‘Where is he?’ hissed Obadiah, noting the mounting unrest. ‘He’s over an hour late!’
Marcus grimaced. ‘I don’t know where he is and that’s the problem. He doesn’t ever let anyone know his whereabouts from day to day. He could be staying at any one of, oh I don’t know, twenty or more different addresses. We just have to wait and trust he’ll turn up soon. I actually have a degree of sympathy for Quintus sitting over there on his own.’
He motioned with a slight jerk of his head towards the desk designated for defence lawyers. Quintus, looking calm and composed, was seated before two armed guards who were finding it difficult to maintain the mandatory rigid posture after the protracted delay. Before him was a sheaf of papers that he leafed through from time to time as if seeking solace from the tense atmosphere pervading the courtroom.
‘I trust you have a solid case to lay before the court?’ demanded Obadiah. ‘Quintus has an unblemished governmental record and I will be sorely tested to find him guilty unless ... ’
The double doors at the rear of the courtroom suddenly burst open and in strode Ezra carrying a sheaf of papers in his right hand. There was immediate silence. Heads remained riveted towards the front as he stepped slowly, majestically, down the flight of steps leading to the centre of the courtroom. He then made his way to a huge, black-leather clad, armchair set upon a raised platform at the left hand side of the room. He mounted the three steps fronting the platform, turned to face the court and sat down in the manner of a latter day Roman emperor.
‘Take your places,’ he ordered in a voice demanding compliance. He waited until everyone was seated. Then, after briefly surveying the courtroom, his eyes came to rest upon Quintus.
‘Is the prisoner represented?’ he asked. Obadiah, now seated in the imposing, high backed chair reserved for the judge, replied. ‘No Great Leader, he has insisted upon defending himself.’
Ezra’s lips curled into something between a grimace and a smile. ‘So, we have a defendant who has no need of the excellent legal assistance I make freely available to those who so choose?’
He smirked at the thought. ‘No matter, it is his choice. Let us proceed.’
He rose to his feet, the sheaf of papers held in his right hand, and began addressing the court, although his eyes were fixed firmly upon the judge, Obadiah.
‘If those who serve me, be they patrician or plebeian, show disrespect towards me in any shape or form, they will be punished in accordance with the laws of Terra Nova. It has come to my attention that the accused, Quintus Claudius Avitus, my Minister for Justice has raised a question before my Council of Ministers regarding my suitability to continue as Great Leader over this wonderful planet we inhabit. His seditious statement was put to a secret vote, a vote which, if supported by a majority of my ministers, would have caused me utmost concern since it would have meant that my position of Great Leader would have become untenable. Fortunately, or should I say, unfortunately for the accused, the secret vote found overwhelmingly in my favour. For that I am deeply indebted to my loyal ministers. However, those ministers who cast a vote against me, and I know not who they are, must now reflect upon their action and, if they still believe I should be unseated as your Great Leader, then let them reveal themselves and stand trial alongside the perpetrator of this irreverence; Quintus Claudius Avitus.’
Ezra paused while he set the first page of the sheaf to one side and glanced at the next. He looked up and continued, addressing the intimidated occupants of the courtroom.
‘Understand well what I am about to say for the future of our planet is at stake. As I speak, Terra Nova is teetering on the edge of a dangerous precipice and, unless the slide is halted, a violent plunge into an inescapable abyss is my prediction for our collective futures.’
His voice was now shaking, revealing his rising anger; his upper body could be seen trembling as the front of the fine silk robe he was wearing began jerking back and forth. His face was gradually turning the colour of an over ripe plum. The courtroom was hushed, waiting; instinctively aware that a torrent of abusive diatribe was about to be released.
Chapter Forty Four
The pressure upon Julia Brownstone to acquiesce and seek another mate, a father figure for little Alexander, was relentless, especially from Annie, her mother. Each and every time mother and daughter met the subject was raised and, as a consequence, it usually ended in floods of tears, foot stamping frustration and fiery anger, from Annie. Jules was determined to persist in her belief that Richard would return, that persistence being fortified by dreams which continued to urge patience. And that is exactly what she intended to do, no matter what anyone cautioned to the contrary! Her mother, on the other hand, although happy to see Alexander developing into a captivating bundle of joy, was equally aghast that her daughter could not, would not, accept what most of her family and friends were becoming more and more agreed upon - Richard was gone, forever.
‘Can’t you understand for goodness sake?’ repeated her mother every time they met, while trying her utmost to be understanding, and yet, at the same time, persuasive. ‘Why can’t you accept that after almost three years with no sign of Richard, no sightings, no contact whatsoever, that something awful has happened to him; something which means he will never, ever, be coming back?’
Julia, never one to accept anything other than irrefutable evidence when faced with an intractable problem, resisted the temptation to acquiesce by discarding negativity and replacing it with things positive; a measure that has worked ever since Richard had disappeared, so why change now when she was receiving dreams which convinced her to believe in his return? The only time she experienced the slightest twinge of doubt was when she was introduced by well-meaning friends to the current dish of the day; in other words a respectable, good-looking, young man they considered had an outside chance of competing for her attention. However, just like the remnants of the dish of the day, these several young aspirants were scraped from her metaphorical dinner plate and placed without regrets into the nearest allegorical dustbin.
Emily Moss has become very close to Julia, even though she also has to face a barrage of constant, doubt-filled questions, relentlessly being raised by her mother Katherine. Because of this Julia and Emily find immense solace in each other’s company, and share the conviction, expressed jointly whenever the meet or correspond, that Richard will return, soon, safe and sound. Julia has never spoken of the recurring dreams to anyone, especially to Emily, believing that to do so would give the impression that her faith in Richard’s return was based on things surreal, rather than supreme confidence based on nothing more tangible than the character of the father of her son.
Notwithstanding anything else, Julia and Emily are delighted that little Alexander is not affected by the dreadful circumstances into which he has been born. But then he has never known his father, so it was impossible to miss something he’d never experienced. He sails along in his own intelligent way, enjoying the attention of his nearest and dearest, settling into his pre-school nursery with boundless confidence while making mutual friends by the score. It is said children’s actions are determined, to a significant extent, by interacting and reacting constantly with those persons with whom they are close or in constant contact. Alexander has dispelled this notion, for he has matured apace, growing physically and mentally more like his missing father with each passing day.
Chapter Forty Five
Amos Caelius Aquila, anxious for information, has now been made aware of the charge of sedition being brought against Quintus. Immediately after the information was relayed to him he called a meeting of the most prominent members of Licencia Ex Persecution at which it was decided to infiltrate as many LEP supporters as possible into the chamber of the courtroom where the trial was to be held. A selection of names was passed along to Obadiah upon learning, to Amos’s open-mouthed, delight, that he had been appointed trial judge. Obadiah sub
sequently presented the list to Marcus Annius Verus with a request that all or some of those named should be present as witnesses when the trial opened and proceedings commenced. Marcus had no reason to doubt the names on the list were anything other than ordinary, impartial, members of the public. Consequently 25 names from the original list of 30 were endorsed by Marcus and were now seated among the other 50 witnesses in the courtroom awaiting the resumption of Ezra’s pre-trial speech. Ezra’s haughty entrance plus the harsh tone of the opening words of his address, had established a feeling of high uncertainty that Amos’s efforts to affect the outcome of the trial by surreptitious means would prove successful. Obadiah, the presiding judge, was, without question, a major advantage to the outcome but, first and foremost, it required a majority of the twelve jurors to vote against the prosecution’s case before Quintus could be found not guilty of the charge of sedition. None of the jurors were known LEP supporters, consequently the result is finely balanced between what Ezra demands in his opening speech, how strong is Marcus’s case for the prosecution, and how persuasively Quintus will be able to defend himself in the face of what appears to be a rigged, show trial, where the outcome is already decided; Proscription!
***
‘Understand well what I am about to say for the future of our planet is at stake. As I speak, Terra Nova is teetering on the edge of a dangerous precipice and, unless the slide is halted, a violent plunge into an inescapable abyss is my prediction for our collective futures.’
Ezra’s opening words were resonating around the hushed courtroom. It was if the marble walls were amplifying, redistributing his statement of looming disaster in order to strengthen its portentous meaning. Quintus was sitting, head held high, straight-backed, a hint of a smile upon his craggy features. Marcus, seated at the desk set aside for the prosecution, was firm of face, jaw set like a block of granite, eyes unblinking. Obadiah was nodding his head very slightly, confirming his understanding of Ezra’s words while knowing the reason for the slide was due entirely to the man who had spoken of it! The twelve members of the jury, supposedly a representative cross section of Terra Novan society, were all looking at Ezra, absorbing his presence, sensing his anger, waiting for him to deliver his inevitable onslaught. The body of witnesses sitting in the chamber of the courtroom were equally silent, some nervously shuffling about their seated positions, others glancing around unsure what to expect, others attempting, but failing, to assume a look of minimal interest.
Ever the consummate actor, Ezra intentionally paused for theatrical effect; a seemingly endless first minute stretching inexorably into the next. Then, with a slight clearing of his throat, he glanced briefly at his notes, surveyed the courtroom and began his oration.
‘I am now into my third term as your Great Leader. From the very first day of my reign the Creator has cast his bounteous blessings upon me and upon the people of Terra Nova. Now, for reasons I am at a loss to understand, dissension, resentment and hatred has descended upon us. I view with profound distress the fact that many of our citizens from all walks of life have seen the unity of the nation vanishing, dissolving in a confusion of political and personal opinions, economic interests and ideological differences.’
‘In these dark hours when our hearts are sorely troubled about the future of Terra Nova, your Great Leader appeals to all of good faith to express unity and loyalty for the salvation of the nation. As leader of this great nation of ours I vow to our God, the Creator, to our collective consciences and to our people, that I will continue to faithfully, resolutely fulfill the task conferred upon me.’
‘The obligation which has been heaped upon me is an onerous one and, additionally, is the most daunting challenge to have fallen upon the people of Terra Nova since our migration here over 5,000 years ago. But I am filled with unlimited confidence, because I believe in my people’s resolution and in their admirable virtues. Now it behoves me to state that every class, every individual, must support me and my government as we face these new challenges.’
‘We must recognise that our first and foremost duty is to revive, throughout the planet, the spirit of unity and co-operation which has sustained us over the millennia. We will preserve, and ruthlessly defend, those basic principles on which our glorious planet has been built. We regard The Creator as the foundation of our national morality, and family units as the basis of our national life. Furthermore, I will ask for guidance from our judiciary as to the repeal or amendment of laws regarding Proscription and Immaculation. I will also withdraw the most contentious ability of a selected few to read the minds of others; plus that of thought transference. The people of Terra Nova must be allowed privacy regarding their own thought and actions, hence my decision!’
He paused, unsmiling, until the sound of collective gasps throughout the courtroom subsided.
‘Riotous behaviour must be replaced by national discipline as the guiding principle of our daily lives. All those institutions which are the strongholds of the energy and vitality of our nation, will be nurtured under new, specially created, departments of the government. The government will, with iron determination and unshakable steadfastness of purpose, restore respect and honour for each and every citizen, those qualities that have been the defining hallmark on our planet for the past 5,125 years.’
‘My Government will couple this task with that of reorganising the planet’s business activities. In addition there will be a methodical review of the legal, administrative and fiscal systems which have sustained us through unimaginable challenges. Only when this has been done can the continuation of a contented, enjoyable existence on Terra Nova be fully realised.’
‘The securing of the necessities of life will include the introduction of social benefits for the sick and the aged. We will become an caring administration, by assisting in the provision of employment, guaranteeing the preservation of the rights of the worker, as well as in the promotion of individual initiative. My government sees these measures as most efficient the way to promote happiness and well-being for our people and their future.’
‘Now, my people, allow and trust me to complete the residue of the four years of my present term in office and then, come the next election, you will have the legal opportunity to pass judgment upon me one way or the other.’
He stopped, placed his notes on the arm of his seat, and continued speaking in the same confident manner.
‘May The Creator give our work His blessing, strengthen our purpose, and endow me with wisdom and the trust of my people, for I am fighting not for myself but for the future of all Terra Novans.’
Ezra’s speech, a complete antithesis of what had been anticipated, has caused everyone in the courtroom to gape, open mouthed, astonished. No one, but no one, expected such an impassioned speech after the menace contained in his opening words. He paused, bathing luxuriantly in the warmth of the electrified atmosphere he had created.
‘Meanwhile,’ he said, quietly. ‘I hereby declare, before this court and before the people of Terra Nova, that I find Quintus Claudius Avitus not guilty of the charge of sedition, consequently he is therefore free to return to his governmental duties. I trust he will pay careful attention to the measures I have introduced in my speech. I ask him, as a long term friend and colleague, to support and introduce these new initiatives throughout our beloved Terra Nova.’
He stooped to pick up his notes and then, without another word, climbed the stairs towards the doors where he had made his appearance. Reaching the doors, he turned and faced the courtroom. He smiled at the knowledge that he had delivered a persuasive, compelling, powerful speech.
***
The entire courtroom was on its feet. The mixture of disbelief, uncontrolled pandemonium, riotous applause, stamping of feet, the crash, crash of clapping hands, all combined to produce a cacophony of noise, which translated into exultant praise for the man standing so imperiously aloof at the top of the stairs.
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Obadiah, Marcus and Quintus were, without doubt, the most astonished of all those who were present in the courtroom. The trio could not believe what they had just heard. Too shocked to pose questions, they occasionally glanced at each other, unsmiling, embarrassed, unsure what to do next. After some tension-filled minutes Obadiah finally broke the silence.
‘Quintus,’ he said quietly. ‘The dishonour that has been heaped upon you is at an end - please allow me to accompany you to your home.’
Chapter Forty Six
‘He’s either a complete lunatic or he’s a damned genius!’ spat out Quintus, standing outside the building housing the now empty courtroom. Obadiah is by his side and both are succumbing to the comfort derived from a blaze of warm, autumn sunshine. Curious crowds are milling around as news of the content of Ezra’s oration is carried by word of mouth throughout the immediate neighbourhood. A conflicting mixture of loud applause and raucous jeering had greeted Quintus when he and Obadiah emerged from the court-room building a few moments ago, but neither acknowledged it in any way.
‘Or he could be neither,’ replied Obadiah, placing an arm around Quintus’s shoulder and leading him down a flight of stone steps leading to the Via Sacra. ‘You must remember that Ezra is a consummate actor, who is willing and able to change roles, according to whichever way the wind happens to be blowing at any given moment in time. He has realised the current wind is blowing his leadership awry and consequently his role has changed to that of a humble pacifier, who believes he needs only to appeal to the masses to ensure his salvation. I suppose such a dramatic change of role could be construed as either lunatic or genius on his part, but I prefer to think of him as nothing more than a highly accomplished actor, who has accepted a leading role in a play of his own making.’
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