*****
Marcus was waiting for Anita when she got home, his face full of relief when she didn’t appear to be angry with him. ‘Are you ok?’ he asked, concerned.
‘Yes,’ she smiled, ‘I just needed to do some exercise, so ran to the Temples to meditate. How did it go with Austin?’ There was no point in tiptoeing around the topic, so Anita just dived in.
‘It was fine. We had to visit a farmer that owes us rent. We have several of those at the moment, so we’re working out what to do with them.’
‘The poor things must be having such a tough time.’
Marcus nodded in agreement. ‘We agreed he could give us two of his goats to cover the shortfall. He seemed grateful.’
‘What?’ she said, shocked. ‘The farmers are having the worst year ever, obviously because of the energy, something which is entirely beyond their control, and you’re making them pay rent they can’t afford?’
‘We were kind to them,’ he said defensively, not understanding her reaction. ‘Instead of money we accepted goats; we didn’t have to do that.’
‘And what are you going to do next time he can’t pay? What if he has no goats left to give you? What will you do then?’
‘I’m sure it won’t come to that. We’re just having a bad year. I’m sure very soon everything will return to normal and the farmers will be prosperous again.’
‘And if it’s not that simple? If it is to do with the energy and we have bad season after bad season?’
‘Then the farmers will have to diversify and find a different way to make a living, like everyone else. We run a business Anita, not a charity.’
‘You have a responsibility to the people of the world as their rulers to look after them, not suck them dry. You should be charitable; Gods know if anyone can afford it, it’s you.’