Read Online The Priest by Monica La Porta - Free Book Online Page A

the meting out .” His dad had used to tell him religious stories
and the verb ‘mete’ was associated in Mauricio’s memory with
ancient tales of justice and retribution. His dad had told him
beautiful stories of a time when the men weren’t slaves. Now, as a
man, Mauricio thought that probably his dad had invented the tales
for him.
    “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so alone. It’s
painful,” Mauricio said to the wall.
    “Sometimes I wish I had the power to change
the things I don’t like,” Rosie continued.
    “Like what? You’re a woman; you can do
anything you want! What would you like to change so much?” Mauricio
asked, interested.
    “The fact that you’re a slave,” Rosie simply
answered.
    Once again, Mauricio was speechless.
    “I don’t think it’s right.”
    “I agree,” Mauricio managed to say.
Something deep inside him broke at her words. “I don’t think your
mother is going to be happy to hear that, though,” he said after
having steadied his voice. He sounded almost cheerful.
    “No, she isn’t proud of me. I’m the daughter
her publicist had suggested to hide in some forgotten college. I
came here to have a child out of wedlock instead,” Rosie said in a
light tone, but her pause at the end said otherwise.
    “Do they know that you are here?”
    “No. I’ve managed the impossible. I’ve
tricked the whole Presidential staff, my two lovely mothers, and
their less-than-lovely publicist into thinking that I was going to
do what they had suggested. Everybody back home thinks I am
studying marine biology in a remote college.” She laughed
heartily.
    “How did you do that?” Mauricio asked to
keep the conversation going. He wasn’t ready to talk at length,
yet.
    “I bribed lots and lots of people. And my
mothers are paying for my tuition.’” Rosie sounded satisfied and
Mauricio smiled at the tone of her voice.
    “You know another thing I would change if I
could?” Rosie asked abruptly.
    “No, what is it?” Mauricio was amazed that a
woman with so many privileges had unfulfilled desires.
    “I would love to raise this baby by myself.
Alone. Somewhere far away from Ginecea and the Presidential
Palace.”
    “What will happen to you if your mothers
find out?” Mauricio couldn’t imagine that the President’s daughter
could escape her heritage easily.
    “ When they find me, which I know is
just a matter of time—I am not delusional—I’ll be stored away
somewhere I can’t create a scandal. The family publicist is going
to find a solution to the problem,” Rosie said the last words with
a broken voice. “I’m just biding my time to give my baby a chance,”
she added as an afterthought.
    “I heard what the Priestess was telling
you…” Mauricio didn’t know if she wanted to talk about it.
    “I almost lost my baby and I was so worried
about her; she is so tiny and I couldn’t do anything to help
her.”
    “But your baby is fine now,” Mauricio
repeated the Priestess’ words. He sensed something stirring inside
when talking about this baby Rosie was carrying. There was this
tingling in his stomach and the odd happiness that he couldn’t help
feeling. Our baby… he thought. I know this is
blasphemous, but this baby could be mine… Actually, I’m almost sure
she’s mine. The more he thought about it, the more all the
half-conversations he had accidentally heard led to that
conclusion, even though Mauricio was well aware that it went
against the core of beliefs on which the Ginecean society was
built. I’m still alive after I was caught in Rosie’s room, and
the Priestess ordered I’m not to be touched in case they still need
my semen. Why else could it be?
    “Yes, she’s a strong one.” Rosie’s voice was
happier now.
    “She’s going to be fine,” Mauricio said
again. He had a sudden desire to hug Rosie. He imagined her small
body in the cradle of his embrace. It felt right.
    “I like it,” Rosie said, taking him by
surprise.
    “What?” Can you read