by Chris Hechtl
Klinger agreed. “Next time though, keep me in the loop,” he said. Roy nodded. “And get our resident chemists in on this. I want them working on it while you work on other things,” he ordered. Again the professor nodded. Klinger smiled and then walked away with the others.
~~~~~O~~~~~
The clam bake party was a hit even though some of the food was burned a little. But everyone enjoyed the food and the festivities. Stories were brooded about as people caught up with each other. Music was played, and the girls dragged guys out for dancing and games.
The activities, full bellies and relaxed nature of the event put everyone in a good mood. “I need a beer. Even a love in a row boat beer, or hell, a wine cooler. It would make this just about perfect,” Klinger muttered.
Roy got a faraway look. The doc saw the look and pointed it out to Klinger, Usher, Quinn, and her husband. Finally she reached over her husband to slap the professor's shoulder. “No! Not tonight!” She said firmly. Klinger and the others around them all laughed at the sheepish grin he returned. Flower came over and grabbed his hand. She dragged him off to dance. “That's a hell of an idea,” doc said with a twinkle, getting to her feet. She put her hand out imperiously to her husband. He moaned but she leaned forward and friskily kisses her hubby. He sighed and got up. She grinned and took his hand, pulling him along until they joined the dancing.
Chloe, Hetty and even Elisa each caught Roy for a dance. He wasn't sure if they were after him for what he had done, or just because he was a guy and there was a surplus of women. He did enjoy the attention though.
Something felt wrong though; it took him a moment to realize someone was missing. Roy quietly took himself off when he noted Hadji was missing, and his wife was sitting alone. He realized the party was the perfect distraction. Unease filled him. He went to check his stash and the electronics shed.
When he got there, he heard sounds from inside. Sure enough, he found Hadji in the shed, about to take an ax to the goods within. The other man had a torch with him. Roy intervened, knocking the torch aside to grab the ax. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” he demanded angrily.
The commotion brought a stop to the party as some heard what he had said and came looking to see what was the matter. Klinger led the way. He found Roy holding a dazed Hadji and the ax.
“This isn't what it looks like,” Roy said, handing Klinger the ax. Klinger took it quietly. “I noticed someone was missing and thought to myself, if I was the asshole breaking stuff, this would be the perfect time to do something, since everyone was busy. So I decided to check. Here he is,” he said, indicating the carpenter. Doc came forward to check him, but her husband held her back. Instead the paramedic moved forward. He knelt and checked the man over.
He explained what he found. “A likely story,” the Roberts Clan berated him. “See? He's a vicious thug! He hit Hadji for no reason!”
“For no reason?” Roy asked softly, eying Shawn. “Just like you had no reason to try to take my things? Or the all the other crap that has been going on around here?” he demanded.
“Hadji is a member of this community, a valued member,” Catrina said, coming to the fallen man's defense.
Klinger and the hunters were angry, as was Walter, the doc and others. Shawn shut Hadji up when the man looked to them for help. Klinger caught the look and frowned. “Hadji, what did you do? Why did you do this?” he asked.
“I did nothing,” the man said, practically whining.
“Yet,” doc added as a qualifier.
“Why did you have the ax?” a hunter asked.
“He's a carpenter!”
“Yeah, but now? In the dark? While a party is on?”
“Maybe he took it for protection so he could go to the bathroom! Who knows!”
“He does,” Klinger said, indicating the man at his feet. “Well? How about it?” he demanded.
Hadji refused to answer; he just looked away.
“Fine then, we'll deal with you later,” Klinger said. He ordered Hadji placed under arrest. The man was confined to a tree, tied to it and kept under guard. All the weapons not being held by the guard on duty would be placed in an armory. And a guard would be placed on the sheds and critical areas.
“We can't replace this stuff folks; once it is gone, it's gone forever. So we've got to protect it from the weather as well as the shortsighted people among us,” Klinger said. “If you don't like it, there is the door,” he said, pointing to the main gate. “You all know the drill; you all know what is out there. Quit the shit and get with the program. Now, bed people, we've got a lot of work to do in the morning,” he ordered.
People nodded and shuffled off. Roy could tell though the incident had put a damper on the whole day. He wasn't sure if that was the whole intent or not.
A hand grabbed his arm. He looked at the owner. Klinger. “Next time, Professor, get a witness or at least backup. The man could easily have buried that ax in your skull. I'd hate to lose you,” he said. Roy nodded.
~~~~~O~~~~~
The next day the Roberts went to free Hadji, but Klinger prevented them. They argued, and the hunters were angry as well. “We can't guard him forever,” one of the hunters said, eying the man. “What are we going to do, exile him?”
“Exile?!?” Shawn demanded, aghast. “For what, standing up for his beliefs?”
“Did he stand up for them? So far he hasn't said anything except that he is misunderstood,” Klinger said. “I, for one, am sick and tired of the crap. The sabotage, the backbiting shit,” he growled, voice darkening as he looked at Shawn. Shawn stepped back and gulped.
“Then perhaps it is time we cleared the air,” a familiar female voice said. Doc came over. “If he still claims his innocence, then I suggest a trial with all of us here,” she said firmly.
Shawn sputtered then looked thoughtful. “Got a problem with that?” doc asked him. He shook his head no.
“I have no problem with the truth,” Shawn said with an air of dignity. “I respect the will of the people, and I will see that justice be done,” he said. “For all involved,” he said darkly.
“What about you, Corporal? You are our elected leader,” doc asked, looking at Klinger. Her eyes searched his, sending him a message to follow along. Slowly he nodded.
“Unless you care to spare the community the time of a trial and explain yourself,” doc asked, looking at Hadji.
The man stood, dark eyes still downcast. “I will stand trial,” he murmured.
At the trial the Roberts defended the quiet Hadji and Klinger prosecuted. Gunny Usher, the skipper, and the doctor acted as a judges while the tribe acted as a jury.
The Roberts attacked Roy as he took the stand, blaming him and spouting religious rhetoric to cloud the issue. They kept going off topic, and the judges had to get them back on track. “Again Mr. Roberts, if you continue along this line of hostile questioning and what amounts to rabble rousing, you will be silenced.”
“Mr. Mohammad deserves the best counsel,” Shawn said, lifting his chin defiantly. “You can't silence the truth,” he said.
“That is a matter of opinion, Mr. Roberts,” the skipper said. “So far you haven't asked a proper question in rebuttal. So are you finished?” he demanded. “This isn't a pulpit. Straight questions, sir.”
“Very well,” Shawn said, hand on his client's shoulder. “Did you, for the record,” he turned to bow to the judges and then the community, “attack Mr. Muhammad last night?”
Roy quietly stated what he saw as well as the past events. “Just the facts, Professor,” the Gunnery Sergeant said and then waved a hand as he coughed. “I'm fine, dry throat,” he said when Doc rose in concern. She sat back down with a frown.
“Sorry, Gunny,” Roy replied. He then restricted himself to the events and to answering the questions Shawn and the judges put to him. When they stopped for a moment, Roy surveyed the “jury.” Roy could tell from looks of the tribe Shawn's berating and rhetoric was backfiring. Hadji also took the
measure of the “jury” as well and became restless. He leaned over to Mr. Roberts and murmured in his ear. Shawn looked at him with a slightly horrified face.
“Well Mr. Roberts?” doc demanded.
“Just a moment, Ma'am; please allow me to confer with my client,” Mr. Roberts said, looking over to them and then back to Hadji. He talked quietly to the man, seemingly to convince him of something. Hadji indicated the people around them.
His wife sat behind him with a pair of sturdy guards. She looked around when she heard her husband and saw the set angry faces. Her face broke, and she wept. Hadji turned and held her hand. She murmured softly to him and then to Roberts. “I call Mrs. Mohammad to the stands,” Mr. Roberts finally said, sounding a bit reluctant.
“You are excused then, Professor,” doc said to Roy. Roy nodded and left the rock they were using as an impromptu witness stand. The woman in the hijab looked down and away as they passed. He sat as she took the stand.
“Were you with your husband last night?” Mr. Roberts asked, tempering his voice with concern.
“Yes. And what he did or tried to do was wrong. We both know it was against the will of the people. I know he feels wrong now about it,” she said looking at her husband, “as do I. It was a mistake; one I am glad Mr. Hinkley stopped my husband from doing,” she said hesitantly.
Mr. Roberts looked flustered. He turned, now off balance. Roy hid a smile as he rubbed his mouth. First rule of a lawyer in a trial, never ask a question you don't know or want the answer to, he thought.
“He will never do it again,” she vowed.
“I um…”
“We can't take your word for it since this is hearsay,” doc said cautiously looking at the gunny and then to the skipper. “And technically her testimony is against her husband's best interests,” she said.
“But the defense put her on the stand,” Usher said, shaking his head. “They walked right into it,” he said. “I am curious as to why though,” he said.
“It…it is because I wish to plead for my husband's life,” the woman said, voice catching. “I am pregnant,” she said before she broke down into tears.
Hadji's face broke from its mask briefly as the crowd muttered. From the sound of it, they were confused. Things had become so entangled…it was starting to turn ugly, Roy realized. Now another life was on the line.
That bombshell hit and muddied things up. Muttering began to grow loud until the gunny rapped two rocks together and then ordered them to be quiet. “This unfortunately isn't relevant to the crime. But it is something we will have to factor into things later,” he said. He turned to Mr. Roberts. “Does the defense wish to say anything else?” he asked. Mr. Roberts consulted with his client. After a moment he shook his head.
“Very well, Mr. Prosecutor?” Usher asked, looking at Klinger. “Do you wish to cross examine?” he asked. Klinger frowned.
“Ma'am. You were aware of what your husband planned? Were you involved in it?” he asked. She shook her head no. “Was anyone else?” he asked. She hesitated. “On your word to Allah?” he asked.
“I…I don't know,” she said, shooting a guilty look to her husband. “I'm not sure.”
“Well, since all she has is…hearsay…” Shawn interrupted.
“Agreed. Any further questions would be prejudicial. Though I suggest in the future questions be asked before the trial,” Usher said looking at Klinger. The corporal nodded. “Ma'am, you are dismissed,” Usher said. The woman bobbed a nod and got up and left. She rejoined her husband.
They took a vote, and Hadji was convicted by an overwhelming majority. “I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!” he said. “I'll never do it again!” Hadji said, lunging to his feet, face pale. He pleaded with them as some called for exile.
“If he is exiled, I will go with him,” his wife said. Klinger clenched his jaw at this. A few people suddenly cooled off. The idea of sending a pregnant woman out beyond the walls suddenly wasn't so appealing. He hadn't actually done too much damage, none at all to the shack…that got brooded about.
“Some sort of leniency, some mercy in the name of God people!” Mr. Roberts said, looking at them in raw appeal. “He was doing what he thought was right. How can that be wrong?” he demanded, hands outstretched.
“When it is against the will of the people, when it hurts this community, others or its chances to survive, then no matter what he thought was right, he was wrong. And he has already admitted he knew it was wrong,” Gunny Usher said gravely. “His malice to our community, no matter how misplaced cannot and will not be tolerated. We must work together to survive in this world. Now more than ever. This sabotage cannot be tolerated. Nor will it.”
“Be glad he is being spared the death penalty,” the skipper said in a bass rumble.
“Is this justice? I tell you, exile is a death sentence!” Shawn said.
Roy stood slowly. “May I address this,” he asked. Roberts turned with a glower on him. “I have a suggestion,” Roy said quietly.
“What is it, Professor?” the skipper asked.
“Wait! He has no right to say…” Shawn sputtered but a cold look from all three judges shut him up. “Fine, whatever,” Shawn said defeated, flopping down beside his client.
“I don't think Mr. Mohammed should be exiled,” Roy said.
“You don't?” Shawn said, looking up in surprise. His eyes searched Roy's.
“No, No I don't. But that doesn't mean he should escape punishment. He knows he did wrong, even though he refuses to fully admit it. Punishment isn't just to satisfy the wrong doer; it is also used as a deterrent to the community to keep others from doing the same transgressions or others,” he said. “That being said, what I suggest is we have Mr. Mohammed as our resident wood expert,” he nodded to the carpenter. “Build a set of wood stocks in the community square. He can be put on display there where people can see him and embarrass as well as social pressure should do to punish him.”
That started a fast murmur of chatter as people talked about the idea. Some were for it, others against. Some were surprised the professor of all people would come forward at all.
“What I'd also like to see, and I think the rest of us would like to hear, is a confession and a public vow from Mr. Mohammed and his wife and any others involved to never do sabotage against anyone or the community again, and not to go after anyone in retaliation,” Roy said. He locked eyes with Shawn Roberts.
“I'm…It sounds medieval, and it'll be hell on his back and joints, but I'm for it,” the doctor said, nodding in agreement. She turned to Usher who nodded as well. They both looked at the skipper who frowned ferociously but then nodded, as did a reluctant Klinger. They set a time period of three days and then called a vote of approval on the sentence. It was confirmed by a majority vote.
Klinger quietly detailed a guard for the storage shacks and plane, then he and a pair of hunters hustled Hadji off to oversee him as he made the stocks.
“And with all this going on, we're stuck here in camp,” Klinger said.
“Most of us,” Simmons said. Harris had gotten out as soon as he could get away with it. “I wonder if that was the other purpose of this, to keep us near the camp so we wouldn't hunt and bring in more of ‘God’s creatures,’” she said in disgust.
“I don't know. But I am getting tired of the crap,” Klinger said.
“I've…overheard a few people. They don't like how some things are going. And the Roberts have been right there, snipping at how you're not here to run things. They are constantly back biting, nipping, setting discord with snippy comments or quick to point out faults.”
The corporal cursed softly for a moment then ran a hand across his temple. “I so don't need this shit. I'm half tempted to just pull up stakes, hit the bush and keep going like the others did.”
“Now I know why they did,” Ashley said, shaking her head. “They probably got their fill of Shawn early and beat feet out of here,” she joked.
“I wonder if any survived,” Klinger m
used.
“Not likely,” Ashley said shaking her head. “They don't have what we have, our resident genius here. To go off into the wilds without a plan? Here?” she shook her head. “Suicide, plain and simple,” she said.
“Well, we didn't know what it was then,” Klinger said and sighed. “Live and learn I suppose, or don't. But we damn well will. Even if I have to kick their sorry asses. Or kick them right out of here if I have to,” he growled.
Simmons nodded. “I'm with you,” she said.
He nodded, patted her on the shoulder then went back to checking on things. He looked up to the overcast moody sky. “Perfect,” he sighed.
~~~~~O~~~~~
The next day simmering tension from the more religious of the group made Klinger think twice about leaving camp. Hadji stared from the stocks nearby, looking pitiful. His wife had fed him scraps from breakfast. The Roberts had complained he should be freed but Klinger made a point of saying no, not for another two days to drive the point home.
The weather was looking a bit off as well, with the dark ominous clouds, so they cautiously battened down the hatches. When it did begin to drip, he praised foresight as everyone got under cover. Klinger muttered about it in the galley shelter.
“I found a cave by the waterfall. It might be better, easier to defend, with cover over head, and close access to the spring and waterfall,” Roy pointed out. “Think about it, ready defenses and immediate access to fresh running water,” he said.
Some of the injured and the medical staff agreed with that idea, but the fishers weren't happy when it made the rounds. Doc flatly told them the wounded couldn't be moved at the time. The discussion about what to do, possibly even breaking into two groups ended when lightning flashed, splitting a tree just outside the compound to crash into the clearing beyond. The sharp crack of the trunk and crunch as it came down made just about everyone wince in fear.
The storm sent waves crashing into the beach, pounding and rocking the aircraft. Some of the people moaned about the damage. “How far will it come in? We're a bit higher up, but…” Elsa asked, voice quavering in fear.