to the camp, busy with preparations, they were met in front of the field by Imama, who stood tall and regal with a traditional Gandan cloak around her shoulder, her hair flowing in gray waves falling like slopes down her shoulders. Understanding his relationship with Dominez, Imama did not bat an eye when she saw the two men approaching. She ignored Father McNalster and walked hurriedly up to the archbishop.

"You are not welcome here with your machines and equipment," she said waving her arms. "We have heard about the plans to change this jungle valley and damn this river. We were not officially notified of any choice. I'm telling you to reconsider. Look at the vastness of this camp. We will not let you pass until we have a say in the decisions."

"Step aside, woman, and let me speak to your leader," he replied rudely, pushing her aside.
Father McNalster looked with horror and apprehension as Archbishop Dominez walked forward. His lack of deference to Imama showed he vastly underestimated the power she held among her people. Immediately a group of twenty men and women stepped forward, frowns on their faces to block the archbishop.

From the other side of the field, Ein, who was helping a family pitch their tent, looked up and paused. The entire field seemed to have stopped their busy work and were focused on the conflict happening between Imama and the Archbishop. Ein calmly walked forward, waiting in expectation and looked on at a distance as Imama and the archbishop conversed angrily, Imama waving her hands and the archbishop leaning hastily over her. Then he saw his grandma's signal, her hand pointing to the sky. He walked hurriedly forward. Now was his time to come forward.

Dominez did not recognize the man with the scraggly hair at first. He looked so different than he had as the clean-cut chief engineer. When he did recognize him, he groaned inwardly. This had to be the source of the protests and trouble.

"Ein, I am warning you. If you proceed to block this project, I will have you arrested within the hour. I do have security on hand." As if on cue, security men, guarding the chain-fenced in excavators, came out to see what the trouble was.

If Dominez was hoping this would be the end of the protests, he was in for a surprise. The crowd gathered closer; Ein stood next to Imama. On the far side of the crowd Archbishop Dominez saw a reporter videotaping with a professional camera. The reporter hurried forward eager to home in on the interaction.

"I would hold off, until you hear what I have," he handed the phone to Dominez.

Dominez took the phone hesitantly and slowly scrolled through the entry. The contract given to Tannebuam's was on the screen, recently published under The Village Voice's social media. He scowled but held his tongue in the face of the reporter's microphone and gained his composure.

"In light of the recent grievances, I will take your response to the capital where we will await further instructions."

"Don't go until you listen to us," Ein remarked.

There was no response or acknowledgement.

Archbishop Dominez turned his back abruptly and proceeded to walk with Father McNalster out of the camp.

"We will be here, waiting!" Imama

yelled.

An unsteady silence followed and drifted through the camp, as the people turned and prepared to settle in for the night.