"Who are you?"
"Juan Perinuz, sir. I am here to pay my taxes."
"I know why you're here, you fool. That's why everyone is here. Except those two. Why are they here?"
"They are my daughters, sir. I brought them with me because I couldn't leave them on the farm alone. Who know what might happen if I am not there to look after them."
Hat in hand, Juan sighed, trying to look small and insignificant. It didn't really help when he had two daughters such as this with him.
"Your daughters are very lovely. You are a lucky man. Their names?"
"Consuela and Maria. Consuela is nineteen and Maria is eighteen. I have looked after them well. They are both still pure. I am hoping that they might find husbands while in town. The men around my village are not suitable for such gems. Not suitable at all. I dread to think what might have happened if I'd left them at the farm."
"As I said, a lucky man. Now, to business. Sergeant. Perinuz, Juan. What is his assessment?"
"Ten bushels of wheat, sir."
Juan was aghast.
"Ten bushels? It was only five last year. I only have five with me. I am a poor man. How can I raise ten bushels?"
"Taxes go up. You should have been prepared. You must provide ten bushels or the equivalent."
"But, sir, I only have the five with me. What can I do?"
"Non-payment of taxes means that we assign you to a work battalion to work out your tax debt," snapped the sergeant. "Goods or labour, we collect."
"But I only have the five bushels with me. Can I not leave that and pay the extra another time?"
"No," snapped the sergeant. "Goods or labour, so it looks as though you'll be joining the labour battalion."
"Now, now, sergeant," murmured the lieutenant. "There's no need for us to be hasty over them. "We're not ruthless men, blindly following orders."
"We're not?" asked the sergeant, surprised.
"Of course not. Why I'm sure that if we give Senor Perinuz time he'll hurry back to his farm and collect the six bushels outstanding and rush right back here to pay us. Won't you, Senor Perinuz?"
"Of course, sir. Of course. I will hurry all the way. Ah, but it's only five bushels outstanding."
"The sixth is a fine for not having it here already. Do you object?"
"I thought not," the lieutenant, continued when Juan stayed silent. "If you leave today, when can we expect you back?"
"It's a long way back to my village," mourned Juan. "It will take me a week to ride there and back. I will hurry all the way."
"Excellent. We will see you back here in one week. I will be pleased to see you then. As, no doubt, will your daughters."
"My daughters?" asked Juan.
"They will remain here until you return. An incentive for you to hurry, you might say."
Juan felt slightly ill.
"But who will care for them and protect them while I am gone?" he protested.
"I will take personal responsibility to ensure that they are not harmed in any way," stated the lieutenant. "You have the word of honour of an officer and a gentleman. I, Lieutenant Gomez Rodrigo Y Supmento state this. Do you doubt my word?"
Juan cursed to himself. Of course he doubted the little popinjay's word. But to imply as such would get him flogged and dragged off to the labour battalion, or worse. He'd have to depend on the girls to look after themselves for a week. They were good girls and he'd warned them to be careful around men. He didn't think the lieutenant would stoop to raping them. Too proud. He'd try to sweet-talk one of them, but they would watch out for each other.
Resignedly Juan watched as his daughters were escorted into the barn being used to house the collected taxes.
"You, sergeant, will keep your eye on them," ordered Lieutenant Gomez. "If you lay one finger on them I'll have it removed. That also applies to other bodily parts. Catch my drift?"
The sergeant saluted. "Yes, sir. Guard and don't touch. It shall be done sir."
Consuela and Maria watched their father ride away. Nervously they looked at each other. Now what was going to happen?
"You two make yourselves comfortable," the sergeant told them. "That loose box over there is not being used right now and it's got fresh straw on the floor from the look of it. Just relax and take it easy. I'm here to see that you're looked after. I'm Sergeant Pedro Martinus. If you want me I'll be just outside the door, collecting taxes with the lieutenant."
The sergeant returned to his duties, every so often returning to the barn to deposit fresh loot, sorry, I meant taxes, and to check that the girls were fine.
Eventually the time came for the soldiers to pack up the tax collection for the day. The table and bench were placed in the barn. Lieutenant Gomez strolled across to look at the two nervous young women.
"Good evening, ladies," he said. "I am Lieutenant Gomez Rodrigo Y Supmento, temporarily in charge of the pair of you. You may consider yourself my wards. Feel free to call me Gomez. You are Consuela and you Maria, correct?"
The girls nodded. Wards? Exactly what did that mean?
Seeing their slightly puzzled faces, Gomez elaborated.
"It means that you may consider me to be an alternate father until the return of your real one. It also means that you will be as obedient for me as you were for him. In return I will take full care of you."
Gomez turned and addressed the sergeant.
"Sergeant, have you inspected all the tax goods that have been collected today?
"Yes, sir. Everything was thoroughly inspected before it was accepted and stored."