Mr Jones was hailed as a hero for killing a rebel that tried to murder him. The QC release files on the mans position in the rebellion and the Nations held a celebration at hearing the news.
The weeks soon turned into months as Jack kept checking and monitoring his beehive. Mr Lodovico would come and watch Jack work on it, once a week. And every month a licensed apiary owner would do a health check on the hive. In Jack's spare time he would study English, Math, History, and Apiculture.
If Jack was late for breakfast, Mr Right would be reading the newspapers and would occasionally update him and Mrs Right on the problems further North.
The dying hives slowly spread South. The rumors of war also spread, against the rebellious group in the Americas and that they were the ones to blame for the dying hives.
Jack and his Tutor worked on.
It was nearing the end of the year, mid-winter when the first of the hives in Prata died of unknown disease. The bee health expert hadn't a clue what coursed the breakdown of the hive.
He took note that the dead hive had a strong odor of vinegar.
The QC's experts were called in to take the dead hive away for an analyse.
The town hall called for a meeting about the problem.
The people were afraid. Parents worried about their children's future. Tutors were afraid of going out of business. But most of all they were all afraid of the past.
"What if the QC collapses because of this?" Someone said.
"And we fall back into ruin and chaos?" Someone else asked.
The little council of the town called for order.
The governor stood up to speak. "First of all, the apprentices working on their exam, if any of their hives fail because of this unknown disease will be excused and when we or the QC finds a way to stop the deaths they will be given new hives and start where they left off." People cheered.
"Second of all," He continued, "We must keep calm, things will only get worse if we panic."
He took his seat again.
"What about War!" Someone shouted from the back end of the hall.
Jack turned to see who was so bold to stand up against the Governors words.
A big strong man stood up on a bench by the wall. He was the village butcher, Jim Knot. He was known for his generosity to the town folk.
"What about revenge and War?" He asked again. "We all have heard of the rumors, that the rebellion did this. Even the QC said that their agents found that the rebellion had created the disease." He said. People cheered him on.
The Governor stood up. "We don't want death and ruin, we would have food shortages and hunger. It would be expensive and damaging to the coming generations." The Governor shouted back.
Mr Lodovico cheered the Governor on, he didn't like the idea of food shortages and hunger or even wars at that matter.
A lady stood up near the front of the hall. "The Governor is right, war is the most inappropriate thing in this time of crises, all we can do now is pray that the QC or the rebellion itself finds a cure." She said, people booed at the mention of praying for the Rebellion for help. She turned her stare toward where Jack was standing by the wall. It was Miss Keebly. She smiled when she spotted Jack from the sea of faces.
"Thank you Miss Keebly, that is what I was looking for." The Governor said smiling.
She took her seat again.
The voice of Mr Knot echoed throughout the hall again. "So we should just sit here and watch as this rebellion born scum spread through all our hives and suffocate our future?" More people cheered.
The Council called for a silence. They muttered between themselves and then made a decision.
The head Councilor stood up to speak. "We will send a message to the QC and ask for a preposition be sent out to all of the QC Nations and ask for a vote on what we should do and then let the QC come up with end results." The room filled with cheers.
The governor shouted across the hall to Mr Knot. "What makes you care about our hives, your allergic!"
Mr knot stood staring at the Governor. "I care about our future." He shouted. There were more cheers.
The truth was that Mr Knot wasn't happy with the pay he got working for the little council of Prata. He knew if a war started he would be employed by the QC to help provide good meat for the war effort, and was sure that he would be paid more by the QC.
"Meeting dismissed." The Council said loudly.
People started to get up from their seats and slowly file out through the front doors of the old hall. Jack searched the faces for Mr and Mrs Right.
They were still sitting down talking to Mr Lodovico. As he got closer he could hear the flow of conversation.
"I think Miss Keebly is quite correct in that it is the most inappropriate thing we could do in a situation like this." Mrs Right said to Mr Lodovico who was agreeing on every word that passed her lips.
Mr Right on the other hand was disagreeing on everything that came out of his wife's mouth.
"But darling we must do something or the rebellion will just starve us out of our green meadows." He said. She snorted.
"They won't be green much longer the way you and everyone else are thinking around here." She said.
"Your right Mrs Right, we should not war or we will lose our grip with the bees altogether. We all remember what happened in 2030." Mr Lodovico said with a shiver. By then a little crowed had gathered to listen to the conversation. They all shivered at the mention of The War of AD. Mrs Right realizing how late it was getting had to pull Mr Right from his thoughts and said goodbye to Mr Lodovico.
"Must put the old ones to bed." Was her excuse when Mr Lodovico asked where they were leaving so soon.
Jack fallowed them back to the old folks home and helped get the more older decrepitude oldys dressed ready for bed. After helping the others to bed he found that he too was tiered and decided to go to bed.
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