AL Clark, Jonathan G. Meyer [the little red hen ebook .TXT] 📗

italic; text-align: justify">What has gotten into that kid?

“All right,” Al said, “You guys stay here and have one of the Watchers remain at the fence line where it was spotted. I’m going out and take a look around.”

Chris had been seeing a lot of Tammy Shoemaker lately. Al was aware of his growing interest, and it worried him. It seemed Chris was getting attached to someone who may or may not be a good person. There was also the possibility of her execution. If that were to happen, it could change how Chris viewed life forever.

In the early morning dim light, the jail compound appeared ominous as he walked up to the gate. The crude prison was remote and sitting in the middle of open space resembled a small fort. The ten-foot electrical fence, topped with barbed wire, and the bright lighting caused the prison to appear quite capable of keeping people in and monsters out.

The guard, a specially picked colonist familiar with security protocol saw Al coming and opened the gate.

“Did you see the Riktor a little while ago?” Al asked.

“I don’t know about any Riktors sir, but I saw a ten-foot dinosaur. It was like looking at a history book. I’ve never seen a real one...it about scared me out of my boots. One minute he was there at the perimeter fence—and the next—it was not.”

This man apparently did not know the Sansi name for the creatures.

“What was he doing?”

“He was just looking around—real quiet like. It seemed interested in the two posts it was standing by. As I said, I only saw him for thirty seconds or so.”

“How close did he get to the fence?”

“Oh...about ten feet, sir.”

“Sid will be out here in about an hour. He’ll be responsible for getting the prisoner to the trial with your help. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled and remember trouble can come from any side of this facility. All right?”

The man acknowledged the order and Al continued inside to check on Tammy and her guests.

Al entered and tried to keep the tone light. “You guys are having a party, and you didn’t invite me?”

“It’s not much of a party. We’re not very good at it.” Chris replied without humor.

It didn’t look much like a party either, with everyone sitting around looking worried. Scattered around the table were lists of prospective witnesses and ledgers of all the people on Avalon. It didn’t look good for the defense.

“Hey—come on people—this is no way to win a trial,” admonished Al, “I don’t know a lot about courtroom procedures, but it seems to me that you need to think positive. Show them Tammy is not a threat, and that she could be of help to the colony. If you can manage that, you’ll be halfway to winning. Stress Tammy’s skills and talents, and concentrate on the crazy beliefs her parents drilled into her since childhood. She admits she is guilty; you only need to prove she was coerced into doing what she did.”

Chris turned to Tammy with a told-you-so look on his face.

“Such as it is, that is our plan,” admitted Tammy’s lawyer, “I hope you are part of the jury...that would help a lot.”

Al regretfully informed them, “My name won’t be on any of the twelve pieces of paper they pick out of the hat. Because I’m security, I am exempt. Think positive, though; all you need is seven people that don’t believe in capital punishment, out of the almost eight hundred names in that rather large hat. The odds are in your favor.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her,” Chris said.

“You’re just going to have to have faith in the general goodness of human nature,” suggested Al. “Can I talk to you for a minute...outside, Chris?”

Chris followed him outside, and Al informed him of the Riktor sighting. He looked Chris square in the eyes and told him, “I want you to stay alert on your way to the auditorium, and stay close to officer Sal and the guard. Whatever you do, don’t forget that many threats are facing Miss Shoemaker today. If you have to stay with her—please be careful—okay?”

Al left thinking he could do little to discourage him from seeing the girl. Young love can be like a bulldozer and almost unstoppable. But it concerned him that Chris appeared to be falling for a girl that may not live long enough to see her eighteenth birthday.

****

AS AL HEADED BACK TO the security shack, scattered clouds crept across the sky, diffused the starlight and creating eerie shadows that crept across the landscape. He was thinking of the unfortunate girl and what she would be facing this day, and if there was anything more he could do to act in her defense. He decided he must speak for her at her tribunal. Al didn’t believe an eye for an eye would do the community any good. She was so young, and he wanted her to have the chance to prove that her life mattered.

It was eight o’clock in the morning, and Al had arranged a meeting at the shack to go over security for the trial. All his men except Sal were there along with Robot Nine. Sal was responsible for the prisoner and would deliver her to the auditorium at the start of the trial.

“I do not understand Chief Clark, the proceedings you are preparing are illogical,” stated Robot Nine.

Standing by the door, the security chief asked, “Why do you say that robot?”

“You left Earth to come here and make a new beginning. Logic tells me that you will need every person, and more, to live on this planet safely. Why would you choose to kill one of your own?”

The settlement of Avalon was turning into a bittersweet journey and was proving much harder than imagined. Still, Al believed its beauty and compatibility with human needs made it worthy of the struggle.

“That, my friend, is what I’m hoping the defense can get across to the jury.”

Al stood up and issued assignments. “Robot Nine, I want you circling the fence perimeter exclusively.” Al gestured to the four officers on the left side of the room and continued, “You four will join him and post yourselves so you can see in all directions and the rest of you men...and women, will be stationed inside the auditorium. I’ll fill you in on individual posts once we get inside.”

The trial took place in the community center auditorium at ten in the morning. The now completed center, located in the very middle of Camelot, was something the colonists were understandably proud of. All sidewalks crossed the wide path surrounding the building, making it truly the center of the community. Its steeply angled roof peaked at almost one-hundred feet tall, with the entire surface used to collect rainwater. The roof overhang also provided for a wrap-around porch that gave people a place to get out of sun and rain.

The building was designed and used as a multi-function facility, with rooms that circled the interior walls that included school rooms, several stores, a clinic, and even a small church. The large open space in the middle was for community gatherings. In the back of the building was a shuttle pad large enough for all four shuttles.

By nine thirty the auditorium was packed. Bleachers lined the outer walls of the room, with the prosecution and defense tables, the jury boxes, and a judicial bench for the captain placed in the center. The sounds of the crowd echoed through the large open room; buzzing with anticipation.

Sal brought the prisoner in at nine-fifty and sat her next to her lawyer at the defense table. Another officer stayed with her while Sid joined the audience. The captain entered, sat down at the judge’s table, and at precisely ten o’clock called the proceedings to order. He did not wish to prolong this procedure, so he minced no words.

“Tammy Shoemaker is charged with sabotage and murder. How do you plead?”

Tammy’s lawyer stood up and declared, “My client wishes to plead guilty...with extenuating circumstances.”

Captain Effinger showed no signs of surprise. He had expected as much. “All right then, let’s get started. Please draw the names of the jurors.”

A young boy pulled twelve slips from the hopper, and the names were called out. One by one, seven women and five men were sworn in and seated in the jury box. That done, the prosecution called his first witness, and the trial began.

The murdered girl’s parents were called to testify; the psychiatrist, the doctor that did the autopsy, water quality experts, and the few people that knew Tammy were all requested to say their piece. They discussed the power room fire, the hangar door malfunction, and of course, the poisoning of the water. The prosecution attempted to make her appear evil while the defense framed her as a victim of a form of brainwashing, and could not be held responsible. The whole time, Tammy sat there with a blank look on her face, as if she couldn’t believe this was happening.

When all the witness’ had testified, and the character references heard, the captain asked, “Is there anyone else that would like to speak?”

Al raised his hand, “I would like to say something, Captain.”

“All right...go ahead Mister Clark.”

What Al had to say was this, “I just want to point out that we are setting a precedent here. If she is found guilty and executed, we will be following the path that believes taking the life of a criminal is a deterrent to serious crime. You should know that there is no evidence to support this conclusion. I don’t believe she is a danger to the settlement, and she sincerely wants to make amends for her actions.”

Al paused for a second, to allow the jury time to think about what he had said, “There is also the issue concerning the number of people necessary to colonize a planet. A lot of brilliant people got together and decided that one-thousand individuals is a good number to start a colony. We are down to eight hundred and thirty colonists, which in my book, is pushing the limits. We need every person we can get to make this settlement a success. We can’t afford to kill her.”

Captain Effinger frowned at Al, so he finished with, “That’s all I have to say.”

The rain started around two o’clock. A slow, steady rain that could be heard tapping on the roof while the jury listened to the testimonies. The captain recognized Tammy and asked her, “Do you have anything to say. Would you like to come and be heard?”

She hesitantly said, “Yes...I would.”

Tammy stood up and moved to the center of the room.

“Most of my life they told me that the colony ships are war vessels sent out to conquer new planets. They are loaded with Earth’s elite and wealthy and use biological weapons to wipe the world clean of native people to make the planet suitable for occupation. My parents made me believe what they said was the truth. I now believe I was being deceived.”

Tammy knew that what she said next could make the difference between life and death. She composed herself and continued, “I am very sorry for what I’ve done. I thought I was earning my way to heaven, but I was making myself a place in hell.