Free Terra Nova: An Anthology of Contemporary Spanish Science Fiction by Mariano Villarreal

arrived home one particular day,
she ran into commotion. She perceived a good number of women
weeping and mumbling. Something terrible must have happened for
them to use the language of tears among themselves.
    “ How could it have
happened?” her mother asked seriously and with a hint of
worry.
    “ He fooled us, Kesha. He
was more cunning than we thought possible in a man.”
    “ I told you to be careful,
not to trust him, that you should not stop perceiving him for a
moment. Then how was it possible?”
    “ We can’t explain it
ourselves, Kesha,” a second woman whimpered. “Everything indicated
that he would have trouble moving and it would still be a long time
before he recovered his strength. It was as if … as if he knew we
were perceiving him all the time. And then …”
    “ We lowered our guard,”
her mother said. “I understand. I’m also at fault because I
believed that he knew as little about us as the rest of the men. I
believed he was only interested in fooling other men. But it has
been textured that he perceived our intentions. Tell me, how is
Jano?”
    “ Bad, Kesha. Very bad. We
don’t know if she’ll recover from this. Maybe, with time,
physically perhaps, but mentally …”
    “ I understand. She has
been broken as a Ksatrya.”
    “ Kesha, you have to do
something,” another one interrupted, pleading and decided at the
same time. “No man perceived the aggression and it is textured that
he had them fooled, all the men. Who would believe that
…”
    “ Obviously you ought to
learn to ask questions before reaching your own twisted
conclusions.” The voice of Qjem was heard loud and clear in the
hall.
    The brief silence that followed was as heavy
as it was sharp. The intrusion of the elderly man had caught the
women unprepared. It was rare to fail to hear a man approaching. As
incredible as it seemed, Qjem had learned to move like a woman. By
himself? Charni thought that was highly improbable. But what woman
would teach him something that could be used against them?
    “ I’m sorry to interrupt
your meeting,” the old man continued, “but it seemed the right
thing to do after Lain told me what had happened.”
    Lain. She finally showed her winning hand.
She had jumped the chain of command, although surely she had a good
excuse and witnesses to say that she could not have avoided it. And
by doing so, she had taken the power of reaction away from the
queen, who now could only improvise, and haste rarely turned out
well. Patience and premeditation were crucial to reducing risks to
their minimum.
    “ Well, and now that I have
your attention, I want to make something clear. I don’t know what
you take me for, but I’m not that stupid or arrogant to refuse to
take the word of a woman who has suffered such a major aggression.
I am not a monster and men are not monsters. Chaid Khasat will not
get away with it this time. He will have the punishment he deserves
this very afternoon. The next time, come and talk to me instead of
huddling together like scheming rats. I’m in charge here. I protect
you and I impart justice. Don’t forget it.”
    All the women remained silent until well
after the elderly man had left.
    Charni had never perceived Qjem so upset. He
was angry, very angry. It was … as if they had gravely injured his
pride. Curse Lain for whatever she must have told him to be like
that.
    “ It seems my reign has
come to its end.” Her mother broke the silence.
    “ No, Kesha,” the voice of
a woman could be heard over the heartfelt denials of the other
woman. “You heard the old man. He’ll do justice. You don’t have to
sacrifice yourself.”
    “ Men’s justice can never
compare to that of a woman’s,” she replied sharply. “Many cycles
ago, something similar happened. I was just a girl, but I sensed
the disappointment of the other women. Justice only went as far as
to cut off the attacker’s member. But since he could no longer see
with it, what kind of punishment