14 Life abroad; Julia’s trial

Isabella busied herself in her studies. Four years later, she obtained her bachelor's degree in science major in education.

Five more years, she had earned her master's and doctorate in the same field.

It wasn't easy surviving on a foreign soil. She worked double to support herself and her studies.

Then, she met Benjamin.

He had Chinese eyes, always smiling, fine nose and lips— muscular body—he had a charming personality—and a sense of humor that could make Isabella laugh.

He professed love to Isabella and which she accepted. But even as Benjamin was always beside her, Isabella could not deny to herself that forgetting wasn't easy. Her affection for Tatin was sleeping inside her, she knew.

Five more years passed, Benjamin and Isabella decided to be engaged.

Both of them were in the same profession.

She was happy to hear and read about Apollo in the academe.

She told Benjamin about Apollo, Andrew, James, Andrea, Julia, and Lucas. Isabella recalled Apollo's telescope invention. Now, he had written papers about outer space, galaxies, and universes. The theories he formulated were "astounding," Benjamin thought.

xxxxxx

One sunny morning, she and Benjamin were in the garden, and a letter from a mail man came.

The envelope came from Aunt Teresa.

Her mouth was wide open with surprise upon reading the mail. It said Julia was to be tried in the wolf court for the crime of marrying an alien. Her forehead wrinkled as she wondered, "What about her whose fiancé is a foreigner? That day, she placed a telegraph to her Aunt Teresa who thought it urgent to immediately reply. Teresa said she had been lonely since she left and that she hired two young men to help her out in the house and in their business.

"Julia' s hearing tomorrow. I have assured her of my presence. Our friends will be there," Teresa said.

xxxxxx

Among the wolf-dom, Julia's was a celebrated case as she herself had rightly predicted.

Her friends Apollo, Andrew, Andrea, James, Lucas, and Teresa were present.

Lucas and Andrea had earlier warned Julia of the wolf government's plan to put her and husband behind bars among other wolves who would be charged with the same crime. If proven guilty, they would be killed.

The sentiment barring alien marriages had become strong.

The pro wolf-wolf marriage was on the left side while the liberals were on the right side of the chamber.

It was a court composed of twenty oldest members of the community who were supposed to be chosen not only for their age and experience but for their integrity as well. That was what the law mandated. Its membership would change from time to time as there were those who would die and ergo, had to be replaced. But time had changed. There were attacks from outsiders of the wolf-dom and aliens were highly suspect so they adopted a measure that would restrict marriage within the community leaving foreigners as aliens. They were not allowed to become wolves, at least not under the present dispensation, the head of which was Azazel, Tatin's father.

Julia could not stand the heat in the courtroom. She walked out, smoked, then came back. The hearing was about to start. She was wearing an all-black outfit signifying death of freedom in the wolf-dom.

"I plead sir that the law not be applied in my personal case because I have been married to Robbie for twenty years. That's even before that law was enacted. We have been good citizens of the wolf community. We help when somebody asks us for help. To this day, we can modestly tell this chamber that our donation to the community amounts to not a few thousand dollars. We have no enemies and we did not disrespect anyone. In the interest of justice, and in the spirit of peace, again, I personally plead before the oldest members in this community—before you—sirs—with due respect—that my case be dismissed and that the law that prohibits alien marriages be abolished, in the interest of justice.."

The applause in the chamber was unexpected. They were excited to see a celebrity.

"When was the case filed with us?" asked Julius. He was almost eighty—with all white hair.

"The other day sir."

"Who filed the case?"

"Tom Pennywise."

"What do you say about it?"

"It is persecution, sir."

"Why would he do that.?"

"Because I am a friend of his half-brother, John Liberty. Pennywise desired a bigger share of the properties that their father left—that John wouldn't give unless he recognized and loved all his children in and out of wedlock—that was the requirement of the late Liberty. The daughter, who, I am afraid, is not around to testify as she is abroad because of too much heartbreak— suspects, that the fire that burned their house and eventually killing her parents John and Nenita, was perpetrated by non-other than the suspect who is present. She pointed to Tom who was at the left side. Azazel was at his side.

"Atrocious if your story is to be believed," Julius said looking at the other elders. "What have you to say?" he looked in the direction of Tom.

"She is trying to evade the law, sir. We are talking of violation of the alien marriage law and what she said were all alibi."

"Is it true that you tried to kill the parents of—what is the name of your friend?"—looking at Julia.

"Isabella, sir, Isabella Liberty."

"Isabella Liberty?" He lowered his eyeglasses trying to scrutinize Tom.

"Hearsays, sir." Tom answered briefly. "They have no evidence. Why would I do that to a brother I cherish so much?"

Lucas secretly looked at Apollo and James who were seated beside him. "He is a snollygoster," he whispered to the two. They knew the truth.

"Hmm…Julius took a deep breath. "In which case, we shall decide this case today according to its merits." He looked at both sides of the men sitting on the bench. "We shall now vote."

The judges handed over a piece of paper to Julius. The chief among the elders gathered all the papers, examined them, and after a few minutes announced. "We have a vote. The court dismisses the case filed here because it is excluded from the relationships that are contemplated under the law."

Apollo, Lucas, James, Andrea, Andrew, and Teresa were jubilant. Julia turned towards her husband Robbie and embraced him tightly. Cameras from every corner of the chamber clicked for that headline grabbing event.

Julia raised a banner that said, "Freedom in the wolf-dom is not dead after all."

That saw a banner the next day, with her flamboyant outfit in black, notwithstanding.

Not far from where the hearing was held, grudge and envy waited for its prey. The group was not unprepared though. Tom and his gang waited for Julia, Robbie, and friends to go out of the hearing venue, and when they were outside, attacked the two. Apollo, Lucas, and the others transformed into their wolf form to Julia and Robbie's rescue. There were twenty enemies. There was an equal number to defend the songstress and her husband.

The wolves ran away. Azazel was looking. "We will wait for a more appropriate time."

avataravatar
Next chapter