A Carnivore on Trial, Brian Hesse [year 2 reading books .txt] 📗

as the deepest feelings of compassion that one creature could bestow upon another.

   The Judge began, “Mr. Deer, do you swear today in the presence of all Mother’s wonderful creations, that you will tell the truth concerning this lower form of life, Edward Sikes?”

   “I do your honor,” replied Mr. Deer, in a low shaky voice filled with pain and sorrow.

   Edward felt himself sink low into his chair as he considered the words, “lower form of life.” He was aware that even in human terms, he was not the cream of the crop. He was a cheater, liar, gambler, and a drunk, but to hear an Owl call him lowly, was an unwelcomed shock to his fragile ego.

    “You may continue, Lawyer Horse.”

    “Thank you, your honor.” “Mr. Deer, please describe the unfortunate night of your death.”

    Edward sank even lower as his subconscious memories resurfaced like a submarine breaking the top of turbulent ocean waves, poised to kill its prey.

   Mr., Deer began, “I was walking across what is normally a deserted road at that time of night. My wife and I always walked that particular pathway at night to return home, after a full day of foraging. That night my wife went ahead as quickly as possible. You see, she was pregnant, and I thought it only right that she should cross first. You know, the second deer crossing the road is always in the most danger.”

“So, you admit that as the second crosser, you were already in danger of being hit by a car?”

 “I object your honor,” came the shout of Prosecutor Cat. The defense is putting words into the witness’s mouth.”

  “Objection sustained,” replied Owl. The jury will ignore this last question.”

  “Go on, Mr. Deer. Continue with your story please.”

  “Well that night, after my wife crossed, I began to walk across the street.”

  “You walked across the street. Why didn’t you run?”

  “Well Mr. Horse, I was tired from foraging for apples all day in the old apple orchard which was ten miles away. My legs could not run anymore.”

   “Mr. Horse stubbornly replied, “I guess we just have to take your word for that.”

   “I object,” stated the Cat.”

    Before the Cat could explain his objection, Mr. Horse stated, “I withdraw that last statement.

   “Judge Owl replied, Mr. Horse, you are becoming most irregular. Please refrain from your irregular irregularities.”

   Mr. Deer continued, “I saw a bright light approach at a fast rate of speed. I am not sure what happened, but I could not take my eyes off the lights. I was, well, I was…hypnotized I guess. Next thing I remember, I was lying on the side of the road with my leg twisted, and bleeding from my side.”

   “Mr. Deer, how do you know that the vehicle was moving fast? How fast was the vehicle going?”

   “I don’t know for sure, but I think it was going fast.”

    “No further questions your Honor.”

   “Very well, replied Owl. Mr. Cat, the witness is yours.”

    “I only have two questions your Honor.”

    “Mr. Deer, did you see the face of the driver of the car that hit you?”

    “Yes sir, he replied, and stared straight at Edward, now covering his face with his left trembling hand.

    “Mr. Deer, did the driver stop to help you as you lay dying on the road in front of your pregnant wife?

    “No, he kept driving.”

   Edward peeked through the spaces of his covering hand at the jury box. He was not sure, but he believed that jury member Fox, was staring at him with the purest form of hatred he ever encountered.

   Edward quickly regained his composure as he considered the countless hours watching courtroom dramas and drinking his lonely self into oblivion. When I should have been building my business, he thought guiltily. He remembered that objections were always raised when witnesses were called to testify against the accused, for crimes already paid in full to the State, He leaned close to Mr. Horse’s ear and whispered, “why am I being tried for an accident that occurred so long ago. A crime I already paid for?”

   “Mr. Sikes, I am getting to that. Please do not rush me.”

   Edward winced as Judge Owl instructed lawyer Cat to call the next witness. He realized, to his horror, that his lawyer was just too stubborn to conduct a proper defense.

   “Your Honor, I call Ms. Percy Dog to the stand.”

   Edward jumped a few inches from his chair when he heard the name Percy. The shock of hearing the name Percy caused his blood to drain from his head, leaving him dizzy and numb. As his blood receded from his limbs, he could feel invisible pins and needles stabbing his shaking hands and feet. Percy was his childhood dog. She was a beagle and lab mix with, as he always described, ugly irregular brown and black patches all over her body. He remembered her as very sluggish, stubborn, and impossible to train. As any spoiled brat, living in the lap of luxury on the profits of a successful meat processing empire, he treated Percy with the upmost disrespect. She was a present for his tenth birthday and, as he treated all his toys, he abused and neglected her. As the memories flooded his already guilt stricken mind, a depression settled upon him, blanketing all emotion, like an avalanche of hard snow covering a lone fragile flower, leaving him numb and without hope.

   “Hello, Ms. Percy. My name is Prosecutor Cat. How are you today my dear?”

   Percy’s large black beagle eyes were filled with tears as she answered with the slow whisper of a soul completely broken by the sadness of life, “I’m Ok. Thank you for asking Mr. Cat.”

   “Ms. Percy, just explain your life with the accused. That’s all, and nothing else.”

  Between heartfelt sobs and deep sniffles, Percy began, “I was just a young pup when I was given to Mr. Sikes. The deep sadness of being taken so young from my Mother was quickly overshadowed by the joy I felt when I looked at Edward. He was just a little boy, and even a pup knows that little boys love pups. My joy quickly turned to sorrow, when he looked straight into my face and stated, and I quote, “I don’t want a dog, especially such an ugly one.”

  Edward felt warm tears slowly stream from the corner of both eyes. The dam inside was cracking, as he listened to the countless acts of neglect reported by the sad beagle mix, now sobbing uncontrollably on the witness stand.

   “Please continue, if you can Percy,” stated Mr. Cat, with a sly grim painted brightly across his majestic face.

  “The worst was when I was just two years old,” she replied. “Edward’s parents left for a vacation, and he was charged with my care. I laid by my empty bowl watching the sunlight rise and fall over the edge of the kitchen window, and with each darkening of the suns light, I felt weaker inside, and the pains became too much to bare. Until one day, the pain was gone…just darkness.”

   “The floodgates of Edward’s heart burst open, forcing the raging waters of guilt and sorrow to pour from deep within his soul. Loudly he cried, “Please Ms. Percy, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I was only Ten, and not responsible for my actions. Please, please, please…forgive me.”

    Edward placed his head on the large table and cried harder than he ever dreamed, in his worst nightmares, he could cry.

     His despair deepened further, as he heard Owl ask Mr. Horse if he had any questions for the broken witness.

    “No, your Honor, I have no questions.”

    Edward, knew at that moment, that he was alone. This was not like any court to be found in his world. He was alone, and would face the maximum penalty for his crimes. What exactly is the maximum penalty, he thought, still weeping for the sad Ms. Percy. As if reading his mind, Mr. Horse leaned close to Edwards ear and stated, “death by hanging Mr. Sikes.”

The Final Witness

  “It would be most irregular to call too many more witnesses,” stated Owl. “I will allow one more before the jury retires to decide on the verdict.”

     Edward sat staring straight ahead into oblivion. He no longer had any more tears to release. The large puddles of his sorrow stained the desk to his front, like a series of small and large lakes dotting a wooden landscape.

     “I call Mr. Steer to the bench,” stated Mr. Owl.

     Edward kept his bloodstained eyes to the front of the courtroom, no longer having the energy to turn his head.

   “Mr., Steer, do you mind if I demonstrate to the court the procedure used in the defendant’s slaughterhouse. If the court does not have any objections, of course.”

    “This is most irregular, but I will allow this,” replied Owl.

    Edward watched in horror as Mr. Steer returned to his normal posture, in the human world, of standing on all four legs. Without hesitation, Mr. Cat produced a shiny red sledgehammer, and hit Mr. Steer on the top of the head, with a loud Thump. Mr. Steer immediately fell on his side with a large stream of blood pouring from the bloody deep created from the impact of the blow. Mr. Steer’s body spasmed violently, as deep guttural moaning sounds, escaped with each dying breath.

  “As you can see, he is not dead. So, we must hit him again until he stops moving.”

   Edward closed his eyes and vomited as he heard the metal of the sledge contact the shattering skull of Mr. Steer.

   “That’s enough Mr. Cat, I think we get the point. Most irregular!” exclaimed Judge Owl.

   “I have no further demonstrations your Honor.”

    “Mr. Horse, do you have any demonstrations?”

    “No, your Honor, I ask that the jury retire, to immediately render a verdict.”

     “Very well, the jury will retire to render the verdict. The maximum punishment is death by hanging.”

     Edward sat in an emotionless stare, feeling his throat tighten with each ticking of the clock.

The Verdict

 “Has the jury reached a verdict?”

    “We have your Honor, stated Mr. Fox, looking at Edward with a sly smile formed across his wide pointed mouth.

    “Bailiff, please hand me the verdict. The defendant will stand together with his defense.”

Edward stood slowly having to support his weight with the arm of his chair. The emotional draining weighed heavily on his broken frame. He silently wished-for death as Owl passed sentence.

  “Mr. Edwards, you have been found guilty of the charges of cruelty, neglect, contempt for Mother Nature’s creations, and most serious of all, the consumption of meat.”

 “Now all of you sit down, because I am going to do something most irregular.”

   I loud silence fell over the courtroom at the announcement of Owl’s decision to be less than regular.

  “Mr. Edwards, this is not your human court. In your world of greed, hatred, and contempt, your pompous sense of justice is a sad illusion. You place your fellow human beings on trial, and merrily carry out your sentences, believing that all is black and white. Here in my court, Nature’s Court, we have more flexibility. You are a despicable character, there can be no doubt, however, I will show mercy. I overturn your death sentence, and will set you free. You will leave this court knowing that animals are superior to humans, because when we kill, it is because Nature deems it to be so. We kill to survive, but never with the tiniest blemish of malice on our pure hearts. I can think of no better punishment than to send you back to your tribe with a cleansed heart, so you may spend the rest