he learns that the governor, who had been promising to recommend his transfer, is being transferred himself by order of the king of spain. brokenhearted that he has not been transferred, zama runs afoul of the new governor when the governor learns that one of the employees is writing a book while at work. the governor orders zama to read the book and issue a full report. reluctantly zama agrees. after he writes a damning report the governor agrees to write a first letter of recommendation, revealing that the king always ignores first requests and a second one will take several more years to make its way to the king.