A King for Quito
Part Three: LEO
Leo’s
prayerful, sensitive, world-famous, philosopher abuelito left Leo with the habit of devotion to the Bahá’í teachings, and the gravity that surrounded them. How could it be
otherwise when there were prayers every morning, with tea, before breakfast? It
was this relationship between Jaime and Leo which historians later credited the
administrative and mystical phenomenon that was Ecuador.
Jaime’s
literacy and love of books skipped a generation, and was passed on to his
grandson Leo. The Suriy-i-Muluk (Tablet
of the Kings) and the Lawh-i-Maqsud,
and other Sacred Writings dealing with statesmanship were the foundation of the
elevated Rumiñawi family. Jaime had memorized hypnotically long poetic passages from these
sacred Texts, in Spanish; and Leo, remembering abuelito’s voice, committed himself to learning the same, as a
family oral tradition.
When tall Leo
Rumiñawi was in his eighteenth year, he attracted attention because he was very
handsome. He was strong and elegant and wore the trensa. He had not yet assumed the corona. He reached an even deeper conviction in his family’s faith
because of a young man from China, who called himself Joon. Joon accompanied
his wealthy Mandarin parents on diplomatic missions. Joon became a critical
element in Leo’s life, and his best friend. He had also come from a prominent Bahá’í
family, that had become wealthy from many
investments and developments, delicately balancing relations with a government
that was not yet fully aware of the far-reaching impact that “la fe” Bahá’í, and its Commonwealth would have in the world.
Now, Joon and
Leo sat cross-legged in Leo’s room, in a somber mood, imagining the future.
They had come to this point after hours of talk, and some anxiety.
“What will be
the destiny of China in the world?” Leo had to know.
“Complete
dominion,” said Joon with certainty. “Gradual, inevitable.”
“But, how can
you be sure?” wondered Leo, amazed, as if they were being heard.
“It must come
to this. China has been prepared for three thousand years.”
“And all
nations will come under the dragon’s dominion.” Leo admitted.
“Yes indeed.
All nations, Antarctica, Greenland, the Moon and Mars. All”
“And for how
long will this be?” mumbled Leo exhausted with awe.
“Many
centuries. Until it is harvested. I am sure of it.”
“What could
possibly stop such a beast?” whispered Leo, nearly expiring.
“Even the
powers of heaven must bow down to the Tongue of Grandeur.” At this Leo glanced
up.
“You see,”
continued Joon, “religion will be oppressed for a while. But what God wants,
God eventually gets. Meanwhile, the nations will be forced together into one
body. A dead body, but unified. Then, the Bahá’ís will breathe
the breath of life into that body. It’s like the yeast in the dough that makes
it rise.”
Joon was
smiling. Slowly Leo sent strength to his neck and back. He was realizing things
of earth and heaven had always been roiling in a sky as old as time. No power
could rise and endure without the explicit permission of heaven. The roofs of
mankind remained powerless to stop the storm, but endured it as long as it
pleased the storm. Then glorious dawn came.
Leo
sighed, and sat up straight, resigned to do as his papi had said when dying. He had to make a study of all the
pertinent books. He would try to combine the spirit of Jaime and the solidity of
Pedro, and pray for a future in which the Cause of God had protectores from heaven.
Time
passed, and Leo sometimes went to public schools and talked about the kingship,
and living with his father and grand-father. It was before one of these
engagements that he stopped at a small market in a plazita, and saw Ana, a
distant relative within his ayllu.
She was
not dressed traditionally. She did not notice Leo at first. She waved and smiled at friends who
acknowledged her. Her smile was incendiary! Her fine, white, nicely formed
teeth, and her wide, expressive mouth caused startled reactions in those who
witnessed it. They stuttered. They stumbled, and paused, trying to regain their
task or their thought.
She set down her bundle of sale articles; and stood for five
minutes at least, surveying the scene, while others, both men and woman, like
Leo, furtively surveyed her, taking in the shape of her. She wore tight, black,
lycra pants that showed the panty line, and showed off her fine legs, her
buttocks, her womanly gap, openly.
Ana stood poised with
hands on her hips, the fingers pointing backwards, like a woman, seemingly
teasing any who dared to let their eyes linger, daring them to. Then she
noticed Leo, and the smile dawned again. They slowly came towards each other
and exchanged besitos.
Leo saw her heavy hoody was too small, the hood thrown back,
her bosom swollen within. These he was conscious of as they gently embraced.
She laughed with pleasure and recognition. Leo was very glad to see her.
She finally had caught her breath, and turned to begin
displaying her notions, her beaded art works, baby clothes and jewelries, on
the table allotted. Leo stood and answered the usual questions about the
Kingship; but since he had no use for the things she had for sale, he
eventually moved away where he could have a cup of coffee and observe her from
a distance.
As the day wore on, it became warmer, and then torrid, like
being in a microwave oven. Some clients and friends stopped by to chat. Her
sweetness to everyone, the flashing smiled and soft words, riveted the
attention of her many admirers. She began to feel steamy and removed her hoody
swiftly. As it came over her head, her T-shirt was lifted up, and for an
instant some viewers, including Leo, behold the smooth slope flaring into hips,
diminishing into mystery. She folded it up and set to one side delicately. She
did not intentionally try to exhibit herself. Her behavior was not affected.
She simply was the choicest article there, the prize possession of a skilled
and generous Creator.
The lovely and warm-hearted Ana graced her humble things,
like a sun over the discoveries of the day.
One
evening,several months later, Joon urged Leo to attend a public meeting in
Quito, where there would be music and dancing. Joon himself would be in a dance
workshop, stomping and acting in a dramatic performance. How could Leo refuse
to go?
“If you
come with me, you won’t be sorry. You need to get out of here. And there will
be girls. I can’t understand why you don’t go to these things!”
“Well,
alright then!” Leo consented, smiling.
This event
was instrumental in activating the loyalty Leo already possessed. Because his
family was “the royal family” and had been carefully trying to establish the
new sovereignty, without pressing their faith upon anyone who was not
interested, they rarely appeared in public Bahá’í meetings. But on this occasion, Leo was caught up in the joy of dancing
and was able to teach many eager seekers in attendance, from all sectors, who
came to him for answers, because he was the prince of the realm. A group of
kids formed a circle around him and made him engage them.
“What is
it like being the son of the king?” someone blurted out. Leo laughed and
thought.
“It is all
I have ever known. I guess I need to think about that some more!”
“What
would you do when you become king?” asked another Kichwa boy, who was broad and
stout. This alarmed Leo somewhat because he knew he had not thought about it
enough. Of course, there would be the Duty of taking care of the people with
justice, but…
“You mean
you are the prince and you haven’t thought about it!” the boy replied.
“And how
about la fe Bahá’í?” someone else shouted, “Will you carry on like sumajestad Jaime?” Other questions came
quicker and quicker, and he laughed and held up his hands, but realized they
had every right to ask them.
He
thought. ‘These are my people!’ To them, at that moment, he dedicated himself,
and plunged into the constant stream of relations with them, giving the best
answers he could. He even hatched the idea of holding small meetings at home in
the compound. It seemed time for him to be more vocal about his family’s
heritage, and so he was.
“Tienes una novia?” asked a girl, who was
being poked and encouraged by other shy girls. Now Leo was becoming agitated,
because he honestly did not have a girl-friend, and knew that he wanted one and
ought to have one. In later years, this girl’s question, enunciated so
enthusiastically would often make him smile.
His eyes
focused on Ana. He had not seen her since she was a vendor in the plazita
market. She was conscious of his attention. She had become very beautiful; and
with her uniquely arranged hair and her splendidly embroidered blouse, with
golden necklaces, earrings and bracelets, she was stunning. Her eyes were black
and shiny, the irises indistinguishable from the pupils. With her showcase
teeth shesmiled at him, but didn’t giggle like the rest. She asked no questions.
A great curiosity made him approach her and draw her aside.
The group
broke up and left them alone; and he learned she had also become Bahá’í.
“Alláh-u-Abhá!” he greeted her warmly.
“Alláh-u-Abhá!” she replied. They were in no rush. And they were shy.
She had this knowing expression
as she looked at him, but there was no way she would tell him! They reminisced.
It had been so long since they played as children. They both laughed softly at
this and stood up again to dance, with very minimal movements, continuing their
conversation. Others were glancing their way frequently, and Leo was trying to
act natural; yet he felt something important was happening.While he was dancing with her, his mind was racing. ‘What a vivacious
girl she has become! What a radiant smile! And she is Bahá’í!’
For her
part, she was astonished at how tall Leo really was. He was two meters high! It
came from his mother’s side of the family. He could stretch his arm over her
head.
They sat
down to “catch their breath” which hadn’t been lost from the dancing.
“What is it really like being the prince and the heir to the
throne?” she finally ventured, in her thin, feminine voice.
“There is no throne! It’s…”
“Oh, I know. It is a metaphor!” Her lack of presumption pleased
him.
“What can I do, run from it? We must do what is given to us.”
The depth of the implication of what he said caught him. He felt like he was
treading in the ocean.
She held
his gaze steadily. “What do you want
to accomplish?”
Thoughtfully,
he replied “I want to continue the gift-giving Bahá’u’lláh has given us, sharing His
Kingdom with everyone, uplifting those who still need help. Abuelito often used to say the Verse: ‘Neither wouldst thou
ever be willing to bear the burden of dominion save for the purpose of helping
thy Lord, the Exalted, the Most High.’I had to ask myself what it meant to help the Almighty.”
His answer
pleased her. Her gratitude for the Faith and her interest in this handsome heir
was overcoming her inertia. She whispered “Would you like help helping others?”
The way she said it made Leo shiver with magnetic attraction to her!
“Claro!”
he whispered, “I will need lots of help!”
That was
how it began. Their love took hold strong and they did not deviate. At that
moment Ana had inwardly decided to give herself to Leo, for the Cause, for the ayllu, and for her country, and Pachamama. It was not often that she
expressed it, not because she was shy, but like her people generally, she was
cautious. But once she was committed to something, she was strong in it.
To Leo, she
seemed so different from his gregarious, voluble mother Olgita; who was
generous in every respect. He felt a strength from choosing a woman from his
own people. But what they had in common was a love for Bahá’u’lláh, the Lord
of the Age. That did it for Leo, who was frank and direct.
Soon, their
mutual and natural shyness was overcome, as they realized their love for each
other. Ana quietly accepted the prospect of becoming Leo’s royal consort. At the apex of her beauty and
desirability, she would become protected in the royal compound. She wasn’t
sorry for that feeling of safety. She would be introduced to a life of constant
service and endless requirements. “This is the path. Leo is my kuntor (condor)taking me high up!”
Soon the
Chinese leadership wanted to talk to Joon again. The ambassador Li Jun was
dispatched. It was only to be a chat over coffee. Yet the tradition of
totalitarianism was no secret. China had tried to control religion within its
own borders. Now, it was becoming evident to them that there was no stopping this
new faith in Bahá’u’lláh that was
permeating the world, which they were of a mind to govern. China did not long
remain oblivious to the new Bahá’í civilization that was beginning its
life, especially in the worlds’ equatorial belt. They would have to adapt to it.
In those areas, large groups were enrolling; and countries strong in Bahá’í
were readily building
houses of worship and putting into effect the laws of Bahá’u’lláh. Li Jun and the Chinese wanted to dominate all countries, if they could, since fate
had moved China to the front of human power. But from the fearless, humorous
Joon, all they heard was infectious dedication to the other inevitable world
order, besides their own.
Li Jun tried to act as casual as possible. “What is your connection to the royal family of Ecuador?”
Joon
smiled and answered honestly.“We are both Bahá’í, and I am sure
you know something about that by now!”
Li Jun seemed in no
hurry at all, his face placid.
“What is the
purpose of this Bahá’í?” Li Jun asked, as if he did not know.
“Surely you
know that already too! It is to forge the unity of the human race! Even China
could not do that alone! You know of the Bahá’í involvement in the Lesser Peace
in Tianjin. We could not have formed the world federation without the mandate
of heaven! Don’t you appreciate that we are not fighting all the time about
everything!”
“But what is
the goal of this Bahá’í Commonwealth?” Li Jun persisted.
“To weld
humanity into one family“.
“We seem to be
doing that well enough by ourselves.” Li Jun stated confidently.
“You have yet to
recognize all the powers of heaven are under Bahá’u’lláh!” Joon responded with
serene confidence.
“Do you want to
mitigate China’s power to unite?” Li Jun asked quizzically, wondering how this
kid be so brazen to a party official.
Li Jun himself
wondered if Bahá’í was a phenomenon that China could bend or not. But he wanted
to appear as if he knew nothing. There were now more than a million Bahá’ís in
China, driven by enthusiastic and energetic youth groups, who simply met, and
shared supper, and used music and the arts on their phones. There was nothing
really wrong with what they did; but the power of it startled the central
government, which was now more determined than ever to carry out its worldly
"Belt and Road" design for economic hegemony.
“No,” said
Joon firmly. “The plans of the government are worldly; while Bahá’í is "other
worldly." I see our dominion as a tool of heaven!
You don’t yet. Both Bahá’í and China are remaking the world! I am not the one you should be asking anything, especially about
co-existence. If you want to clearly understand the role of the Bahá’í
Commonwealth, and its’ laws and its’ teachings, go and talk to the Universal
House of Justice itself! –inspired by the power of heaven, Virtues uncountable.”
And with a smile, he
stood, and left the room where they were meeting, saying over his shoulder politely
as possible, “I hope that the hearts of every citizen of China will turn to it
and realize the impact that harmony will have with it! Now, if you will permit
me…”
Li Jun was left with his empty cup, wavering between his
country’s policy of seeking to undermine religions, which were at the root of
the destructive wars, and the sense of purpose he saw in Joon. Perhaps more
study of religions was in order, particularly, this Bahá’í. He was stunned with the
authority with which the young Joon spoke. It was new to his experience; and
something within him, that was strong and unknown, commanded him to learn more.
Pedro Rumiñawi still ruled, and his abilities and authority
increased. Young Leo and Ana, Joon and a few others, set out to travel while they
still had their freedom. They journeyed to the Bahá’í Mother Temple of South America in
Santiago. They sensed they were being followed by an Asian face that was seen
again and again. But they sat and read verses from the Holy Writings in utter
peace before coming down from the mountains to the beaches.
During the sandy stroll, the subject of the tail came up.
Everyone was aware of it.
“Why don’t they simply sit with us and listen?” asked Leo.
“The time will come, I am sure” answered Joon, after a sigh.
The group conceived the idea to visit Iran. They flew into Tihran, the “Mother of the
World”, which was still crying from the painful blasts that had been done to
her. The car went past the tower that was once again called Shahyad. Since Leo
was the prince of his people, he met with Shah Rustam Husayn, the benevolent
soul destined for the Peacock throne.
The Shah was determined to build up his land, holy to all Bahá’ís. He came from a clan of common
trades-people. Like Jaime, he had also been chosen by the new Persian
government for his industriousness in helping to re-build, his honesty and
generosity. He was strong, but tired. He was heavily bearded and hairy, and
wore a beautiful crown; but his hair was somewhat uncombed at the time.
In the palace, they spoke together of the same important things
that were customary conversation in Quito.
Leo was obliged to speak to a gathering of people numbering
over a hundred. “We have come” said Leo“to Tihran, the ‘Mother of the world’,
and the ‘Fountain of light’ unto all the people!”
This pleased the exhausted Shah, and a smile creased his face.
“It is my intention to restore what was taken unjustly from
the people of Bahá. There is a special department for these matters, just
as there was for attacking them under the mullahs. Of supreme importance is
proper housing for everyone; but also the temple land designated long ago. It
is being cleared and
prepared for the eventual construction for the Mashriqu’l-Azkar, the Dawning-Place
of the Mention of God.” He sighed after he carefully enunciated this.
“We are hoping soon to see our own national temple in
Ecuador,” said Leo.
“And likewise we are hoping to see many Dawning-Places in
China,” added Joon.
Bahá’u’lláh Himself had been the real Temple, and His NameBahá
had a numerical value of nine; therefore the temple being built around the
world had nine sides, and the Houses of Justice had nine members.
The new king had summoned the sheep which the wolves had
scattered. Thousands of Bahá’ís were returning to Tihran for the re-construction
there; because it was the holy city of Bahá’u’lláh’s birth. For too long the Sun of
Truth had been concealed by the black clouds of the Persian divines.
He formally bade them farewell from the gate of the palace,
and said confidentially to Leo; “Be a good king, Leo. That is how we must be
remembered!” They embraced and went their ways.
Then, alone with Ana, Leo made his pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, at a time when the membership of the Universal House of Justice was
increased. They took ship from Turkey, as Bahá’u’lláh Himself had done, and came to the
sea gate at ‘Akká, which had been Ptolemais in Jesus’
time.
Rejoining Joon, they travelled to the “skeleton coast” of
Africa, and Madagascar. Everywhere they went, they spoke both to large groups
and informally. More follow-up teachers were needed. The waves of enrollments
worldwide necessitated it! Whole tribes and towns were entering the Bahá’í Faith in troops, as mentioned in the
holy books.
He and Ana, Joon and some other local friends, did their
strolling along tropical beaches. But it was always in conjunction with serving
the Cause, and not simply indulging in luxury when the world was still healing
its wounds. In about four years’ time, Leo would find himself at the very
center of the Law. Civil and Bahá’í.
Only after
Pedro had passed and Leo had assumed the duties of state did it become evident
to Leo how subtle was Jaime abuelito’s purpose,
his patience, and how complete had been his example. To be just, to “look into all things with a searching eye,”
to personally review the status of the people as often as possible, to remain
humble, even humbler than the indigenous had always been. These things had
always been the obvious course, the inescapable choice for everyone; but now it
was clear for the world. Imperial powers had overlooked them because of their
cruel, conquering mentality. The Bahá’í teachings were now Statesmanship 101 for any genuine ruler. Leo began to host his
own weekly classes; and these encouraged others, across the country, and the world,
to see his videos. The Angelic Virtues. Knowledge, Volition and Action in the
realms of Servitude, for the Prophet and the Deity.
On
Earth, cities were rebuilt from the wreckage; this is where great semi-robotic machines
excelled. But small country farms were given priority, not to be enormously
mechanized, and stultifying operations. The ecologic economy was deemed Sacred.
Many species become extinct and great efforts, although too late, are made to
arrest the trend. Growing crops in space becomes a priority. Because kingship
was growing, Mars colony wanted to have its own king when the population
reached about a hundred thousand. There were already a few Local Bahá’íHouses of Justice. Ships continued to leave
for the Outer System and build permanent colonies on the moons of the gas
giants, deep under the surface, mining and manufacturing materials for the
infrastructure and to build more exploratory craft, or the “ever advancing
civilization”.
It
was common to find verses engraved on metal and welded to the bulkheads and
walls of the ships, such as “Immeasurably
exalted art Thou, O Lord! Protect us from what lieth in front of us and behind
us, above our heads, on our right, on our left, below our feet, and every other
side to which we are exposed. Verily, Thy protection over all things is
unfailing”.
The
fortieth Arabic Hidden Word was also used: “O SON OF MAN!Wert thou to speed
through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou
wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and humbleness before
Our Face.”
Radiation
or collisions could come from any direction, disasters could even be generated
unwittingly by the crew themselves. Praying for safety was a given, a certainty
on Baha’i owned craft.
It was in 2120 that Pedro, King
of Ecuador, called his family to his hospital bed. Li Jun begged to attend as well. Knowing that he would soon
die of heart trouble, Pedro murmured his good-byes to each one, and smiled,
without regrets. Even with all the advances in medicine, the medicos could not keep him in this
world. All the family had been alerted and had gathered in the room. There was
no longer a place to sit, and they stood around the walls. When Leo came to his
bedside, Pedro told him in an abashed manner:
“I am so happy to have lived to
see the Tri-Centenarios because they were so huge! Very electrifying and
productive.” He was supposed to be on a breather, but had removed it.
“I have never seen
anything like the sustained celebrations we had!” Leo agreed, knowing his father needed to say things as he saw.
“When
people put their trust in dangerous entities the tragedies will come.”
“But
things are getting better,” Leo insisted.
“..uh, a wise servant could be
raised to the post of World Executive, and the planet might come to resemble
Eden again”. He was staring into space.
“You think so papi?”
Suddenly a look of alarm
appeared his face, and Leo’s concern increased.
“I guess it’s time to die” he
said dramatically.
“Can we say some prayers, papi?” Leo asked tentatively.
“Ah too late for that now.
Can’t stop it, can we?”
“Think about where you are
going!”
“I never have been able to do
that. It is imagination.”
“Then don’t imagine. Just rely
upon God!”
“hmm…Now” Pedro pronounced, focused once again.
“You marry your Ana, and do your best as sovereign of this
nation! Don’t forget all the wisdom your abuelito
taught you! I know I was nothing like him. Perhaps you can bring together the
best of us both. Be sure to continue magnifying the Faith where ever you go.
Promote the Teachings. That is the secret of the “God-born Force.” Even I was
smart enough to see that! Love the Chinese, but keep their policies at arm’s
length, by protecting the heart and the Earth.” Defiant until the end.
Then he replaced the breather, but it was no help. He twitched
under the covers. The others moved closer to the bed. His Olgita laid her hands
on him. He was gone.
Soon after Pedro’s passing, there was a rare, but modest
combination funeral/coronation/wedding broadcast throughout the solar system.
On Phobos, the new colony of chambers used a tremendous industrial laser to cut
hallways into the rock, where it was solid
piedra; and settlement was re-named Pedrito.
A media interview was held later with Leo, el Rey de Quito
Q: Please tell us what it is like to
be the third king in Ecuador.
A: Well, for anyone abroad who did
not know, when our country decided to re-establish sovereignty, the vote went
to us. Many other descendants of Rumiñawi
were just as qualified; and we wish to encourage everyone to take part in
social activism, and share with us, as brothers, their ideas and hopes, and not
regard us as anything but servants of the people, just because we are designated as “royal”.
And, as you know it was in my abuelo’s time that the nations were
thrown into chaos and had to quickly regain control of supply lines and human
services. The people of Ecuador wanted their own King, and He was a real
statesman. But he knew his Bible too. He was very intellectual and sensitive
both. His presence aroused my greatest respect. I loved my busy father, but did
not get to do much with him. We never went on trips together. It was with my abuelito that I went to Galapagos, and
other places. I cherished the long, casual hours he was able to spend with me.
My father Pedrito was loved very much and accepted by the people. They had
respected Jaime as king for the country, for his lineage to Rumiñawi, and for being the curandero,
for caring about the health of individuals and his refusal to contend with
anyone. But my father did so much for them during his time, tirelessly,
ceaselessly, carrying on the tradition of the wise ruler. Papi was more a “friend of the faith” than a vocal advocate. I saw
that he lived in the brightness of the new Revelation; but he was more a man of
action than words. This allowed my dear abuelito
to gently coach me and teach me. I was not forced into the succession. But he
patiently trained me, in case the need should arise. My memories of those last
precious years that abuelito spent
with me sometimes brings tears to my eyes. (Pause). He was Baha’i before being
invited to represent Ecuador. Now, I try to follow the injunction: “Blessed
he who hath attired his head with the diadem of My love”.
I now
realize how adroitly abuelito taught
me, how wise and intensely mystical he was! I was so blessed to have him as my
personal tutor.
Q: Can you give some examples of his
thinking?
A: Well, he was very well read. Most
of my people were not. He changed that. Once spoke about how World War I had
liberated Palestine from the Turks and how World War II sped up the Jewish
immigration which led to the Jewish state. Then he saw that Jerusalem was
“dismantled” and the Jewish state was disrupted, and how the survivors turned
to Haifa for leadership, re-construction, and how World War III brought about
the next phase of civilization in the Holy Land; and we saw the martial law
establishment in the United States melt away after their new constitution,
which led to the appearance of a humble king in America. Who would have
believed it! But now we know. In addition to the republican form of government,
papi knew Ecuador, and the world as a
whole, would need good rulers who cared about pachamamaMother Earth. Salvation of souls was not enough. Pachamama
herself was crying for help! Now we have the Eagle and the Condor flying
together. The Condor people seemed to reflect on their nation’s history -that
it had been born out of servitude to the Kings of Spain, and it deserved to be
a truly sovereign nation itself. Papi and abuelito used to talk to me a lot about
these things. Everyone knows this. My parents worked hard to gain help from
China, and other nations, but mainly China. To clean up the good country we
were given, and become technical and moral too. That was when the spaceport
began.
Q: What about your mother, Señora Olga?
A: My mother? Ah! She was the ideal match for papi, always helping him with affairs of
state. She loved God and it showed in her art. Her heart’s desire was to see
interfaith unity. My parents were ‘party people’; they loved to have fun; but they
were partisans of progressive society. And they were like right and left hands
clapping, trying conscientiously to see to the rapid changes that were coming
to Ecuadorian life. (Pause)
Abuelito had said that change was the
constant for our agrarian society, becoming a part of the high-tech planetary
culture. Now other countries copy our
agrarian ways! Mami seemed to know this and helped many people who disliked the
changes. El Papa Francisco came to Quito and “went into the confession box” to
apologize for the five-hundred year oppression of the indigenous. Before that,
the landed serfs were only liberated in the 1960s. It was like Ecuador skipped
the 20th century, and tried to leap from the Nineteenth century to
the Twenty-first century. Mother was very forward looking. She was creative and
eloquent. She held the family together, and the country as well, believe me!
Q: How did you personally decide to
join the Baha’i?
A: Jaime the king left me with a
crystal clear conception of Bahá’í
teachings, especially the duties of the kings. We studied the Writings. We
learned from Kitab-i-Aqdas, Suriy-i-Muluk, and Lawh-i-Maqsud, how good rulers
should govern, and those holy Tablets are the guide for our family. I was an
only child. That is what there was! But only after I assumed the duties of
state did it become evident to me how subtle was Abueito’s purpose and how
complete the lessons he set, by his example. He taught me to love justice, to
“look into all things with a searching eye” and when it came time, I made sure
to inquire into the status of the people as often as possible, and always
remain humble. These things seemed obvious to me at the time. But when I met
more indigenous people from other countries, and heard about Konkachila, the Hopi “Grandfather”, or
the Lakota Wankan Tanka, Who is the
same as Viracocha, Dios, Jehovah, and
Alláh, I knew that
the Indigenous, not only here but in many countries, would really become
spiritual leaders of humanity, after almost being destroyed!
Then, when I was about eighteen, all
this came together when I met my friend Joon, a young man from China, who
accompanied his “Mandarin” parents on diplomatic missions to different
countries. Joon had a critical influence on me. He came from a Bahá’í family as
well; but unlike me in the government compound, he visited many,many countries
and was active in dance workshops and street teaching. His energy was
infectious! It was because of his invitation that I went to a public meeting in
Quito, which I rarely did before. That meeting was instrumental in my loyalty.
Because our family was trying to establish the new sovereignty. We rarely
appeared at public Bahá’ímeetings;
but on this occasion I got caught up in the joy of dancing and actively
teaching seekers, and I even planned more meetings at the government compound!
It was Joon’s refusal to remain silent that did it.
I've come to believe that God has a
special place in his heart for Ecuador and He looks out for us. We are enjoying
a period of great positive growth; and I think it is really because abuelito always saying “The meek will
inherit the earth.” Not that Ecuador has political intentions on other
countries; but precisely the opposite. We have no enemies, and we want simply
to be part of the advancing global community.
Bahá’u’lláh is a good and noble Teacher. The
proof of a teacher are the skills and virtues of his students, the success of
the students. All the many problems the world has been having are fairly
addressed by Bahá’u’lláh. I found this to be different
from the other religions, which we consulted. I learned enough to know I wanted
to live my personal life along its high standards.
Q: And your wife Ana?
A: Ah, Ana! W-we met, she was, is
so…! [Interviewer laughs at his stammering] and that radiant smile! She was
quite different from my reserved and proper Mami! But what they had in common
was a love of Bahá’u’lláh, Lord of
Mankind. Ana was naturally shy, but this was soon overcome. Mami and Ana loved
each other, and that was very fortunate for me! Pretty soon we could not be
separated, and she became resigned to possibly becoming married to me, and
being the “royal consort”. We got married. I was grateful, knowing that many
others wanted her too. Everyone wanted to kiss and to touch Ana! She was at the
apex of attractiveness and desirability; and I put her in the royal compound to
protect her! Since then, we seek opportunities to be together and to share tranquilidad for numerous reasons!
Q: Are you going to attempt to push
other countries into this new Bahá’í Commonwealth?
A: I cannot push it. It depends on
the populace and the National Assemblies. If they agree, then I will support
it. Until that time, I am only one of the members of the Ecuadorian Bahá’í
community. Like anyone else, I’m still learning about its rich history and
teachings.
Q: Can you speak about the new school
projects you are promoting?
A: The monies that are going to the
new schools we are starting are not public funds. We wanted to develop the
street schools and rural schools for the desperately poor, and the Institute
for the Gifted, so that there will someday be no illiteracy whatsoever, and the
most talented will be able to pursue their goals, without worrying about
funding. The state schools have progressed a lot, of course. But we are still
behind the technical levels of other countries. Solar and other clean energy
sources are making Ecuador even better!
Q: Are they using Baha’i texts?
A: They are Bahá’í private
schools, and they use resources from all over the world, including the Bahá’íRuhí curriculum.
Q: Thank you for your time today, Señor Leo.
A: Any time, really! Any time. Que le vaya bien. (Happy trails).
Then one night, after this, King Leo had a dream. A lake, and
a mass of golden artifacts. This dream remained in his memory: a lake, and a
mass of gold. His conscious mind connected it with the many El Dorado legends,
including the one about his own ancestor, the predecessor of the Ecuadorian
military. The gold that the Spanish wanted he threw into a cold lake, when
there was snow. So, when Leo had the dream again, and an old indigenous man
said the name of the place, his heart began to beat fast. ‘I know where that
place is!’
He immediately called his chofur,
and they flew to the lake in his APV. It was not inaccessible, or unfrequented.
There were the signs that tourists had been there, but it was vacant when they
landed about 3pm. The water level was low because of the drought, but the scene
was the same as his dream. A few stones sticking out of the wind-blown grass.
“Let’s go for a walk,” said Leo, obviously excited. ‘This is
the place!’ He took off so fast, his chofur
has to skip to keep up.
Around the perimeter of the lake they went, and Leo kept
peering into the dark water, along the edge, everywhere. The mud flats extended
out several meters before the water began. There were birds and their tracks in
the dried mud. There were bits of trash left by the tourists, and this
naturally irritated the environmentalist king.
After about forty-five minutes, they began to slow because
the track became too steep to continue. Leo paused, considering what to do.
Slowly, he turned and began to retrace his steps to the APV, having a doubt
that there was anything to be found. Then, he saw a gleam of gold in the mud,
and unhesitatingly slogged a few meters out, and reached down to touch what had
not been touched in so long! It was a rounded head which his fingers grasped
and pulled up, with a squishy sound. In his hand he held a squat figurine, a
dancer, with his knees bent, and his arms straight out, not unlike the gesture
Leo favored on the dance floor, where he met Ana. He turned to show it to the chofur, whose eyes widened; and his
mouth turned into an O.
“Come on!” whispered the king, who began digging with his
hands. In a few minutes they had found several other pieces, the first of the
horde that was later to be carefully dredged and brought to light in the
National Museum, forever to be associated with the dream of the king. It was
decided to sell the golden objects to the highest bidder, and leave the funds
for Neda to use as she saw fit.
The years passed. Ecuador rose in esteem among
the nations. Even the King of England had come to Quito. Leo, Chief of Quito
asked him ‘You are aware of the Prayer of the Sovereigns, in the Tablet to
Victoria?’ ’I certainly am.’ ‘Why the hesitation to come into the Bahá’í Commonwealth?’ Leo voiced his puzzlement.
‘Well’, England responded smiling, ‘That time appears to be coming to a close’.
Sure enough, not to long after that, the United Kingdom became united with the
Kingdom of God.
In 2121,
Ana had a girl-child and named her Neda. The name meant “Call” in Persian, and,
of course, Ana and the nation had great hopes for her. Ana was a quiet traditional
mother; but as Neda grew up, it appeared she would be another public speaker. The
same year she was born, the Bi-Centenary of
the Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
was held throughout the world, but when she grew up, she had no memory of the
events. Still, she was familiar with the photos and kept them with her at all
times.
She loved to be with
her father. He took her on many of his travels around the continent, and
consulted with her for her opinion. At
the market in Otavalo, or in the square in Cuenca, she became familiar with her
people. The poor and lame of Ecuador touched her heart, and she witnessed her
father mingling with them, planning programs for their benefit and giving
personally to them, just as Jaime had done.
With
several other people in the entourage, Leo and his daughter encountered an old
woman that hobbled along barefoot, with her cane worn smooth from use, and her fachalinafolded on top of her head.She was of a class of people whose lives had
been hard, who were small in stature, and humble in nature. They lived on the
beneficence of others after their strength was gone and their afflictions
multiplied.
But
the most exciting place for Neda to go was the space port, where she could
watch the launches and landings.
Years later, one evening found the stouter and
aging Leo wrapped in his favorite poncho, in the pleasantly cool air. The
poncho was soft alpaca, of the highest quality, with an elaborate purple
border. At peace within himself, he reflected over the issues and changes that
had kept coming since the descendants of Rumiñawi were designated as “royal”.
Since Jaime’s reign, he remembered, our patria seems to have been continually blessed, beyond anything he
did. Then, Pedro’s time came and went; and things just kept getting better. The
spaceport, sponsored by the Chinese hegemon, became one of the planet’s three
most successful. The A.I. limpiadores
have proved themselves as promised! A drive in the country is pleasant and free
of trash piles. The factories have become better arranged and effective. And now
my own reign prospers, Gracias a Dios that
I was trained since childhood! Crime is down and everyone respects our
legitimacy. And now time has come for Neda to marry!
Serenely, he enjoyed the peace of the moment, the peace of
the realm, and he was certain the peace would be extended, with his country
welded to the Commonwealth in Haifa.
From his modest balcony, he looked out over the megacity’s
twinkling lights, covering the hills in every direction. Aerial vehicles
hovered or slowly tracked their destinations over the buildings. His view swept
from north to south. In the west could be seen the bright remnant of another
booster, launching from the lowlands near the coast, beyond the mountains.
Leo lived in the same private villa, with an office, that Jaime
had been given. It was part of the government compound. It was simple, not
large, but well appointed. His wife Ana and daughter Neda were in the two-story
next door. He liked to say his prayer in the morning, but Ana said hers in the
evening. So, he gave her privacy, because if he was in the family house, she
felt the need to attend to him.Olga survived Pedro, and there were the other
children, busy with their little projects.
He passed back inside from the balcony, gently closing the
double doors for the night. The interior was all white, white minimalist
furniture, bare white walls, white fixtures. The only art was Jaime’s
multicolor, indigenous weaving of the Greatest Name, the symbol now known
everywhere in the world as the banner of the Bahá’í Commonwealth.
A slim light blinked on his console, and the chime alerted
him to the approach of the chamberlain. Within a few seconds, the outer door
buzzed; and he cleared it to open. Looking up, he beheld the pleasant face of
Diego, who hand carried the document in a black zippered pouch. Finally, the
formality. Some weeks had transpired in its preparation. Knowing what it said,
he took the heavy pen he preferred, with a line width of one millimeter, and
boldly wrote: Yo, el Rey. (I, the
King). Within the hour, the news went up on the royal website; and in the
morning the newspapers announced: Ecuador recibirá reunión de estados del
Commonwealthbahá’í.(Ecuador to Host Meeting of Bahá’íCommonwealth States). This meant he
would meet the other Bahá’í kings who were coming to Quito. He especially wanted
to meet Ilya, the spiritual czar of Yakutia, the enormous Sakha Republic. A
type of shamanism was common still among the minority Russian orthodox, but the
Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, the religion of the new czar, had
taken off in a spurt of growth, which Leo wished would continue.
To el ecuador came
the Bahá’í ruling Heads of State, ten altogether. They were the
Congo, and Kenya from Africa, Yakutia, Viet Nam, Cambodia and the Philippines
from the Far East, Panama, Belize and the Andean League of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador
and Peru.Other groups of countries were represented as well.
Time was set aside to
meet with Ilya, Head of State for the autonomous Republic of Yakutia. Like
brothers the two men huddled to discuss matters both personal and global. The
topics were always justice, education and health, balanced economic growth and
the consolidation of the Bahá’í Cause. More teachers were needed everywhere to
consolidate the gains that had been made.
In his office, Leo and
Ilya sat together, sipping hot tea from the samovar, and Ilya said “You all
know that some other heads of state speak bitterly about the growing Bahá’í
Commonwealth. Among them are the remaining radical Islamicists, a faction in
the Chinese government, and a faction of the Church of Rome. But others in
these groups are not hostile to the Bahá’ís”.
And Leo said: “Do you
remember when Jaime went to Rome? One of the two men who became Bahá’í at that
time is still a forceful speaker for the Cause. There is a growing conviction
that rule of a country should be within the context of the Kingdom of God. As my
father Pedro helped consolidate the progress ofel ecuador, I unabashedly teach the Bahá’í Cause, despite the
objections of anyone.”
“Spasmodic opposition
continues; but the perpetrators never seem to realize that it always has an
effect contrary to what they wanted! The religion of Bahá’u’lláh is unstoppable; but in every
generation there were those who think they can damage it or halt its’ growth.
We are well acquainted with crisis and victory, are we not?”
“My home life,” mused
Leo, “has always been peaceful and full of love, beauty, kindness and grace.”
He reached across the table by the couch for a framed photo of himself, with
his Ana and Neda. Their faces were happy as they served the children at an
event. It had become an icon in the media of his family.
“I hope that if the
terrorists strike again, at me or my country, that great good will come out of
it anyway.
“Ah yas,” agreed Ilya
thoughtfully.
From
his papers he withdrew a paper and read from‘Abdu’l-Bahá:“O ye beloved of the Lord! The Kingdom of God is founded upon equity
and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and kindness to every living
soul. Strive ye then with all your heart to treat compassionately all
humankind—except for those who have some selfish, private motive, or some
disease of the soul. Kindness cannot be shown the tyrant, the deceiver, or the
thief, because, far from awakening them to the error of their ways, it maketh
them to continue in their perversity as before. No matter how much kindliness
ye may expend upon the liar, he will but lie the more, for he believeth you to
be deceived, while ye understand him but too well, and only remain silent out
of your extreme compassion.”
Now Neda’s
time to marry was approaching. Neda had
a sharp and powerful mind and had trained as a technician and mathematician.
She steadily pursued her studies in Arabic, and spoke about its complexities
with her papi at the dinner table.
But it was the abjad reckoning, the
numerical values that had long been assigned to the letters that was her great
interest. The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh had both used this to convey
esoteric spiritual truths.
Her heart
was given to Amír Shírazí, a Persian man. But,
privately, for reasons of her own, she liked to call him Alberto. Within the
new Bahá’í Commonwealth, a special
usage of money began to be used. This was the mithqal, a weight which was determined by the Báb and verified by Bahá’u’lláh in the
Kitab-i-Aqdas. Since Amír lived
permanently in Quito, hoping to actually marry the princess, whom he loved, it
was his honor to pay the nineteen mithqals of pure gold as dowry for the
nineteen year-old Neda, no more and no less. This inter-action they found fun,
and they kissed. Neda relished the prospect of verifying the weight of the thin
gold weights that constituted the payment. One mithqal was a little over 3.5 grammes. Nineteen mithqals
was more than 66 grammes. Smiling, she turned to him and kissed him again.
Neda and
her consort Amir decided to allow the entire brief ceremony and music to be
broadcast throughout the solar system.
She was
dressed in a simple white satin gown, with extraordinarily intricate lace
around her shoulders. Her black trensa
ran all the way down her back.
Their
expressions, and their glittering eyes, conveyed to everyone near that this was
a strong and happy relationship. They stood together nice nicely the moment
kept being extended, for photographers.
The
close-up focus was on their separate recitation of the sacred Verse: “We will
all, verily, abide by the Will of God." The entire broadcast, prefacing
years of marriage, was about four minutes long. Such was the ceremony now
observed by Bahá’ís, wherever they lived.
Because
of increasing hate rhetoric, an open debate was planned at which the old Ibn
Bashir, the very enemy of the Faith, could have a chance to define what their
objections were, to be answered by the Bahá’ís in defense. But
at the last moment, the speaker for opposition to all things Bahá’í, was
himself caught red-handed trying to sabotage the podium when Leo would speak.
“…and I was ready to
speak to them!” Leo whispered amazed. “I guess they didn’t really want to hear
me!” Ana heard him chuckle at this.
From
various parts of South Asia, agitators gathered, and joined the Ibn Bashir
cell. Some plans were to make a big terrorist display, to try to kill several
of the Bahá’í kings at once, as well as disrupt their funerals. This would show, if nothing else,
that some were not in love with them. They were coordinated by a single-minded sharpshooter
from Jedda, named Shimr.
To
Ecuador came both the light of the age and its’ residue of horror and evil. The
first attempt was poison, administered by an operative who had assumed the
uniform of a waiter. A restaurant that Leo favored was
identified and an operative obtained a job there. A few grains of ricin were
dumped into a glass and set gently at his place at the table. The operative
then immediately left the restaurant. Leo had only touched the glass to his
lips when he was distracted by Ana’s sultriness, and his teenage granddaughters
Venus and Oranus. Still, it was enough to hospitalize him for weeks.
The cell bided their
time, watching. When his motorcade exited the compound, they followed. They did
not know his destination was Baños, the waterfall resort where
he intended to be refreshed after the ordeal. But they felt themselves prepared
to employ any of several methods to complete their plan, even if it meant their
deaths. Venus and Oranus were eager to see the famous Baños.
At Baños, it wasn’t easy to continue surveillance,
since there was extra security around him. But on the second day, Shimr saw Leo
walking with his family in sport clothes, heading for the waterfall. After a
hurried consultation with the team, Shimr headed to the other side of the steep
canyon, armed with a rifle and scope, concealed in a large sport bag.
Patiently and eagerly Shimr waited until the five
members of the royal family were seen moving slowly down the dark wet steps.
When the opportunity presented itself, a shot was fired and the impact of it
threw Leo back against the canyon wall. Quickly, the shooter placed another
round into the chamber, in case another shot was needed. He was tempted to
shoot Queen Ana as well; but that had not been the plan. Methodically, he
dis-assembled the weapon and made his way back to the pick-up point that had
been agreed upon.
Ana and Neda, Venus and Oranus all screamed when they
saw the blood coming from Leo’s abdomen.
“Papi! Papi!” Neda cried, as she tried to help him up,
while keening Ana tried to keep him still. Leo himself wanted to get up and go
back up the stairway. But when he managed to stand, his feet promptly slipped
on the step and he toppled into the gorge. Horrified, all four women ran
screaming up the stairs.
It was hours before the women could succeed in
retrieving his body which had concealed itself a ways downstream.
At the funeral, which had to be held swiftly, the casket bearing
the king’s body was borne by six men of the elite la Guarda Civil, which Pedro
had formed and merged with other police services. After it was placed near the
open grave, a car driven by a maniacal member of the Ibn Bashir's anti-messianic
movement, came tearing through the crowd, brutally killing some and injuring
others, and slammed into the casket, causing it to spin part way around, but
only damaging it slightly. The car was stopped; and one of the members of la
Guarda Civil swiftly fired four rounds in the direction of the drivers’ face.
The officer had never needed to fire his gun before and never fired it again.
It required eighteen more hours for the cemetery to be sealed
off, the fatalities to be gathered and moved to other facilities, and for the
wounded to be put into the ambulances, and for the King to be buried, and the
shaken family to be returned to the compound which was put under the tightest
lock-down.
The driver had actually been dressed in a traje appropriate for the funeral, but had been seen retreating to
the parking lot, where the car had been cleverly parked to enter the cemetery
by forcefully wrecking a weak gate that was never used. It was discovered that
he was, like the waiter and the shooter, part of Ibn Bashir's cell, that had
long prepared for the right time to strike, insisting their hate be broadcast
and remembered forever. Their purpose was not to kill thousands, but to strike,
like a venomous snake, at those Bahá’í kings who were seen to be the
foremost in their expanding Bahá'í Movement. The monies they had raised
were enough to fly them to Quito, to set them up in deceptive positions and support
their operations for assassination and turmoil. For months afterward, more data kept coming out about the rental
suit, the car, the apartment where they stayed, the plans and weapons such that
Ana and Neda were made sick and ceased watching the news altogether. They stayed
inside the house, attended only by their doctor and family members.
Another service was held to allow for
sympathetic Heads of State who arrived and paid their respects, including His
highness, Rustam Husayn, the Shah of Iran, who was in full regalia when he
stood and said:
“…We are still facing the forces of
darkness in the titanic battle between the ahrimani
and the Lord of Hosts. We must triple our efforts to acquire the angelic
qualities and defeat and utterly annihilate the forces of evil which begin
within our own selves. How can we do this? We must become instruments of His
Light and Power, and then no one can defeat us. All the powers will fail;
because He is the All-Powerful. We should do what we can while we are young, to
avoid being touched by any shame, let alone guilty of wallowing heedlessly in
it. Su majestad Leo was my friend,
and he will always be remembered as a stellar example to the kings of the
future”
When Neda heard this, something flared within her heart and she
eagerly whispered her ideas to her two daughters. Eagerly listening, they had
never seen their mother like this, speaking with such fierce determination, that
they found themselves giddy in agreement and laughing with hope! Other people
in the audience could not help but notice and turned their heads in curiosity.
When the service was over the ladies hurried to the car, their
black anakos swishing as they ran,
chattering about their plans.
In Neda’s mind, a scheme began to unfold. Because of the reports
said the shooter had been from Jedda, in Arabia, she intended to add another
goal to her busy life –the establishment of a training center in that very
city, dedicated to the formation of a corps of protectores, working under the “God-born Force”. Her other goal had
secretly been to establish centers of the Faith on every space colony where
humans would spread. Wherever humans settled, there would be Houses of Justice,
and protectores!
Amir, nearly stumbling with puzzlement, hurried after them, and
was astonished at their jubilant mood, as they were driven back to the compound
in Quito.
When they were still moving in the limousine, the girls drew
their papi Amir into the idea, for
they were utterly and suddenly transformed by their mami’s vision: Go to Jedda as soon as possible, any way possible,
and confront and spiritually combat those forces of darkness that had taken the
good Rey del ecuador, their abuelito!
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
2021 Jaime Rumiñawi born.
Centenary of the Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
2044
Bi-Centenary of the
Declaration of the Báb. Jaime, age 23, becomes Bahá'í at University because of
his friend David
2050 Jaime becomes king at age
29. “Good Time” said to have begun
2053 Jaime marries at age 32, to
Luz age 26. Bi-Centenary of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh in the Black Pit
2054 Pedro born to Jaime and Luz
2063 Bi-Centenary of the Ridvan
Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh
2079 Passing of Jaime’s mother
Elena aged 76
2086 Pedro age 32 marries Olga age
22
2092 Leo born to Pedro and Olga.
Bi-Centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
2094 At age 73 Jaime abdicates to
Pedro, age 40
2110 Leo befriended by Joon, at
age 18
2114 Jaime dies at age 93. Leo
and Joon travel worldwide spreading jen-tao
and da tong
2117 & 2119 Tri-Centenaries of the Births of the Twin
Manifestations
2120 Pedro dies at age 66, Leo crowned at age 28, and marries
Ana
2121 Neda born to Leo and Ana. Bi-Centenary of the Passing of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
2140
Marriage of Neda age 19, to Amir Shirazi, age 20
2160
Leo killed, at age 68, and is succeeded by Neda, age 39
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