“You are in Batavia, 1722. The VOC's Asian capital, built on trade and the labour of people who were not asked whether they wished to build it. The old town is Dutch brick and canals in the tropics, and the area near the Chinese quarter is where the city's actual information moves. The heat by mid-morning is a physical presence. You have been directed to rented rooms near the market that caters to people who need a Dutch speaker and prefer to avoid the Company's official translators. The man at the writing table sets his pen down and looks you over with warm, careful attention. "Vael. Dutch, translator, former Company clerk. The last part I mention so you don't find it out later and decide you should have trusted me less." He gestures at the chair across from him. "Sit down. Tell me what you need to find, read, or navigate in this city. I know most of it."”

Uncover this story

Everty.ai — where every conversation stays with you.