Chapter 6: Unrest in Trujillo

On Sunday evening, Luisa simply took my hand and tried to pull me into her room. She was met with protests.

Mayari stood in the way and clearly spoke up for the women around her. “Michael, please, we too are made of flesh and blood and have certain needs. In the last few days, you have only made Mrs Liebknecht, Willka, and our dear Luisa happy. Zarina and I survived our birth well and are healthy again. It would be nice if we could spend a few hours with you again.”

Sula took the opportunity to speak her mind. “Mayari is right. We’re still here. You used to party with the pregnant women in your bathroom. Even pregnant women need sex; we are already completely dried up”.

With that she had the laughter on her side. The tension that had briefly built up was gone for a moment, but everyone was waiting for my answer. It was hard for me. I had to think; I did not want to hurt anyone.

“Guys, I don’t know what to say right now. Please, let me think about it. In general, you’re right. That’s why I promise you this: from now on, I will give pregnant women more time. Sula, not because of sex, but because you are so brave to carry our children. That’s why I love you so much. We will find a solution.”

Fahsai and Kira showed me their thumbs as a sign of agreement, and finally Sula did the same.

“And to you, Mayari, and also to Zarina. I must consult Dr Liebknecht. I won’t have any more children. I already have far too many, and soon there will be more. Our children make me so happy, but now it must be over. Both of you please clarify with our doctor how you are preventing. Then we’ll talk again. OK?”

I spent the night with Luisa, but there was no real atmosphere. I wanted to avoid Luisa from making too much noise when we made love. Maybe someone upstairs was listening.

Still, we enjoyed being together. Luisa was happy to have won. Her loving kisses and tender touches showed me that. I turned her over with her back to me and enjoyed the less exciting spoon position. So, we spent a long time in slow lovemaking without either of us climaxing. Eventually, Luisa realised that I was not ready for wild sex. She gave a short sigh and turned to me. Her kisses accompanied her attempts to stimulate me with her fingers. We men were really created by nature for one purpose only: to release our sperm as often as possible. Soon, all I could feel was wild lust, the incipient desire to surrender to the excitement. Luisa laughed with pleasure when I sprayed on her belly. I gave her the victory. She kissed me tenderly, cleaned us with a cloth, and cuddled up to me to sleep. Oh, yeah, I had a loving wife!

I gently stroked her slightly curved belly. There was no sign of her pregnancy yet. She was only ten weeks pregnant. Still, I was worried about my dear wife, who had taught me the meaning of true love. She had miscarried years ago before I met her. Our first child was born prematurely. Fortunately, the birth of our second son went without a hitch. I hoped everything would be fine this time. I fell asleep with this thought.

On Tuesday evening, I invited all the pregnant teenagers to my study. I wanted to do as they asked and pay more attention to them. There was only one wish. They all wanted to spend time alone with me; with the man whose child they were carrying. Of course, I wanted that too and apologised for neglecting them. But it was stupid. It was difficult to organise this with a timetable. It was too sterile, too impersonal. In the end, I promised to make time for each of them until the weekend. “Let me surprise you. I’ll think of something.”

Sula was pushing for a party in my bathroom again. Fahsai and Kira wanted that too. Babette categorically refused this. Cara and Ananda wanted to think about it. Esther, Lenya, and Isabella were heavily pregnant. They just wanted to chat with me for the next few days. Yes, it showed again how crazy our situation was. A man for seventeen women that just doesn’t work. As a man, I had it easy to live out my urges and spend fantastically beautiful hours and days with the willing women. But to really become a father, to have time for each of the women and their children, that was impossible.

Sula accepted my promise and immediately occupied my bathroom with Kira and Fahsai. Nothing was prepared, of course. But Luisa was willing to put together some treats. I got the last of the Russian sweets and the last of the chocolate from the cellar. These supplies were also running out. It was impossible to think of everything. Nevertheless, I decided to get some extra delicious sweets for my loved ones in the next few days.

By now my guests had left my office. Only Babette had stayed, as I had asked. We talked for a long time. She was even more preoccupied with Joachim than I had suspected. Finally, I allowed myself to wonder how she had managed to bind the son of a consul to herself in such a way.

Her answer was simple. “First with a kiss, then with wild kisses. I allowed him to caress my breasts and literally gave him my body”.

“And that’s enough for deep love?”

She turned bright red. “You were a good teacher. I hope he won’t forget this night with me. He had no idea what love was. He was allowed everything he wanted. And my mouth and tongue finally gave their best.”

“Well done, Beth. It was not in vain. At the very least, you gave him feelings he did not know, feelings that will forever have a place in his mind. That’s why he’ll never forget you completely. Nevertheless, be patient. We must see how things develop. Please, Beth, stay the way you are. You are so wonderful. Enjoy the time you have with him, while you have it. Life is complicated sometimes, but it goes on and on, and it’s much too beautiful for sad thoughts”.

We embraced each other like father and daughter. I enjoyed holding her in my arms. She sobbed briefly, but quickly regained her courage. We understood each other without words. These were moments of boundless happiness for me.

When I got to my bathroom, no one was there. The three beauties were sitting naked on my bed, enjoying the treats Luisa and Qesra had served them and cheering my late arrival. It was very warm. The heating was on full blast.

Kira said carelessly, “If you want to join us, please take a shower first and then come naked like us.”

Her friends laughed at the announcement. I was uncomfortable in my skin. But the teenies were right. This was how we had practiced it more often back then, when the fourteen-year-olds gradually became pregnant.

Somehow, I was embarrassed to sit down with them undressed. I had had many great nights of love with each of the young women. I knew their wonderful bodies from head to toe. All three of them had seen me naked many times, but at that moment I was unsure.

Almost shyly, I sat down with them. Su took advantage of the situation. “Hey, when was the last time you saw a penis? And everything is so puny and shrivelled. Guys, we have to help.”

As a matter of course, she leaned over to me, kissed me, and let her fingers touch my masculinity. Despite my age, I was not made of stone. Fahsai’s kiss followed, my sceptre pointing towards her bosom. Without any inhibition, she embraced my aroused member and sucked on my lips.

I had to smile. Our devout Muslim had changed, was open to new things and was showing off her deformed vagina without shame. Once again, I felt a twinge of anger when I thought that even in this day and age it was still possible to do this to little girls, to simply cut them and deprive them of the most feminine of feelings. But Fahsai’s kisses drove my dark thoughts away.

Now Kira thought her hour had come. She crouched over my thighs and tried to unite with me in a hot kiss. I did not want this and fought off her attack.

“No, I won’t do a show today. I failed once, almost two years ago, and I allowed myself to do that. That’s not happening today. We need to talk. I am enjoying the magical sight of your beautiful bodies. I want to stroke your bellies and try to hear the sounds of your children. If you agree, one of you may stay the night, but only one. Right?”

It was a wonderful few minutes. Kira was in her fifth month, Sula in her fourth and Fahsai in his third. You could already see a little of the development of the body fruit, but there was nothing to hear yet.

In the end they agreed that Kira should stay with me. The other two wished us good night. Then Sula kissed the petite Yemeni almost provocatively and said aloud, “Fahsai, it would be nice if you slept with me in my bed tonight. I’m so hot.” All three laughed.

I never found out if that happened. But the night with Kira was indescribably beautiful. In the past she had been passive during lovemaking, letting herself be served formally. This time she was transformed. She rode herself to climax several times, not letting up until I finally gave her my gift. She was glowing with lust, her whole body covered in a film of sweat, and every now and then she needed a break to catch her breath. When she was finally satisfied and lay down on her back, I caressed her body for a long time, thanking her with hot kisses for the great feeling my black pearl from Haiti had given me. Satisfied and happy, we fell asleep, wrapped tightly around each other.

For the following Thursday I had made an appointment at the German consulate. At 11 o’clock I should be personally informed by the consul about the legal situation of the German Inka. Of the girls who had not yet been to Trujillo, I wanted to take Fahsai and Cara with me. Fahsai was five months away from giving birth to her second child, and Cara was three months away. From my point of view, the arduous journey was easily manageable for both of them. But Cara told me that she had always felt uncomfortable driving. Pregnant, she did not want to make the trip herself. Zarina’s daughter was only six weeks old, but our Chinese teenager wanted to come along. Priya had the courage to look after both Olivia’s and Zarina’s children in the guesthouse. She also made sure she had enough milk for Zarina’s daughter Quan. If necessary, she would feed her with milk substitute. Mayari and Daja were also breastfeeding and willing to help. Ananda took care of Fahsai’s son Yusuf. It was easy for us to arrange things like this. Everyone had received help before and was happy to pass it on.

As always, I wrote down what urgently needed to be done:

1. Clarify the status of the Inka from Germany

2. Hand over the Inca knotted cords to the museum at 10 a.m. on Thursday

3. Find a Spanish teacher

4. Find a young Catholic priest to help in the valley

5. Find a construction company to repair the road from Huano to the village

6. San Huano gas station as a delivery address for online orders?

7. Telephone transmission and reception mast for our valley

8. Buy schoolbooks and English-language novels

9. Find a family with tailoring experience

When Heidy found out that we were going to Trujillo, she asked if she could come with us. She wanted to visit the orphanage and show everyone how well she was doing. She honestly didn’t want to show off but wanted to make up for the damage caused by her. “Mr Berthier, Couldn’t you help in some way?”

“I’d be happy to, Heidy.”

She felt guilty about one of the boys’ damaged eyes. This was a completely new, converted Heidy. I was happy. I was ready to take one of the surplus televisions, a DVD recorder, and a satellite system with me. That was my secret at first. I wanted to surprise the little girl with it.

So, the orphanage became point 10 of my plan. Each of the older girls who couldn’t go was allowed to wish for something worth a maximum of 50 US dollars. For the fourteen sixth-grade students, I wanted to find a gift for each that would bring them some joy.

There were a lot of simple things to do at home and it took some time. At about 10.30 a.m. Luisa gave us a snack and some provisions for the journey. With a thank-you kiss, I said to her lovingly, “Would you want to go to the big city by the sea? If you like, you can come with me next time.” Her second kiss confirmed that she did. She had probably been waiting for this for a long time.

Apparently, word had gotten around about our trip. The three women who had moved from the mountain village were standing at our blocked driveway with baskets. They were intended for their relatives in the mountain village. In addition to the highly sought-after Coca leaves, the baskets mainly contained fresh vegetables that do not grow on the high plateau. When we arrived in the village, we handed over the food, but once again I noticed that there was little gratitude. They seemed to take the gifts and our help for granted.

The owner of the petrol station immediately agreed to receive the parcels from our future online orders and store them until they were collected. We agreed to pay 10 SOL per parcel. He wrote down the exact postal address for me. I also gave him two cartons of cigarettes, also for resale. We shook hands in friendship. We were partners now.

Our journey was very quick. It took us less than two hours to reach San Huano. We passed the city limits of Trujillo in less than four hours, a record time. We had agreed to meet at Ernesto’s office at 5 p.m., but Olivia called him on my mobile to say that we might be a bit late, as we wanted to drop off some presents at the orphanage first.

The director of the orphanage was once again absent when Olivia and I entered the fenced area. Donna was delighted to see us. Olivia explained that Heidy wanted to replace the television and talk to the boy with the damaged eye. Donna came with us to the car and couldn’t believe it when she saw our dear Heidy beaming with joy in the car.

Donna allowed us to drive into the yard, where many children were playing and making noise. At first, they didn’t recognise their former companion, then there was screaming when she got out. Donna told the children that Heidy had come to replace the damaged television and to talk to Gonzalo about his injured eye. Suddenly, there was silence. Everyone looked at Heidy in amazement. She had grown at least five centimetres and with her modern hairstyle, she looked almost grown up and completely different from the Peruvian children in the home. Her smart dress and sneakers were admired by the poor orphans. Her pregnancy was visible, but it matched her more mature appearance.

Four older boys were allowed to unload the two large boxes. I gave the DVD recorder to an older girl. Zarina helped to assemble and connect the TV system to the home cinema. Just as the TV was gleaming with a perfect picture and the crowd of children were cheering, Ernesto turned the corner. Apparently, he needed some material for his newspaper tomorrow. He placed some of the orphans, as well as Donna and Heidy, in front of the new TV for a photo. His favourite, Olivia, had to be in the picture too.

While Olivia and Heidy talked to Gonzalo, I asked Donna to call a street vendor who would distribute prepared food to all the children in the home. Zarina recorded the consumption for payment. Everyone was happy. Donna and the other office worker also got one of the tasty portions.

Gonzalo was getting better. Unfortunately, his sight in one eye was very limited. I felt very sorry for him, even though the children hadn’t been very gentle with Heidy. While we were still trying to figure out how to help him, Ernesto offered to take Gonzalo to an ophthalmologist whose office was just a few blocks away.

Ernesto returned a short time later. “The doctor is willing to operate on the boy in the next few days for 2,000 SOL. He guarantees a significant improvement in his vision.”

Gonzalo hugged Heidy when he saw that we had deposited the amount the doctor had requested with Donna. The fourteen-year-old boy was very touched and deeply grateful. At the same time, he explained that everyone had been mean to Heidy and that he was to blame for his injury. He held out his hand to Heidy, who immediately accepted it with a smile. She obviously liked the boy because she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

An idea came to me. Could we bring Gonzalo to our valley? Maybe he could even be Heidy’s future partner. Donna made it clear that Gonzalo could only stay at the home until the long holidays. By the time they finished eighth grade, the orphans had to be able to earn their own living.

Although the orphanage was not in the best condition, my companions enjoyed the unfamiliar surroundings. Heidy played with the older kids. Zarina learned some new Spanish words from a girl. Fahsai watched a cartoon with the younger children. I took the opportunity to call Claudio. He was with his grandmother. Of course, it was a difficult conversation after our last fight about Heidy’s pregnancy. But he wanted to see Heidy again. He could come by bus to Trujillo. We agreed to meet at 8 p.m. at the entrance to the big cathedral.

I placed three adverts in Ernesto’s newsroom:

1. Hiring a Spanish teacher

2. Hiring a young pastor for our parish, also as an internship

3. To hire a tailor for our tailoring workshop, possibly with a family

Ernesto was also willing to look for real estate offers. We wanted to buy a cheap, bigger house for the poor Indio women with children, if we could afford it.

Ernesto suggested that he print a small leaflet as a supplement to the newspaper, pointing out the peculiarities of working in a remote valley, even for almost no pay. I was happy with that. Potential applicants would know what they were getting into.

In the background, Inti was talking to two friends on the phone about the ads. That was often the case here in the country. A lot of people wanted to help friends in need. After just ten minutes, Inti’s favourite candidate for the Spanish teacher job came to see me. The applicant, Amira, was 22 years old, had a degree in teaching but had not yet found a job. After five minutes we agreed to shake hands, even though her English was not up to our requirements.

We agreed on a temporary position until the Christmas holidays. Then we would decide together whether to extend her assignment. When she heard that food, drink, clothing, and accommodation would be free and that the salary would be 2,000 SOL per month, she was excited. She was ready to come with us to the valley the next day.

We talked about the event planned at the university. Amira suggested that she accompany us to show us the best bookshop in Trujillo, the ‘TRUJILLO BOOKSHOP E.I.R.L’, near the university. She knew that this was the only place where you could order the necessary textbooks for Spanish classes. She gladly accepted my invitation to have dinner with us. We were to meet at the entrance to the cathedral, as agreed with Claudio.

Shortly afterwards, Inti gave me the address of a small tailor’s shop. It was an elderly woman with her married daughter and three small children. “The family is completely impoverished, but the tailor is very good,” she said sadly. The woman was uncertain at the moment but was willing to try life and work with us before her family followed. Inti had sent a friend to the tailor because the woman did not have a mobile phone.

Ernesto wanted to start a small series about our life in paradise. I was strictly against it. But it was important to me that he would help us with articles to highlight the problems with bureaucracy in Peru. Although, Peru is one of the best-organized countries in Central and South America, it was very difficult for people in large parts of the Andes to exercise their rights and duties as citizens. It was important to me to show the difficulties of how the Indios could be made citizens with valid identification papers without presenting birth and marriage certificates.

Luckily, he didn’t suspect that I was planning this for strategic reasons. The more Indios had an ID card, the more Indios would be eligible to vote. At the moment, which wasn’t a big deal, but if Olivia were to run for president in a few years, it could be very important how many Indios would be eligible to vote. With Ernesto’s help, maybe we could make a difference.

Before checking into the hotel, we drove to the tailor’s address. The area was almost a slum. I locked the doors of our Landcruiser with the central locking when I saw the increasingly threatening surroundings and the looks of the people. Heidy, Zarina, and Fahsai were not allowed to open the windows. We drove deeper and deeper into the poor area. Olivia had to ask several times before we found the sewing workshop, which was about four by three metres. We were shocked by the poverty of the family. The husband had left the mother of three. There were hardly any sewing orders, and when there were, payment was often delayed. The family was starving. The children were hungry and visibly malnourished. All around them were poor huts with far too many hungry people.

It took less than three minutes for Olivia to convince the family to come to our valley. But when the young woman suddenly realised that her guest was ‘Mama Olivia’, she screamed like mad, threw herself on the ground in front of Olivia and kissed the hem of her dress. The news spread like wildfire through the surrounding houses. We barely made it back to the car. There was an enthusiastic crowd of poor people around us, all wanting to see Olivia. It was really stressful, but also very impressive. There was a crowd on the street like we’ve never seen here before. We couldn’t just drive away. Everyone wanted to see their ‘Mama Olivia’. So, I lifted Olivia up onto a wall. “Please just sing the first verse of your song and say a few words. Say that just as we will help the Condorcan family, all the Indians will soon be helped.”