After a long day of hearing issues and disputes the counsel was about to retire when they heard a commotion in the commons room. One of Mike’s men came in and explained that there was one more citizen that wanted to register a complaint.
Alan asked Pat, “Were they on the register.”
“No sir.” was Pat's response, but the look in his eyes said that he wanted us to deal with this issue.
“Who is it?” But Alan was pretty sure he knew who it was.
Then everyone in the room heard her, “You can’t treat me this way!” yelled Karen's voice from the next room. “I’m a citizen!”
I looked at the sergeant and said, “Arrest her and put her in holding. We will deal with her in the morning.”
Mike cleared his throat.
“Sorry Mike.” Alan looked at his long time friend, “Would you please have her arrested and put in holding.”
Mike asked, “On what charges?”
Karen Yelled out again.
“Disturbing the peace.” Alan said as he closed his notebook.
Mike turned on his radio and said, “Sheriff One, This is S One.”
Over the radio, “This is Sheriff two, over.”
“Can you send a deputy to escort a citizen to lock-up. Over” Mike asked.
“Copy that, ten mics.” was the response.
Alan looked at Mike, “He didn’t even ask where you were.”
“This is the third time in a row. They know.” Mike said.
“Susan, Can you talk to her tomorrow? She hates me.” Alan asked.
“She doesn’t like me much either. Thinks I’m your lackey or science bitch.” She was shaking her head. “I’m not much good to you.”
Lorance stood and closed his notebook. He didn’t even look at Alan. They had already had two heated debates this evening and he really didn’t want to deal with Karen. He then stopped and sat back down, “I’ll do it.” He said with resignation.
“You’re already too busy.” Alan said.
“We all are.” Lorance said.
Alan looked at the council. He could see the fatigue in their eyes. They all had day jobs, families and other responsibilities. This council gig was just more pressure and problems to add to what they already had.
“Should we tag team it?” Alan asked.
“No.” Lorance said a bit too quickly. Then he realized what it sounded like, “I’m sorry.” He stood and faced Alan, “She hates you.” He picked up his stuff and turned to go. “I’ll have a better chance of getting to the bottom of whatever her real rant is without you. No, offence meant.”
Alan heard Lorance’s last statement and realized that he meant it. There was no animosity in his words. “Okay, we’ll call it a motion.”
Susan said, “I’ll second that.”
Mike slapped his hand on the table, “Carried.”
Then, as if on cue, Karen yelled from the other room, “I have a right to be heard!”
Alan sat back down. He was tired. Not just physically, but mentally. In the past year, so much has been done. Life itself was not easy, but it was easier than it's been in years. And with that came other problems. People actually had some free time on their hands and that hasn’t been good in all cases. There have been more fights and disputes than ever before. Boundary issues both physical and social. It’s one thing to manage people in crisis, but this? This was much harder. And what if things got even better? What was it going to be like then?
The rest of the council members made their way out the preverbal back door and away from the ranting citizen in the commons room. They all had other responsibilities.
Alan waited till Karen was taken into custody. He wanted to observe that her rights were not violated. It was one thing to try and force the council to hear her. She would have to make an appointment just like everyone else. But she was still a citizen and they needed to act better than she did. Two officers showed up. Their uniforms were old but clean. They took Karen by both arms knowing that she would thrash and fight them. This was not her first time in lockup. However, this time she went without much of a physical fight, She was still yelling. “I have rights!” and “You will hear me!”
Truth be known, only a handful of people hear her any more. She once had more of a following, but not after years of this. She still gets people upset. Her fliers and propaganda posters keep showing up and making people uneasy about what their leadership is doing. But what’s the worst is that she keeps at it. Trying to erode the council’s integrity. These constant accusations are exhausting. We’ve made mistakes, missteps and down right errors, but not on purpose. We’re human. Limited and we certainly don’t know the future, but to have an armchair quarterback, with no skin in the game, yelling at us at every turn. Well, that’s not helping. Alan looked at both left and right. The chairs were empty, but Alan could see his fellow council members. They were good people. And a good mix of personalities. They also argued well. Alan looked at Lorance’s chair. We will never be friends, he thought. But he’s smart and has a point of view that Alan could not see. That alone made him the most valuable person in the room. Mike, Susan and Paul usually voted the way he did. Not blindly, but because they were of a similar mind. Kan, Walk and Hernadez could be swayed one way or the other. So, it was usually Lorance and myself at odds. Alan envisioned Lorance as the next Chief Elder. But that was another subject.
Karen had been searched, cuffed and removed from the commons. She would be taken to the lockup connex just a few hundred feet away. If she stayed true to form, she would yell and scream for another hour or two then quiet down and wait till morning.
She wasn’t drunk. She was difficult. She was the product of a system that bread mistrust. Politicians that said one thing and then did another. CEO and businesses that only looked to make a profit at all cost. And where deceit meant gain. This led to our government working for money and power when they were supposed to be working for the people. A noble idea, but when elections required hundreds of millions of dollars, what choice did you have? Most people didn’t have much to give up to a candidate, so the candidates had to turn to other rich people or corporations to fund their bid to power. Then in true quid-pro-quo, once elected, they returned the favor. It was not lost on the people how an unknown politician went from your ordinary middle class person to a millionaire after just a few terms in office. It’s no wonder why we failed. Then Alison’s voice invaded his thoughts, “There are no absolutes so you can use that analogy for everyone.” And she is right. But those that don’t play the game usually don’t last long or gain much political influence.
But Politicians aren’t the only ones to blame. Add the media, conflicting philosophies, religions and even parenting styles. Altogether you have a receipt with too many chief and not enough workers. So they divide up what’s available and end up competing with each other for our attention. This division fractures society and leads to its eventual downfall. Soon no one knew who to talk to. Who to trust or get advice from. The individual became the center of focus and everything is right. This ultra individualism created an environment that teaches us to believe in our individual thoughts as the only truth. And so we can’t agree on anything.
By the next day Lorance called on Alan to meet. It was almost lunch time, so Alan suggested the commons. Lorance agreed and Alan put away his gardening tools. It was going to be a hot one and he had to change. He then grabbed his walking stick and started out. It was a nice walk down to the commons and he met others walking along the road. There were a few wagons pulled by horses, but they kept to one side, this way the manure sweepers could easily push the droppings into the ditch. That would be covered in a week or so, then removed during the winter months to be made into fertilizer. It was labor intensive, but necesary. Sanitation was just as important as agriculture and other economic concepts. This is what Alan was thinking about when he reached the commons.
Lorance already had a table and two trays of what was being served for lunch. It wasn’t much. Some sliced meat, a roll and some pickled vegetables. This was abnormally courteous of Lorance and put Alan on the defensive as he approached. He wasn’t going to like what he heard.
Alan sat down and they exchanged pleasantries.
Lorance started to eat.
Alan followed. Didn’t speak for a few moments.
“She’s got to go.” Lorance finally said.
“What?” Alan asked.
Lorance looked to the walls. He didn’t like what he was going to say then looked Alan in the eyes, “We don’t agree on much, but our compromises make this place better. Not perfect, but better.” he looked away.
Alan took what he said as a complement. Just wish Lorance would say this in council. “What was her complaint this time?” Alan asked.
“She believes that we are playing favorites with Kan, Mike and Walk over the allocation of power.” Lorance started.
“We are.” Alan stated.
“I know.” Loracance said.
“Okay, so…” Alan did not know where this was going.
“She doesn’t care about the collective. Only that she doesn’t have what she wants, which is power during the day.” Lorance stated.
“So we exile her?” Alan asked.
“It’s not going to stop and she is not trying to be constructive. Just the opposite.” Lorance was ramping up. “Last week it was the dump, this week it’s power. She complains every year at planting and harvest, so much so that no one wants her on their team. Her own place is a dump, her garden barely produces and she’s using her time on the garbage collection detail to distribute her pamphlets of distrust and accusations.”
Alan could not help himself, “So we’re suspending people’s right to speak?”
Lorance just looked at him.
“Okay that was a cheap shot.” Alan laughed, “So, what?”
“She is never going to help us and none of us have the time to convince her otherwise.” Lorance stated.
Alan looked at his advisory, this man he had argued with so many times. He had no fire in him today. This worried him. “She got to you.”
“Oh you don’t know the half of it.” Lorance said. He looked at the cooks in the kitchen, “This… This commons. We did this. This home, here in the middle of all that crap that happened. We did this.” he pounded his finger on the table to emphasis his point.
Alan sat back. The fire was coming back to Lorance.
Lorance continued, “I’m proud of this. All of it, the good, the bad, and what’s left to be done.” he looked towards the holding cell, “She doesn’t care. She is hell bent on causing as much shit as she can because it’s her right.”
Alan just sat there. It was going to be up to him to do the next interview. There had to be two Elders to start the process of expelling someone. And he might as well be that next one. Susan would be teaching and the rest had enough to do. “I’ll go see her.”
“It won’t help.” Lorance shot at him.
“I know, but someone has to tell her she’s out and she already hates me, so” Alan didn’t need to finish his sentence.
“Luckily there’s no on else in her family, her husband committed suicide just before the fall. No kids that I know of.” Lorance was trying to remember anyone that might need to know of her removal.
“Doesn’t she still have some followers.” Alan asked.
“They will scatter like roaches.” Lorance took a sip of his water, “Once we’ve made an example of her.”
“Oh,No.” Alan shook his head, “This has to be done quietly. Or we’ll make a martyr of her. And we need to take her as far from here as possible so she can’t just show up at the gates and continue her rants.”
Lorance was not looking well, “You can be such a seditious prick, but for once…I agree.”
“Don’t think for one second that I get any pleasure from this.” Alan said.
“No. I know it hurts you, but you do it anyway. My concern is that you will lose perspective at some point and we are going to have to stop you.” Lorance was serious.
“That’s why we have the council.” Alan counted.
“Half those people would follow you to hell and if I were here when all this went to shit and saw what you managed to do, well, I just might fall in line as too. But I wasn’t. I came in a month before the gate were closed. I see this from a different perspective. And I see the slippery slope you're headed down.”
“You don’t think I don’t see it?” Alan said.
“Oh. I know you see it, you’re just not smart enough to stay away from it.” Lorance was getting angry.
Alan thought, So that’s what he so worked up about all the time. The fact that we are heading towards a world he does like. “This will never be a monarchy.”
“It already is.” Lorance said.
Alan stopped. This was not the time for this debate, “We can debate that another time.”
“Oh we will.” Lorance said, but with less fire, “We will.”
Alan and Lorance finished their lunch without saying anything. They were advisories and that wasn’t going to change. Unfortunately Lorance was right. This was going to get worse before it got better. They have already invaded the homes and minds of these people. They controlled most of the resources in the area and what the community as a whole would be working on or towards. And the genetics program dictated who you had children with. Yes, they were very much like a dictatorship, but the council had the people’s best interest in mind. It had to be that way… for now.
Alan thanked Lorance for lunch and left. He went to the holding cell. He might as well get this done. Then he could call an emergency meeting of the council and schedule the hearing for Karen. As he approached he saw Johnathan, the Sheriff’s oldest son, who now was a deputy. “Good morning Johnathan, How’s your father?”
“He’s better, but doc says he’ll be laid up for another week or so.” Johnathan responded.
“Tell him I said hi and that he needs to send you guys in first next time.” Alan said.
“He thought he could de-escalate the situation.” Johnathan shook his head.
“He’s a good man.” Alan said.
“Sometimes he can be so stubborn.” Johnathan said, “He never saw the guy with the 2x4.”
“He’ll be okay.” Alan assured him.
“Yeah.” was all Johnathan said.
“So, I need to see Karen.” Alan finally said.
“I figured you’d be the one.” Johnathan said.
“We haven’t got that far yet.” Alan countered.
“I know, but… People like her are not helping us. They just don’t get what we are trying to do.” Johnathan said.
“Listen. The path to hell is paved with good intentions. We.. As leaders, we need to be constantly aware of that. And constantly check ourselves to ensure that we are not using people for our own gains.” Alan was preaching as much to himself as he was to this young man.
“I get it.” Johnathan said.
“Okay.” Alan said, “Tell your dad, I’ll stop by after work.”
“He doesn't want visitors.” Johnathan said.
“I’m not visiting. I’m the chief elder looking in on my sheriff.” Alan said as more of a command.
Johnathan got the jest and shook his head yes then turned and opened the door to the connex. Karen was sitting inside.
She saw Alan and stood. “So are you here to kill me?”
“Yes.” was all Alan said.
Karen didn’t know whether to take him seriously or not. “Just like that.”
“No. Karen, you have been digging this hole for a while now. You just finally dug too deep.” Alan said.
“But I’m not.. NO. You can’t do that.” Karen was flustered. “I have rights!”
“No. You don’t.” Alan finally said.
“Who the hell are you to say that to me!” Karen was working herself up.
“I’m the one that has to keep this place moving forward. Me and the council. One step…at…a…time.” Alan was determined to stay calm and rational.
“Even if you have to kill a few of us along the way.” Karen counted.
“No one is trying to kill you. You just don’t get to do whatever the hell you want anymore.” Alan counted.
“You mean we can’t speak the truth about you and your precious council.” Karen spat.
“That bullshit isn’t the truth. It’s a selfish little shits perspective.” Alan said.
“So you deny the fact that you turn the power off to our homes to give to your friends on the council.” Karen spat.
“No.” Alan said.
“Or, the fact that you dictate how much slave labor you need to do whatever you want.” Karen continued.
“No.” Alan said.
“You fucking tell us who to have babies with. Why don’t you tell us when to take a shit.” Karen was getting very worked up. “Your security guys run around like the gestapo and tell us to go to bed and when to get up. And we just have to take it? Well, I’m not going to take it anymore. I have the right to say no.”
“Yes you do.” Alan said.
Karen was surprised by that.
“Out…Side…These…Walls.” Alan said slowly and deliberately.
“So, kick out the discients. The voice of the individual.” Karen said
Alan just shook his head yes.
“And what of our constitutional rights?” Karen asked.
“We have no constitution.” Alan said.
“You can’t do that!” Karen said.
“I’ll tell you what. Take that up with your representatives in Olympia.” Alan said sarcastically.
“You bastard!” Karen yelled. “Who gave you the right to do this to us?”
“What us?” Alan asked.
Karen just glared at him.
“The moment we closed those gates we gave up all that. There is no federal.. or states anymore. If there were, they’d have come here and taken down our gates by now. That system is gone. GONE!” Alan said forcefully.
“So, this is a dictatorship and you’re in charge?” Karen half asked.
“The council of elders is now. Yes.” Alan said.
“And if I can’t live with that?” Karen asked.
“That is the only choice you have. But I would think long and hard on that.” Alan told her.
Karen stood tall, “GOD! gave me the right to be and individual and I’ll be damned before I give that up!” she stood there for a second then said, “You’ll have to kill me before I give that up.”
“You are the product of some very bad preaching. Render up to Caesar what is Caesar’s. This is what Jesus told his people when the Romans wanted to enforce their laws and taxes.” Alan instructed.
“What does that have to do with my rights?” Karen asked.
“Your body belongs to this world and is subject to the authorities of this world. Your soul and salvation belongs to God and should never be surrendered.” Alan stated. Then continued, “Even Paul said to the slaves that became christians, that they should return to their masters and be the best slaves they could be. Show love to your masters so that they may see God.” Alan wished he had brought his bible, this paraphrasing was always dangerous.
“No! God gave us a free will and I won’t give that up.” Karen spat back.
“Yes, he did.” Alan was done. He turned to go.
“Where are you going?” there was concern in her voice.
“To expel you so that you can enjoy your free will.” Alan said.
“YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!” yelled Karen. “I won’t go! I’ll yell at the gates day and night. I’ll make your life a living hell! GET BACK HERE!” She was pulling at the bars now.
Alan just walked out and Johnathan shut the door.
You could hear Karen yelling obscenities and talking about her rights. Both men just walked away.
Alan was depressed for the rest of the day. He had the fate of so many people in the palm of his hand. Lorance and Karen shoved this fact in his face today. And he didn’t like it. There had to be a time limit. A set of circumstances that would wrestle control from the council when it was no longer needed. But what would that be? And would they be able to recognise it when it was?
My apologies to the those named Karen that do not put themselves above others.
R.A. Legg
