How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 58: New Ventures (2)
"Excuse me, Mr. Nemo?"
"What is it, Mr. Hewet?"
"I've finished organizing the data. I think we need to consolidate it."
"Alright. Let's tell everyone to gather. To go to Croatan, we should leave around this evening."
Now eight people, including Walter Raleigh, with eight laptops and tablets, organize information about residents and various resources.
That information is transferred to my storage PC on the first Sunday of every month, checked for any duplications or conflicting content, and then finally stored.
That's how our settlement's DB (Database) operates. It will probably run like this until my 8TB external hard drive fills up... which won't happen.
For now, since something like a 'government' has been established for our settlement, I can rest assured for the time being...
"Mr. Nemo? I actually came to talk to you about that issue."
"What's the matter, Mr. Hewet? What issue?"
"About this 'government'."
Hewet tilts his head and says:
"I understand that thanks to this 'Excel', we can now more efficiently grasp the current situation. Thanks to Excel, the work was done much faster when distributing land to people."
"That's right. But what are you curious about?"
To my question, Hewet answers:
"Well, in the end, isn't this just a list? A government, according to the Lord's will, gathers the will of equal free people to elect representatives or monarchs, prevents chaos, and enforces rule by law..."
Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.
Representative election, community order establishment, rule of law.
...What? Except for 'according to the Lord's will', it's similar to social contract theory.
Did such things exist in this era too? Bacon was born, but it's still a long time until people like Hobbes, Locke, or Rousseau are born.
I only know their names, not exactly when each was born. I'm not a Western history major. I hide my bewilderment and nod.
"That's right. You're correct. That's what a government is."
"But I don't understand how this 'list' is related to forming a government."
"..."
"..."
"Mr. Hewet."
"Yes."
"Haven't you become a bit busier recently?"
"What? Come to think of it, it does seem so..."
Yes. Of course you don't know.
I recall the time 'before' the introduction of Excel.
During the farming season, I tended my vineyard, helped clear land with an excavator, plowed fields with a tiller, or transported cargo everywhere with a Hijet.
When it wasn't farming season? I had to help with logging operations, running around with a chainsaw.
Plus, as a daily routine, storing various consumables including medicinal herbs is also a job.
Just the physical labor I do is this much.
And then...
"Mr. Nemo! Beasts have eaten all the potatoes in our house! I don't know what to do..."
"Mr. Nemo! We two are planning to get married, please give us your blessing!"
"Mr. Nemo! Our child has disappeared! Wh-what should we do? Where could our child have gone..."
All the civil complaint work fell to me.
Because I am an 'angel'.
Even in kindergarten, when kids fight and can't resolve it, don't they pretend not to and go tell the teacher? It's exactly the same principle.
The 'angel', presumed to be the most fair, wise, and great, would be able to solve most problems... such magical belief was prevalent in the settlement.
This wasn't a problem when there were 200 or 300 people.
Even when natives flocked in large numbers, it was still manageable. Because there were already chiefs who mediated conflicts.
But when Raleigh brought 700! 2,000! people, that's when it became unmanageable.
At least for big tasks like land clearing or clipper construction, I would gather people for meetings, but all sorts of miscellaneous tasks besides those 'big tasks' fell to me.
My days... became increasingly desolate.
"Now, when you go to people with computers, how do they react?"
"Um... first of all, when they get married or move, they have to report to us, right?"
"Yes. Because we need to update the list."
"As a result, naturally, when such important events happen, they ask us for advice or how they should proceed."
"I see."
"Additionally, since we're in charge of land distribution, when people are dissatisfied with land distribution or disputes arise between people, they call us to serve as judges. Since we have the list... oh?"
"..."
"..."
"...That's right."
Now I'm liberated from 15 hours of labor a day.
A single human... even with all sorts of cheats, can't live with 10,000 complainants.
Of course, being called an angel, I can't whine, "Wow! This is too hard! Can't you help me with this?" It has to sound more plausible.
"As Mr. Hewet said, free and equal Algonquians, Englishmen, and Spaniards naturally seek your guidance."
Representative election.
"Also, to prevent confusion among themselves, don't they ask you about various matters?"
Community order establishment.
Thomas Hewet's eyes trembled as if he had just realized something.
"Ah, th-then..."
"Then only the task of enforcing rule by law remains."
Rule of law.
"L-law, how should we..."
"The Lord has already established and abolished laws for you, so isn't the law within your community your responsibility?"
The most difficult part remains, and I can't take that on too.
I shook my head benevolently and told Hewet:
"Gather people and create just laws. The Lord will be watching over you."
"What do you mean the Lord is watching? Why doesn't the angel directly establish laws..."
"Just as the Lord wishes for the children of men to be righteous, He wishes for human communities to be just. But as He respects human free will, He respects the universal will of human communities."
"..."
"I have already given you commandments. So it should be you who creates just laws, using those commandments as a foundation."
"Ah, I understand."
"However, just as the prophet Nathan rebuked David when he ruled chaotically, and Daniel warned Nebuchadnezzar when he worshiped idols, I too will warn you when you stray."
"We will... make sure that doesn't happen!"
Saying that, Hewet turns around, seemingly moved.
Being an angel has many inconveniences, but there's one convenience:
As long as you say anything plausibly, it's generally accepted.
I respect your free will, so I'll abstain from law-making and various duties.
But I also cherish you, so I'll intervene whenever I want to.
I think it's a flawless logic.
A perfect logic, with a perfect outcome where I neatly cherry-picked all the rights with no obligations.
I celebrated the achievement gained from my conversation with Hewet by treating myself to a special 'Crusader Kings' play session.
It was a game I was enjoying after a long time, freed from all sorts of arduous duties.
==
Hewet moved busily.
He tried to gather representatives of the English, Spanish, and Algonquians to begin discussions about forming a government.
Having secured a registry, what naturally followed was taxes. Didn't the Lord also say not to neglect paying taxes?
Currently, whenever handling public affairs, they just gather people as needed and handle it. Resources are covered by what Mr. Nemo provides.
But that can't continue in the future when the settlement's population grows to tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions.
Naturally, they need to collect taxes and form a proper government to run this settlement. Creating laws and the process of enforcing them all require resources.
This is fundamental. An obvious fact that doesn't need to be explained to anyone.
Many philosophers have said it, and for many people, this is 'common sense'.
Therefore, Hewet believed that this most basic task would proceed easily.
"Oitotan, we need to collect taxes. Please gather your tribe members."
Then Oitotan replied:
"...What is 'tax'?"
At that moment, everything went dark before Hewet's eyes!
