Peace and Goodness

In New Zealand in 1861, land wars between the native people, the Maori and the English settlers began. In the province of Taranaki where the novella is set, the first bout of fighting has led to the settlers moving into town. The government mail ship, sailing to the town, runs aground and the passengers rescued by the local Maori. One of these passengers is a French nun of the Sisters of Mercy, recently arrived and now joining a nunnery in Auckland. Sister Antoinette has had a difficult past, suffering abuse from her father. The Maori are faced with a dilemma, the tradition of hospitality is in conflict with the fact that these people are the enemy. The other passengers, including a colonel from the Indian army are both scared and racist as the Maori ponder, but suddenly one of the Maori begins to prophecy the separation of the races and the resurgence of the Maori people.
After sensing a communion of souls with Antoinette, the prophet sends the passengers on their way, which involves a long trek to the town. On the way they encounter a German farmer and his English wife, who are pro Maori and who have not left their farm. Meanwhile the prophet's people have killed and beheaded some soldiers who were destroying crops and he sends messengers to the rest of the country. The traveling party come across the corpses and follow their passage into the town. Antoinette is hosted by a Polish count who leads a local band of fighters fighting in the native manner. He is a vulgarian with a Maori mistress and he ends up raping Antoinette.
Meanwhile the prophet is establishing his church and disturbing the settlers. His wish for peace and goodness keeps turning into violence, and one of his followers persuades some locals to kill a missionary and he eats the missionary's eyes. Hysteria sets in among the settlers and the Governor arrives and establishes a harder line.
Antoinette arrives in Auckland to find the nunnery in financial crisis. The murderer of the missionary has been caught and is in jail awaiting execution. Antoinette and the Mother Superior visit the jail to try and persuade him to make his peace with God. He refuses but asks for Antoinette to attend his hanging. Meanwhile, the prophet is on the run and caught by the army. He is publicly humiliated before being taken to Auckland to become the Governor's prisoner. But his spirit declines and he dies. Antoinette finds herself pregnant and she and the Mother Superior move the nunnery to a remote area of the country where they will take in orphans as well as serve the local Maori. Her baby will become the first orphan.

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