The Red Earth of Alabama

According to Takeda, the city politics of Moeling had long been dominated by one family, the Bartlets, the founders and the principal owners of the Bartlet Corporation.  As a major employer of the city, what the Bartlets wanted had gone through without much questioning or complaining for decades.  To go against wishes of the Bartlets had long meant ostracism, and naturally many residents secretly resented the Bartlets.  But here came Zatech with its enormous capital and political power.  For many who had long agonized over the dominance of the Bartlet Corporation, Zatech presented a golden opportunity to break away.

When Zatech announced its move to the U.S., a number of states competed feverishly for its factory site.  The factory would hire 1,000 people initially, and an expansion of the facility was already in the planning stage.  It would have meant big bucks.  Zatech, on the other hand, had its eyes on the South from the very beginning.  The climate was mild.  The labor was cheap.  And the unions had been traditionally weak.  Already a number of Japanese companies, most notably Toyota and Honda, had been quite successful in the South.

Among the final four states, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, it was Alabama that finally won the favor of Zatech.  And it was the city of Moeling that was awarded the factory site.  There were some ugly internal political struggles in the state of Alabama and in the city of Moeling—Takeda didn’t go into detail, but it was the Bartlets, fearing the loss of their political influence, that had fought this deal tooth and nail.  The city of Moeling was split into two groups.  The current mayor was the leader of the pro-Zatech sect.  The U.S. congressman from the district led the anti-Zatech band.  But the once mighty Bartlet family didn’t prevail.  Perhaps it was the sign of changing times.  The city of Moeling voted by a small margin for the resolution to open its doors to Zatech.

The story didn’t end here, however.  The Bartlets would not give up their power that easily.  Ever since the Zatech office had been set up in the city, the Bartlet Corporation had exploited every single opportunity to fuel anti-Japan sentiment and to overturn the resolution.

“It’s not going to happen,” said Takeda, leaning against the back of the chair.  “The Bartlets have lost most of their power now.  The textile industry is a dying industry in this country however they try to revive it.  I think most people in the city have disliked the Bartlets for a long time.  They just didn’t know what to do.  In a sense, we’re their savior.”

Takeda did not doubt most of the threatening phone calls had come from either the Bartlet Corporation or someone in their camp.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Suzuki’s disappearance had something to do with the Bartlets,” said Takeda as if he had just tasted something bitter in his mouth.

“What would they gain by kidnapping Mr. Suzuki?”

“I don’t know.”  Takeda shrugged.  “Maybe trying to scare us off.  Maybe they killed him.  You know, Mr. Suda, if a crime is committed here, the only people who have the means to cover it up are the Bartlets.  They’ve lost a lot of power, but they still command a large voice in this city.  I know there are some loyal fanatics out there willing to do anything for the Bartlets.”

Suda didn’t believe everything that Takeda had told him since Takeda was a Zatech man, and thus his view was bound to be