“My wife and I have faced difficulties in having children,” the Colonel continued. “You are going to help resolve this situation. Each of you will have the opportunity to contribute so that Dona Esperança becomes pregnant.” The revelation caused a visible shock to the men. João Crisóstomo, the most experienced of the group, dared to discreetly raise his eyes, trying to understand if he had heard correctly. Miguel dos Santos clenched his fists, controlling his surprise.
The others remained motionless, processing the impossible information. The Colonel proceeded to explain the rules of the agreement. Each slave would have a specific day of the week designated for encounters with Dona Esperança. The meetings would always occur in the house built specifically for that purpose, always under his indirect supervision.
Any attempt at contact outside the established schedule would be punished by death. The slaves who participated in the agreement would receive benefits: better food, new clothes, exemption from heavier work, and the promise of eventual manumission. But it was also made clear that refusal was not an option.
In the slave-owning logic, they were property and should obey without question. “If any of you manages to father a child with my wife,” the Colonel declared, “that man will receive his freedom and an amount of money sufficient to start a new life. The others will continue receiving the promised benefits.”
The promise of freedom was both a motivation and a form of control. The Colonel knew it would create competition among the slaves, decreasing the chances of rebellion or conspiracy. João Crisóstomo was assigned to Mondays, Miguel to Tuesdays, Antônio to Wednesdays, Pedro to Thursdays, Francisco to Fridays, José Maria to Saturdays, and Luís Carlos to Sundays.
The schedule would be strictly followed during Dona Esperança’s fertile period each month. Dona Esperança, who observed the scene from a window of the Big House, felt a mixture of humiliation and terror. She had spent weeks trying to convince her husband to give up the idea, but her pleas were ignored. In the patriarchal society of the time, she had no choice but to submit to her husband’s will.
The family doctor was informed about the special treatment Dona Esperança would receive to increase her chances of getting pregnant. Dr. Henrique Almeida, though surprised, did not question the Colonel’s decisions. Medicine at the time frequently recommended unorthodox methods for fertility problems.
The first week of the agreement was scheduled to begin in April, coinciding with Dona Esperança’s fertile period. The slaves were instructed on how to proceed, what clothes to wear, and how to behave during the encounters. Everything was planned to maintain the apparent dignity of the lady, even in such a degrading situation.
Monday, April 4, 1864, dawned rainy. The typical autumn drizzle of Minas covered the São Sebastião farm with a mantle of melancholy that seemed to reflect the tense atmosphere dominating the property. Dona Esperança woke up knowing this would be the most difficult day of her life. João Crisóstomo had received detailed instructions the day before.
He was to bathe, wear clean clothes, and head to the back house at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Colonel Augusto would stay outside, ensuring that no other slave approached and that the encounter proceeded as planned. The small wooden structure had been furnished simply but with dignity: a bed with clean sheets, a basin with scented water, and a single window that offered a view of the coffee fields.
The environment was prepared to maintain some appearance of civility in a completely dehumanizing situation. Dona Esperança arrived punctually, wearing a simple white cotton robe. Her eyes were red from crying and her hands were visibly shaking. João Crisóstomo was waiting for her, standing, equally nervous and embarrassed.
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