“Rector Winfield says the King is given his authority from God, the great spirit, who makes everything,” translated Attakullakulla.
Yufala noticed the young man’s squeamish disposition.
“If it is true the Bearer of Breath made everything and gave our people the land, the mountains, the animals to hunt, the fish to catch, I don’t understand why the Bearer of Breath would, then, transfer such authority over land to someone who lives so far distant from that land,” Yufala said.
“If was our people who came into this land. We were given the land to use for our lives. We were warned not to overuse the land or water, not to mistreat it, not to abuse it. Our people will be sustained forever as long as we cared for the land and the animals that dwell on it and fishes that swim beneath it.
Attakullakulla shifted in his seat.
“These people don’t want to abuse our land or our people,” he said, softly, maybe even tentatively thought Yufala.
“They came only to trade with you; to give you some of their way of life in return for the goods of the Fire People. They want to be your friend, your brother in the riches of the world.”
“The nations of England and Spain fought a war,” interjected Captain Wills. “To settle that war we signed a treaty, called the Treaty of Paris.
“Under the terms of that agreement the Spanish gave up control of this region in return for Cuba, which we took by force.”
“My people signed no treaty,” Yufala said. “To control something it must be possessed. The land cannot be possessed for it belongs to all creatures who dwell on it.”