Raġel bil-Għaqal

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Raġel bil-Għaqal (English: A Man of Good Intentions) is a novel by the Maltese author Guze Galea. The plot takes place in the Medieval times, when Malta was ruled by Diego Alagona, who came to live in Malta from Spain.

[edit] The Plot

Marku Falzun, son of one of the richest man in Malta, studied at the University of Palermo, however, he did not get involved in the politics of Malta, as his father wanted him to do. Instead he used to stay indoors for long hours reading and studying, and sometimes, at night, he used to watch the stars. As he used to forecast the weather by studying the formation of the clouds, many used to think that he was a sorcerer.

Once, while he was walking in the countryside, he saw Malta's Governor, Diego Alagona, conspiring with some Turks. As he was too far away to see what was happening, he had to use his telescope, which was an instrument not yet invented at the time. When Marku Falzun accused Diego Alagona of conspiring with our enemies, and said that he could see him through the lenses of his telescope, he was misunderstood by his friends and accused of teleporting people using his lenses (as he stated that he could bring people nearer to him using the lenses). Therefore he was arrested for witchcraft.

Although Diego Alagona sent six soldiers after him, he managed to escape, and went to live with some farmers, who offered him their protection s he often used to forecast the weather for them. After a few days, he realised that it was impossible to stay there for much longer, therefore he fled to the island of Kemmuna, an island which many Maltese citizens feared because it was used by pirates to smuggle stolen goods.

However, Diego Alagona didn't give up and sent more soldiers after him. When they arrived, they found an abandoned ship, upon which they found was covered in dead bodies when they attempted to climb it. Thinking that Marku Falzun put a curse on the ship, they quickly descended and went back to the mainland.

Marku Falzun then climbs into the ship himself, and discovers that one of ship's crew, the captain, was still alive. He rescues him and after healing him, they leav toward Sicily, to tell the king that Diegu Alagona was conspiring with the Turks. However, on their way to Sicily, a storm blows them towards another island, where they meet the Turks' ship that attacked the one Marku Falzun found. The Turks on board that ship think that the ghosts of the ones they killed had come after them, hence they fled away. Marku Falzun, together with the captain and Rigu, his servant, free all the slaves on the ship. Amongst the slaves they find Luqa Briffa, Rigu's father, and the king's chancellor.

Luqa Briffa tells them that the Turks are planning to stealthe taxes gathered by the Maltese citizens, and that Diegu Alagona, Malta's Governor, had given them directions as to where they had to hide to ambush the boxes containing the taxes, which where to be delivered from one city to another in a few days' time.

Luqa and Rigu Briffa, together with Marku Falzun decide to go to Malta and warn the Maltese citizens about this ambush, while the king's chancellor and the captain of the ship had to go to Sicily to inform the king of what was about to happen. However, upon arriving at Malta, Marku Falzun is arrested, and Luqa, and Rigu Briffa escape.

In the meanwhile, the Turks arrive at Malta, descend onto a desolate bay, and hide in a field full of hay, hiding amongst the haystacks, waiting for the gathered taxes to pass from a nearby road. Luqa Briffa and his son, who were hiding a stone's throw away, saw the Turks hiding, however it was too late for them to inform the soldiers who were in charge of transporting the taxes gathered. Therefore they set the dry hay on fire, burning also the Turks hiding in it. When the soldiers saw the Turks on fire, running out of the field, they ran after them, killing each and every one of the Turks.

Luqa Briffa and Rigu, his son, are later on arrested upon false accusations. Later that week, the members of the council of Malta, with Diegu Alagona as their head, gather to decide what to do with Marku Falzun. Just before he is sentenced to death, the doors leading to the hall open, and Marku Falzun, Luqa Briffa, and Rigu, together with the Chancellor and some of the king's soldiers sent form Sicily, appeared at the doorway. Diegu Alagona is accused of betraying his own country, and of persecuting Marku Falzun, therefore he was sentenced to death. Upon hearing this he dies of fear, and Marku Falzun is liberated.

Marku Falzun is the proclaimed as the new Governor of Malta, and given the title of Cavalier of the Angelic Order of Saint George. Luqa Briffa, who was previously a Maltese soldier, is made Captain of the Maltese army, while his son, Rigu Briffa, is sent to the University of Palermo to study from some of the most intelligent men in the city.