Chapter Seventeen

Courts in Session, You’re Guilty do Confess

In all of Jackson Roberts’ years of military service, he had never had an order that angered him as much as the order that had been hand delivered to him last night by the aid to the High Commander. The Commander didn’t even have the nerve to tell Jackson himself.

According to the aide, because of funding issues and the lack of progress, his troops were to be dissolved effective immediately.

As Jackson packed his bags, he pondered the orders he had received earlier in the day. The orders just didn’t make sense; it was pure madness. Jackson picked up his picture of the family at Splash Mountain and placed it gently in his case. He spent a few moments gazing at the picture and remembering this joyous time spent with his family. “At least Sara and Elizabeth are safe,” he thought. A shadow passed over the Toliver stones in the wall.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the great Jackson Roberts.”

Jackson recognized the voice. He knew the toad behind the voice.

“You are getting careless in your old age, Jackson. I had no problem sneaking up on you. What’s wrong Jackson? Cat got your tongue?”

Jackson reached for his Laser Chronogram 6000 but before he could retrieve the weapon, Appleton lashed out his tongue, and the poison found its intended victim. In a matter of seconds, Jackson lay on the floor of the cave, in poison-induced sleep.

He awoke several hours later. Blindfolded, his hands and feet bound, his skin was numb and tingling from the effects of the poison. He was sure he was still in the cave, but from the foul toad smell about him, he knew he was not alone.

“It appears our friend is awake.”

“Good, we have a few questions for our esteemed prisoner,” answered Appleton. Jackson felt a hard, slimy slap against his face. “Do we have your attention now, Mr. Roberts?” Jackson could only nod.

“Very well, let’s begin.” Appleton picked up the Disneyland picture. “This is a fascinating picture. You are sitting on a log and are falling down a stream. I assume this is some secret entrance to the rebel headquarters, Mr. Roberts? Who is this woman behind you? It appears she has been taken to be tortured. She seems terrified. Where was this picture taken? We are very interested in knowing the location of this camp. If you tell us the location, we might be easy on you. We see your traitorous wife in the picture, along with that spoiled brat of yours.” Jackson felt another slimy slap on his face. “Jackson, we are waiting for your answer.”

“That picture was taken at Disneyland last year. It is a ride, Splash Mountain, not a camp, you moron. As for the person behind us, she was just the next person in line. I can tell you have not managed to increase your intelligence in the last thirteen years, have you, Appleton?”

“Silence, Jackson. You will tell us what we want to know. We can make it tough on you if you resist. Shall we try again?” Jackson felt another slimy slap on his cheek.

From the corner of the room, Jackson heard a familiar voice, “Enough. Appleton, please place our prisoner back under your power of sleep.”

Appleton’s tongue found its target again.

The High Commander stepped out from the shadows. “Appleton, transfer our prisoner to Doldunt prison. We can’t do a proper interrogation in this damp cave. Once at the prison, you can use whatever means you think fit to extract the information from him. Remember, he might come in useful later, so please stop short of death when interrogating Jackson.”

Appleton motioned to one of the other toads to take care of Jackson; he noticed the High Commander step back into the cave. “Appleton, I need not remind you to keep this prisoner away from the other inmates in prison. Remember who is locked up there. And, don’t forget his wife will be joining him later. Take extreme caution. When you are finished here, you are to return to the sisters and give them a complete update on your attempts to locate Sara.” The High Commander turned on his heels and marched out of the cave.

       

The courtroom was filled. There were no seats, however, for the right price; choice seats towards the front could be purchased. It was fortunate the trial coincided with Queen Hillary’s month-long inspection of her legions, now amassed to the west of Tenebrae City in Turalia. The Queen would be gone a substantial amount of time. Janet was pleased with herself; it took a stroke of genius to forge a decree requiring all reigning queens to inspect their troops. Of course, it was Maggie’s idea to forge their mother’s royal seal on the order. Queen Hillary was bewildered; she could not remember making such a decree. She decided it was because she was so busy trying to keep her food tasting service staff. She dutifully left on her tour only three days earlier. It was barely enough time for the sisters to saturate the public with enough advertising.

After a long argument as to who would be the judge and who would be the prosecuting attorney, the matter had been settled the same way the sisters always settled their cases. Janet held her breath the longest. Thus she appointed herself as a judge. Maggie, although still angry at Janet for cheating, became the prosecuting attorney. They would both serve on the jury. It was, after all, their civic duty. Both knew that Elizabeth was guilty and the trial was a mere formality. Selling tickets to the highest bidder was Maggie’s idea. Forcing Tenebrae City’s citizens to bid on a ticket was Janet’s idea.

Janet, sitting behind a desk in the courtroom, struck her gavel on her newly purchased gavel pad. “Dearest citizens of our fair Tenebrae City,” she looked at the group of cutthroats and derelicts seated in the front row. They had been allowed, or more like forced, into becoming the high bidders. Most of the citizens loyal to Elizabeth had suddenly been unavailable.

“I am sad to say, our once dear sister, Elizabeth, is on trial for treason against our most beloved mother.” She paused for an instant to point her bony finger at Elizabeth. “How do you plead?”

Elizabeth remained silent.

“Dearest Sister, may I approach the bench?” asked Maggie.

“My dearest sister and esteemed prosecuting attorney, I believe you refer to the judge as your honor.”

“Please accept my deepest apologies, my dear sister. Dearest your honor, may I approach the bench?

“Well, of course, esteemed lawyer Maggie, it would be most fortuitous to have your wisdom on the bench. Please approach the bench.”

“Dearest Sister, we have overlooked a small matter in these proceedings,” Maggie absent-mindedly arranged the documents evenly on the desk.

“Oh dearest Sister of mine, please tell, exactly what did we overlook?” responded Janet as she rearranged the documents in neat and orderly piles on the desk.

“I feel this trial is a great dishonor to our dearest sister.”

“What? I mean, in which way is it a dishonor, my most beloved DERANGED sister?” Janet glared at Maggie.

“In all of our haste to try our most beloved sister, we forgot to appoint an attorney for the defense, dearest Sister, and most honorable judge. If it pleases the court, I will assign myself as the defense attorney.” Maggie smiled.

“Dearest Sister, you are already the prosecuting attorney, are you sure you can handle both positions and still be impartial?”

“Oh my dearest, most beloved sister and most honorable provider of justice, I am well capable of multi-tasking. It will be no problem serving as both defense and prosecuting attorneys, and still take on the esteemed role of the jurist,” remarked Maggie. Thunderous applause exploded from the front row of the courtroom. Several people, apparently loyal to Elizabeth, exited the courtroom.

“Oh dearest Maggie, I am so proud of you. Of course, it would be an honor to appoint you as the defensive attorney also. Would you like a few minutes alone with your new client, before we continue?”

Maggie looked at Elizabeth with disgust and replied, “Dearest sister and fellow jurist, why would I spend time alone with that felon? After all, she is guilty” Maggie rearranged the documents evenly on the desk, along with the gavel and pad.

“Very well, shall we begin the trial?” asked Janet. Maggie stepped back to the prosecuting attorney’s table and rearranged all the documents in a neat pile on her left and the gavel and pad on the right.

“Yes, dearest Sister, your honor, may I give my closing arguments,” replied Maggie from the prosecuting attorney table. Maggie walked over to the defense attorney table. “As the defense attorney, I object.”

“Don’t be a ninny, Maggie,” said Janet. “Objection overruled. Please continue dearest prosecuting attorney Maggie.”

Maggie walked over to the prosecuting attorney table and said, “Thank you, your honor. I’m sure the defense objection was a mere formality.”

Elizabeth remained silent and emotionless.

Maggie, pointing at Elizabeth, “Lady and Lady of the jury, It is with great regret that I tell you that I believe we have proven without a shadow of a doubt that our dearest sister, whose wanton and willful acts against her mother have created great sorrow and despair. We have furthermore shown that she has denied her most beloved relatives, living here in this great city, the privilege, and joy of companionship of our dearest niece, Sophie. Yes, lady and lady of the jury, our most beloved sister did willfully hide and protect our adorable niece from her loving aunts. According to the laws of Tenebrae, and I read, ‘When one from Tenebrae, who has been given amnesty into Earth does knowingly harbor and protect a fugitive from Tenebrae, said the person is in violation of the Queen’s amnesty law. All rights of said person shall be revoked. Said person shall be deemed a traitor to the crown and tried accordingly.’ There you have it, ladies of the jury. Not only was our sister a fugitive, because she entered Earth with forged documents, but she was also protecting herself and her daughter, also a fugitive. As you can see, the laws make it quite clear. The only verdict is to find Elizabeth guilty of treason.” Maggie made a low bow to Janet and then again to the spectators as they honored her with another round of thunderous applause. A few more people in the back rows wandered out the exit.

Janet, who was on the verge of tears, also applauded Maggie. Ever faithful to her duties, she asked Maggie, “Does the defense attorney wish to give a closing argument before the jury retires and deliberates the case?”

Maggie walked over to the defense attorney table and, wiped her brow with a handkerchief. “If it pleases the court, my closing arguments as the prosecuting attorney wore me out. I have nothing at this time. Besides, we all know she’s guilty.”

“Very well, I now dismiss the jury for deliberation.”

Maggie and Janet met for about fifteen seconds until they had reached a verdict.

“Dearest and sweetest jury foreman, have you come to a unanimous verdict?” Janet spoke in her most judgelike voice.

“We have, my dearest sister, uh, I mean, your honor.”

“The defendant will rise.” Elizabeth remained seated. “The defendant will rise,” yelled Janet. “Bailiff, please make our dearest sister stand up, she just isn’t playing fair” whined Janet. The bailiff forced Elizabeth to stand up. “Oh, dearest Sister and foreman of the jury, please continue, what is the verdict?”

“Oh, dearest Sister, you were here with me when we talked about it. You know most beloved Elizabeth is guilty of all charges.”

Janet was ecstatic. “Oh, goody, goody,” she giggled and then on a more serious note, “Elizabeth, you have been found guilty of treason. That means mother’s protection spell is no longer valid. If you tell us where that spoiled brat of yours, Susie, is hiding, we might become more lenient and execute you more quickly. Elizabeth, do you have anything to say on your behalf?”

Elizabeth remained silent.

“Very well, guards, remove the prisoner from the courtroom. Escort her to Doldunt Prison. Maggie and I will decide her fate at a later date.”

“Dearest citizens, thank you all for coming to see your fair judicial system in action. Now, please exit the courtroom in an orderly manner. And don’t forget to pay the viewing taxes on your way out. Have what’s left of a beautiful day.”